The Leafs have hired ex-Tampa Bay ass't GM Claude Loiselle to replace Jeff Jackson according to the CBC iDesk. Jeff Jackson was involved with running the Toronto Marlies last season.

On the surface this a fairly uninteresting move; we're bringing in a guy to the front office that none of us know a ton about. We hope that Burke is spending MLSE's dollars wisely to continue building strong assets that don't fall under the jurisdiction of the salary cap.

Dave Nonis had been running the Marlies since his departure; it remains to be seen whether Loiselle will be a salary cap expert as predicted by the Star or if he'll be in charge of the Marlies freeing up Nonis for more pressing matters.

Claude Loiselle was also a Leaf of the Day if you want to read about his playing career.

Sorry about this going up late, I've been laying by the pool reading and drinking margaritas.

From the Maple Leafs' official press release:CLAUDE LOISELLE JOINS MANAGEMENT TEAM

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Tuesday that Claude Loiselle has been appointed to the position of Assistant General Manager of the hockey team.

Loiselle’s responsibilities will include; collective bargaining related duties, various contract negotiations, salary arbitration and cap management.

“We are extremely pleased to have Claude join our front office team,” said Burke. “Along with Claude’s experience as a player in the National Hockey League, his knowledge of the business side of the game will be a great benefit to our team.”

Loiselle, 47, played 13 seasons in the NHL from 1981-82 to 1993-94. In 616 career games spent with the Red Wings, Devils, Nordiques, Maple Leafs and Islanders he recorded 92 goals, 117 assists and 1,149 minutes in penalties. He also competed in 41 career NHL playoff games and was a member of two Patrick Division Championship teams (New Jersey-1988; Islanders-1993). Loiselle played with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires and the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League (AHL) before embarking on his NHL career.

A second round draft choice, 23rd overall with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1981 Entry Draft, Loiselle would join the Maple Leafs on March 5, 1991. He collected seven goals and 10 assists with 104 penalty minutes in 71 games through parts of two seasons with the blue and white.

The Ottawa native spent seven years as Associate Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL and was involved in salary arbitration, discipline and collective bargaining, while also serving as the liason on hockey operation matters between the NHL and the AHL.

Loiselle started his undergraduate studies while playing for the Islanders in 1992 and earned his law degree from McGill University in 1998, the same year he was admitted to the New York State Bar.