Today’s seen quite the front office shuffle around the NHL. As teams move forward from disappointing seasons, they’ll examine what they can do to improve at every level of the organization. It’s bound to be an interesting summer as teams compete to snap up available talent, doing everything they can to rectify issues and cement internal development.
- Despite the playoffs not being over, the Toronto Maple Leafs are making multiple moves this offseason. After re-signing Jason Spezza not too long ago, the club announced today the addition of Ryan Hardy to the front office. Hardy will serve as the team’s Senior Director of Minor League Operations, which includes being the general manager of both the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers. Hardy leaves behind a very successful run with the USHL’s Chicago Steel, making it to the league finals in 2018-19 and winning the championship in 2020-21. He’s assembled an incredible amount of high-end draft-eligible players this year for a non-USNTDP USHL team, including sniper Matthew Coronato. Replacing Hardy for the Steel in the interim is Noelle Needham, who’s worked closely with Hardy and could also be in line soon for an NHL job.
- With Hardy taking over the reins as general manager of the Marlies, Toronto had to make a corresponding move within the organization. The Athletic’s James Mirtle is reporting that Laurence Gilman, who was serving as the Marlies’ GM, has been reassigned. Gilman will remain as an assistant general manager to Kyle Dubas, but will now also take on the role of senior vice president of the Marlies. In Gilman’s only year at the helm for the Marlies in which the playoffs were held, the Marlies lost in the conference finals. He’s been with the organization since 2018-19.
- Moving over to the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks have confirmed that former player Ryan Johnson will remain as the general manager of their AHL affiliate as it relocates from Utica to Abbotsford. Since his retirement after the 2010-11 campaign, Johnson’s been active in the Canucks organization. First joining the team’s front office in 2013-14 as a development consultant, he quickly worked his way up the ranks of the franchise, being promoted to director of player development after just two seasons. He’s maintained that title ever since and was given the general manager position for Utica in 2017-18.