Report: Maple Leafs tried to poach division rival's GM - and were denied

""James Mirtle had a line about Toronto being turned down after asking to speak to a current General Manager. I believe that was Julien BriseBois of the Tampa Bay Lightning. I don't think anyone here is shocked that the Lightning would say no -- that's that. I do think they asked for permission to speak to him, and were denied.""

""BriseBois has been the GM of the Lightning for several years now, and helped the franchise win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. He was also an Assistant General Manager for Canada at the 2025 4-Nations Face-Off where Canada brought home the Gold, and he was also an assistant GM at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics where Canada captured the silver medal.""

""In a hockey market like Toronto, with all the resources that MLSE has at their disposal, it makes all the sense in the world to take a swing at a big name with a successful track record like BriseBois. It also makes all the sense in the world for the Lightning to deny the Leafs request.""

The Toronto Maple Leafs sought permission to interview Julien BriseBois, the current GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning, but were denied. BriseBois has led the Lightning to two consecutive Stanley Cup victories. There are expectations that Mats Sundin will be hired for a front office role, likely as vice-president of hockey operations. The Maple Leafs are still searching for a new GM after parting ways with Brad Treliving, and the organization is looking for a candidate with a successful track record.

Read at Editor In Leaf