The Management Dream Team

I haven't checked, but I think it's safe to say that the Leafs have the highest-profile, if not the largest front office (leaving aside the effect of Toronto's media to inflate their visibility). I'd wager they're the highest-paid bunch, too. That's not a knock on their committee-style of management though; I've been more than impressed with their recent moves, and they seem to be putting MLSE's spending power to good use, outside of the salary cap.

Each member seems to have a specific role: Claude Loiselle: contract (re)negotiations, Dave Poulin: cap management, Rick Dudley: talent evaluation, Cliff Fletcher: rambling onion-on-the-belt grandfather stories and being a "special advisor", and Dave Nonis: being the boss when Burke has other things going on.

So how long can this dream team stick together? Several of them been rumoured to be strong candidates for other GM positions already, and Michael Langlois wonders if they're even necessary:

I mean, is Cliff Fletcher still around? Cliff liked to spend money in his tenure as Leaf GM. While there is a player salary cap now, they’re certainly spending money on administrative guys now. Who’s in Burke’s inner circle? Well, we have Dave Poulin, Claude Loiselle and of course Dave Nonis. And Fletcher. NowDudley. The last three have all been NHL GM’s.