A day after being shut down by yet another team in their quest to rebuild management, TSN has learned that the Toronto Maple Leafs have made contact with former Dallas Stars general manager Doug Armstrong.
Armstrong was contacted last week and is expected to meet with Toronto's brass sometime this week.
Maple Leafs interim general manager Cliff Fletcher had asked the Florida Panthers for permission to speak with Joe Nieuwendyk last week, but the Panthers declined.
Toronto will now have to wait until July 1 when Nieuwendyk's contract with the Panthers expires before they can officially approach him.
Toronto is also interested in ex-Vancouver Canucks GM Dave Nonis, who met with the Leafs' brass May 14th.
Sources say the Leafs remain in contact with Nonis and are hopeful he will soften from his insistance any job he accepts in Toronto comes with complete hockey authority.
Nieuwendyk, described by an executive close to the Maple Leafs search as "a bright young hockey person who has unlimited potential" resigned in April, leaving his position with the Panthers as a special assistant to the general manager.
The Florida Panthers join the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings among the teams who have declined to give the Toronto Maple Leafs permission to speak their people.