MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said his next hire will be the most important decision he makes during his tenure. As the Toronto Maple Leafs have hired an outside search firm, the process is underway to find the next president of hockey operations and/or general manager.

Florida Panthers assistant general manager Sunny Mehta appears to be the leading candidate. Last week, I outlined why Mehta should be the Maple Leafs’ next general manager, citing his data-heavy background, while noting that he represents a marriage between conventional hockey executive and progressive, outside-of-the-box thinker. And while Mehta should be the top option for the Maple Leafs, there are several internal, in-house candidates the Maple Leafs ought to seriously consider.

My colleague Jon Steitzer argued that if the Maple Leafs do not promote Brandon Pridham, they ought to allow him to pursue other opportunities inside professional sports. Pridham is a salary cap expert and has worked for the Maple Leafs since 2014. He’s survived multiple regimes, and he’s widely considered to be one of the brightest analytical minds in the NHL. There’s been a prevailing notion that Treliving didn’t correctly consult with his analytics staff, and Pridham was perhaps used sparingly over the past three years. If the Maple Leafs want to sell the idea that they merely need a re-tool, as opposed to a rebuild, promoting internally would go a long way to satisfy this notion.

Hayley Wickenheiser would be a clever promotion for the Maple Leafs. Dr. Wickenheiser’s playing credentials don’t require further introduction and is lauded for her work in family and emergency medicine. Wickenheiser hasn’t publicly lobbied for the job, and some of her detractors would argue that the Maple Leafs’ sub-par record of player development over the past few years may not work in her favour. She is widely considered one of the brightest people in the NHL, and it would be a landmark hire for the Maple Leafs, as she would be the first woman to become an NHL general manager. For an organization that is looking to blend unconventional elements with hockey’s traditions, Wickenheiser would be a compelling candidate.

Pelley indicated that the Maple Leafs are willing to spend handsomely during their search. It doesn’t mean they’re willing to spend recklessly. Toronto could make waves by promoting internally, while delivering a vote of confidence to the remaining staff, amid a period of transition. It’s very likely Pelley will make an outside hire, but he shouldn’t overlook the talent pool in front of him.

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