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Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 facts about Laurence Gilman

By Paul Taylor

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 30: Bo Horvat (C) poses with Laurence Gilman (L), Vice President Hockey Operations and Assistant General Manager, and Ron Delorme (R), Chief Amateur Scout after being selected number nine overall in the first round by the Vancouver Canucks during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center on June 30, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 30: Bo Horvat (C) poses with Laurence Gilman (L), Vice President Hockey Operations and Assistant General Manager, and Ron Delorme (R), Chief Amateur Scout after being selected number nine overall in the first round by the Vancouver Canucks during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center on June 30, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Laurence Gilman as their second assistant general manager, but what do we know about the 53-year-old?

It’s been a busy period recently for the Toronto Maple Leafs, thanks to a combination of departures, promotions and hirings. Thursday has turned out to be no different.

As reported by the Canadian Press, via Sportsnet, the Leafs have hired Laurence Gilman to be their assistant general manager. This move comes just one day after new GM Kyle Dubas promoted Brandon Pridham to the same position.

The Leafs released a statement to confirm the appointment of Gilman, who will manage player development and take over as GM of the Toronto Marlies. As reported by Sportsnet, Dubas said:

"“Adding Laurence to our front office and having him work alongside Brandon Pridham as an assistant general manager gives our program great depth and breadth of knowledge across all areas of hockey operations. We feel very fortunate to have both Brandon and Laurence as key parts of our executive team.”"

As you’d expect, hockey fans will have varying degrees of familiarity with Gilman. As such, here are five things to know about the Leafs’ new assistant GM:

1) Gilman graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 1991, before attending the University of North Dakota School of Law. As per canucks.ice.nhl.com, he received his Juris Doctorate in 1994 and was admitted to the State Bar of Minnesota in 1995.

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2) As per the Calgary Sun, Gilman spent 13 years with the Phoenix Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets. He held a variety of roles, including senior vice president, assistant GM, and GM of the San Antonio Rampage, who were the club’s AHL affiliate.

3) The Winnipeg native was hired by the Vancouver Canucks in 2008, to be their vice president of hockey operations and assistant GM. As per canucks.ice.nhl.com, he also developed the club’s strategic salary cap plan before being fired in July 2015.

4) Prior to joining the Leafs, Gilman had been working for the NHL. As per the Canadian Press, one of his most notable achievements was helping create the rules for the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft.

5) It seems the Leafs had some major competition in order to secure Gilman’s services. According to the highly respected Elliotte Friedman, he was set to become the next commissioner of the ECHL.

Next: Leafs announce new ECHL affiliate

Are you familiar at all with Gilman? What is your take on his appointment as assistant GM for the Toronto Maple Leafs? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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