NHL insider links former Leafs executive to become Oilers General Manager

It's been a turbulent time for the Columbus Blue Jackets over the past couple of seasons as the team continues to stay near the bottom of the standings with no hope of improvement. With the Mike Babcock debacle to the inept lineup and now the firing of Jarmo Kekalainen, it seems one name is now directly linked in the search for their new GM.

32 Thoughts Podcaster and Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman feels that Mark Hunter the former Maple Leafs executive will be the front runner to land the Columbus job and potentially with the Oilers.

The Oilers may be facing their own general manager vacancy once the season is done as current GM can Holland is without a contract past this season. The Oilers have recently added staff to their executive group including Jeff Jackson as CEO who was instrumental in bringing Kris Knoblauch and Paul Coffey to run the coaching staff. Ken Holland is believed to be retiring at the end of this year.


It's also worth noting that Jackson is a fan of Hunter's work with the London Knights which could bode well for hunter as a potential GM replacement.


Moreover, as part owner of the London Knights, Hunter shares some direct ties with the Blue Jackets staff including Rick Nash who played for the Knights. He holds a role of director of player development and former Knights owner Basil McRae, is in the front office of the Blue Jackets as director of player personnel. These links are certainly plausible for his hiring with the Blue Jackets and Hunter has experience in running a hockey franchise at the OHL and NHL level.


There is certainly plenty of opportunity for Hunter to land a role and after numerous attempts I feel that the time is right for him to become a general manager in the NHL.