STINSON: The Maple Leafs might have a new GM, who has a lot of work to do

By itself, the switch from Dubas to Treliving is not the big swing that many imagined.

When Sam Reinhart scored the overtime goal to send the Toronto Maple Leafs into an 0-3 hole in the second round of the playoffs, the one where he looped around behind the blue line, meandered into the zone and headed to the net because no one could be arsed to check him, there was immediately much speculation about teardowns and rebuilds and Blowing It Up.

Some of that was an emotional reaction to watching a star-laden team spectacularly swan dive in the playoffs again — just when it seemed like they had figured it out! — but there was a clear sense that things had to change. Not necessarily scorched earth, but scorched earth if necessary.

A little over three weeks later, the earth remains largely unscorched.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday night that Toronto president Brendan Shanahan is leaning toward hiring former Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving to replace Kyle Dubas, who was headed back to reprise his role right until he wasn’t. Treliving, 53, was one of the first names floated as a potential hire when Dubas was cashiered on May 19.

If nothing else, Shanahan can’t be accused of overthinking this one. There was an experienced guy available, and that was that.

By itself, the switch from Dubas to Treliving is not the big swing that many imagined. Dubas infamously won just the one playoff round in five seasons in charge in Toronto, Treliving won two series in nine years in Calgary. Flames ownership wanted Treliving back for a 10^th season (and presumably beyond), but he walked away when his contract expired.

That the organization wanted him to continue suggests a baseline competency at his job, but the accomplishments of the Flames under his watch do not exactly leap off the page. They had 107 points and won the Pacific division in 2018-19, then lost in the first round of the playoffs, otherwise known as a Leafs.

Last season they looked like a true powerhouse, with 111 points and another division title, but lost in the second round to Edmonton. Then Johnny Gaudreau left as a free agent and Treliving traded Matthew Tkachuk when he said he wouldn’t re-sign long-term in Calgary. The Flames missed the playoffs and Tkachuk is a Conn Smythe candidate, scoring key goals and dangling his mouthguard for the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

Treliving, then, has been good but not great, is familiar with the pressures of working in a Canadian market, and is not unfamiliar with making big trades. That seems to have been enough for Shanahan, although the key attribute for the presumed new hire is that he is not Kyle Dubas. This isn’t the flashy hire of Lou Lamoriello or Mike Babcock, like Shanahan’s earliest moves. It’s a guy who, like him, remains unproven after nine years on the job.

What happens next will go a lot further to determine how different the Maple Leafs of next season look compared with this season. Head coach Sheldon Keefe is presumed to be on his way out, although a new GM often prefers to keep the existing guy behind the bench so he can be replaced at the first sign of crisis.

The decisions with the roster will be even more complicated. If Shanahan wants his man to blow it up, even a little, that would mean moving on from one (or more) of four star forwards. But Treliving did that a year ago, and look how that turned out.

If Treliving is indeed announced as the next Toronto GM, there won’t be any time for a honeymoon. He’ll have to get straight to work on the messy divorce.

sstinson@postmedia.com