The Minnesota Wild are building a list of candidates to replace fired general manager Doug Risebrough.
Sources tell TSN the Wild have contacted the Toronto Maple Leafs seeking permission to speak with Dave Nonis, the Leafs' senior vice president of hockey operations.
Toronto has flatly declined.
Under the terms of Nonis's contract with the Leafs an out clause doesn't kick in until the summer of 2010.
Former Tampa Bay Lightning general manager, Jay Feaster, is eager to get back into the NHL and has already approached the Wild, as well as the Colorado Avalanche to express his interest in both management vacancies.