The Montreal Canadiens' search for a new general manager could be heading West.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Twitter and on its website on Wednesday that the team is interested in talking to Los Angeles Kings Assistant GM Ron Hextall and President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille about their job vacancy.
"We have had several conversations with the Habs as the new owners are good friends and (former Kings' executive) Kevin Gilmore is there now," Anschutz Entertainment Group president Tim Leiweke wrote in an email to The Times on Wednesday. "They have an interest in talking to a few of our guys, but we agreed to wait and discuss that interest after the playoffs get started.
"Thus, that is only a rumor. They are currently allowing us to get the first round under our belts."
Robitaille, 46, is the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history and retired after the 2005-06 season. The Hall of Famer was named the Kings' president of business operations in 2007.
Hextall, 47, played 13 NHL seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders. He worked for the Flyers as a pro scout and later became Director of Professional Player Personnel before joining the Kings as Vice President and Assistant General Manager.
The Canadiens began their GM search after the firing of general manager Pierre Gauthier on Mar. 29, with owner and team president Geoff Molson and newly-appointed advisor Serge Savard leading the hiring process.
Files from The Los Angeles Times were used for this report.
