Eyes On Isles
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New York Islanders Should Target Toronto Maple Leafs Mark Hunter

By Michel Anderson

BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: Toronto Maple Leafs Lou Lamoriello, Mark Hunter and Bob Pulford attend round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: Toronto Maple Leafs Lou Lamoriello, Mark Hunter and Bob Pulford attend round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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With all this talk about getting Lou Lamoriello as the New York Islanders next GM, we all forgot about Mark Hunter and the work he’s done for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs appointing Kyle Dubas as the team’s 17th GM, New York Islanders have set their sights on Hall of Fame builder Lou Lamoriello. But there’s another name in Toronto that the Isles should also take a look at; Mark Hunter.

Mark Hunter is currently an Assistant General Manager in Toronto. He started with the club in 2014 as their Director of Player Personnel. Essentially head scout. And Hunter is arguably the man responsible for the spot Toronto is in today.

Hunter’s pedigree is player evaluation and talent identification. He’s likely the reason the

Toronto Maple Leafs took Mitch Marne

r fourth overall in 2015 over

Noah Hanifin

. He’s exactly who the Islanders need.

The GM They Need

First off, why would Mark Hunter leave a team that is on the up in the Toronto Maple Leafs for a team that isn’t seemingly going anywhere in the New York Islanders? According to a few, Hunter can’t be happy with being passed over…

"“A lot of executives I’ve spoken with believe that when it comes to the next general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it goes in the favour of Mark Hunter, for no other reason than his resume,” Kypreos said during the Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night."

if there’s one thing the New York Islanders have been terrible at it’s finding talent. Sure they have Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier. But how about Ryan Strome, Michale Dal Colle, Griffin Reinhart? All are top five picks in the draft. None had a sustained impact with the Isles.

And with two picks in the top half of the NHL draft in 2018, what better time to get a GM who’s primary asset is being a  super scout, then now? This is the time.

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Next: 10 Step Plan To Fix The Islanders

Garth Snow has got to go. And I understand bringing in Hall of Fame builder Lou Lamoriello. But if they can bring in a guy with a skill that the New York Islanders clearly lack, why not make the move?

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