The NHL general manager market is gaining a surprising amount of interest as the 2023 offseason approaches.
Thanks to some very surprising departures over the last few weeks — with the biggest shocker of all coming in Toronto with Kyle Dubas’ exit — all eyes are on the NHL’s general managers as the summer looms. And with the 2023 NHL Draft on the horizon at the end of June, teams will surely be looking to act fast to get their ducks in a row by then.
As of May 23, these are the NHL teams that are currently in the market for a new general manager for the 2023-24 season and beyond.
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Pittsburgh Penguins
The Calgary Flames promoted Craig Conroy to the general manager position on Tuesday after the departure of Brad Treliving in April.
With the amount of attention the NHL’s general manager search is getting, here are the top candidates to look out for during the 2023 offseason.
Kyle Dubas
Should Kyle Dubas decide to return to the field after his unceremonious departure from Toronto, he’ll no doubt have his pick of the field. Right now, only the Penguins are hiring at the general manager position outside of the Maple Leafs, but if Dubas truly is available, other organizations around the NHL will no doubt come knocking.
Dubas helped build a star-studded Maple Leafs team that had copious amounts of regular season success, but were only able to win one playoff round in his five-year tenure as general manager.
Eric Tulsky
As the current assistant general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, Eric Tulsky is credited for helping build this team into the perennial playoff contender it has become. Tulsky’s name has been on the rise for some time, with his analytics-first approach and smart hockey acumen putting him at the forefront of many top GM candidate lists. While the Hurricanes are still in the midst of a playoff series, Tulsky is no doubt atop many lists should he become available to be promoted.
Marc Bergevin
Marc Bergevin’s current role is senior advisor to the general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, but most hockey fans will know him as the previous GM of the Montreal Canadiens. During Bergevin’s near 10-year tenure with the Canadiens, his teams picked up three division titles and had six playoff appearances, losing in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
Jason Botterill
The Sabres weren’t so fortunate to see long-lasting playoff success under Jason Botterill during his three seasons there from 2017 to 2020. Buffalo never made the playoffs under Botterill’s time, but since then the former general manager has been helping the Seattle Kraken as an assistant GM. Given the Kraken’s recent surprise playoff run, Botterill’s name will likely turn heads in a general manager search.
Brad Treliving
The biggest blemish on Brad Treliving now that his time in Calgary has come to an end is handily losing the Matthew Tkachuk trade. Plus, Calgary never progressed past the second round during his tenure, though a good portion of that blame falls on the Flames coaches and players, as his teams certainly had the talent to make it to a Conference Final. Still, Treliving made some incredibly bold moves during his time as Flames general manager and would be a prime candidate to kickstart a different team’s chances.
Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser
It remains to be seen how the Maple Leafs will approach their general manager search, but they have a great option close to home. Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser is an assistant general manager with the Maple Leafs and has spent time in the player development department as well. Wickenheiser’s name could very well pop up for general manager positions now and in the future as the old school hockey mentality makes its way out of the sport.
Emilie Castonguay
Emilie Castonguay is another name not in the usual general manager carousel that could get a long look at a gig. As an assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks — after being hired in 2022 — Castonguay is set to help the team find their way out of the quagmire of a salary cap situation. Castonguay also has sports agent credentials that have served her well in a front office position thus far.
Ron Hextall
While Ron Hextall’s time with the Penguins ended poorly, don’t be surprised if he gets a call from a team down the line. Hextall has served as general manager for the Philadelphia Flyers and Penguins, while also spending time as an advisor in the Hockey Operations department in Los Angeles.
