user: Toronto Maple Leafs' potential general manager candidates
The search to replace fired Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis began immediately following, if not before, Sunday's announcement of his dismissal.

How deep club president Brendan Shanahan and his management team want to reach in the interview process will depend on whether they wait to see if more candidates become available during, or at the conclusion of, the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Ideally, teams prefer to have a new GM in place for the NHL draft, with this year's event set for June 26-27 in Sunrise, Fla. However, Maple Leafs assistant GM Kyle Dubas and director of player personnel Mark Hunter have been with the team for most, if not all, of the season and are well into their draft preparation, so it's not a must.

Peter Chiarelli and Doug Wilson have been rumoured for weeks to be on their wait out of Boston and San Jose, respectively, but it's not clear if Toronto would prefer to hire an experienced NHL GM or promote someone currently working as an assistant GM in the league.

Below, we profile a veteran NHL GM and assistants who could be in line for a promotion.

Current role: Not employed by an NHL team.

Past NHL experience: Former GM of Pittsburgh Penguins. Assistant GM with Nashville Predators (1998-2006) and Ottawa Senators (1993-1998).

Career highlights: Eight straight playoff appearances with Penguins. Reached Stanley Cup final in 2008, won in 2009. In 2007, led Pittsburgh to first playoff berth in six years and a 47-point improvement.

Current role: Philadelphia Flyers GM.

Past NHL experience: Flyers assistant GM, vice president and assistant GM of Los Angeles Kings for seven years. Hextall also served as pro scout and director of player personnel with Flyers.

Career highlights: As current Kings GM Dean Lombardi's right-hand man, he won a Stanley Cup as assistant GM with Kings in 2012. As a player, ex-goalie's 45 playoff wins are most in Flyers' history.

Current role: Nashville Predators assistant GM.

Past NHL experience: Director of player personnel with Predators for eight seasons.

Career highlights: Managed team's draft efforts from 2003 to 2008 when Predators selected all-star defencemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber. Doubles as GM of AHL affiliate in Milwaukee that has made 12 consecutive playoff appearances.

Current role: Vice president of hockey operations and director of player personnel with Los Angeles Kings.

Past NHL experience: Director of amateur scouting with the Kings for seven seasons and previously co-director of amateur scouting with the team.

Career highlights: Won Stanley Cup with Kings in 2012 and 2014. Responsible for building stable of prospects, including Drew Doughty, Alec Martinez, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson.

Current role: Pittsburgh Penguins associate GM.

Past NHL experience: Assistant GM for five seasons with Penguins and two years as team's director of hockey administration. Previously, he worked as a scout for Dallas Stars.

Career highlights: Considered key architect of Penguins' 2009 Stanley Cup championship run. Also serves as GM of Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins, who have made playoffs five years in a row.

Current role: Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM.

Past NHL experience: Worked with the Montreal Canadiens as director of legal affairs, director of hockey operations and vice president of hockey operations.

Career highlights: As GM of Lightning's AHL affiliate, Brisebois has been the architect of Syracuse Crunch teams reaching Calder Cup finals in two of previous three seasons and winning in 2012. Crunch have graduated key players Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat. In the 2011-12 season, Brisebois' Norfolk Admirals set a pro sports record with 28-game win streak. In 2010-11 season, The Hockey News recognized Brisebois as the top hockey executive under age 40.
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assistant: The search to replace fired Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis began immediately following, if not before, Sunday’s announcement of his dismissal. Will the NHL club opt for a veteran or look to promote an up-and-coming assistant GM?