Leading Candidate Emerging in Maple Leafs' GM Search
The Toronto Maple Leafs' GM search has been loaded with rumors of potential candidates. But after the news dropped today by insider Pierre LeBrun, it appears that one man may be emerging as a top candidate. The Leafs have obtained permission to speak with Florida Panthers' assistant general manager Sunny Mehta.
But Toronto will have to act fast, as the New Jersey Devils, who just joined the GM hunt this week, have also received permission from the Cats to talk to him.
The Leafs and the Devils have both been granted permission to talk to Panthers' assistant general manager Sunny Mehta.
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 9, 2026
Per Pierre LeBrun pic.twitter.com/6x32DXgFA4
"Sunny Mehta is a name that's been all the rage of late, especially in the Toronto market," said LeBrun on TSN's Early Trading.
This makes sense, as Mehta perfectly fits the profile of what MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said he was looking for—a data-centric, analytical-focused candidate. Mehta was head of analytics for the Panthers, and obviously, coming off back-to-back Stanley Cups, did the job quite well.
Brett Peterson, another Panthers' assistant GM, has already interviewed twice with another team looking for a new general manager, the Nashville Predators, reports LeBrun.
"What happens when teams win back-to-back Stanley Cups? People want to see how the sausage is made. So it's not surprising at all that people want to raid the Panthers' front office."
Fellow insider Elliotte Friedman also threw Mehta's name out there this week as a serious candidate for the Toronto job. "The Sunny Mehta (thing) is real," said Friedman.
Leafs' GM candidate Sunny Mehta has intriguing past
Mehta served three seasons as the Panthers' vice president of hockey strategy and intelligence, and has been assistant GM and head of analytics for the past three years. He has a master’s degree in data science from City University of New York, was an options trader at the Chicago Board of Trade, and also has a notable history as a professional poker player, co-authoring two poker strategy books.
Another name high up in the search for the Leafs is Mike Gillis. As LeBrun says, in addition to analytics guys, the former-agents-turned-GMs are the other hot trend around the NHL these days. Bill Zito in Florida and Kent Hughes in Montreal are the prime successful examples. Gillis, however, has made it clear that if he were to come back, it would be as a President of Hockey Operations, not as a GM. Toronto could be, and should be, looking for both.
Whatever the Leafs do, they better do it first, with utmost urgency, as there clearly is competition for the top candidates.
