Leafs name Mark Hunter Director of Player Personnel
By Ryan Fancey
9 years agoWell this is a bit of a surprise, but it’s funny that this move comes at a time when Kadri trade rumors have been emerging, and there’s also coverage of Tavares and Kadri during their London days ahead of tonight’s matchup between the Leafs and Isles.
From the Leafs’ official release:
Hunter, 51, has spent the last 12 seasons as Owner, Vice President and General Manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights. He also spent a brief time as the club’s head coach during the 2011-12 season, leading the Knights to an OHL Championship and Memorial Cup Final. Hunter led the Knights to a CHL record 31 consecutive wins to start the 2004-05 season. The team would set a total of 13 CHL records that season, which culminated in a record of 79-9-2-0 and a 4-0 win in the Memorial Cup Final over Sidney Crosby and the Rimouski Oceanic.
Hunter now enters the Leafs organization in quite a high-level role. According to the release, he will oversee the team’s player evaluation, pro scouting, and amateur scouting departments.
The changes in management continue under Shanahan, and you have to wonder how much longer it’ll be before this whole process is complete with Nonis and Carlyle hitting the road. This isn’t a replacement, but it’s clear that the Leafs are going above and beyond to build a stable of smart, accomplished professionals in their front office, and they’re obviously not afraid to pull from the junior ranks to do it.
Just another interesting day in what’s becoming the most active year for the Leafs that I can remember.
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