Report: Flames to pursue permission to interview Maple Leafs AGM Brandon Pridham for GM position

The Calgary Flames are expected to request permission to speak with Brandon Pridham, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant general manager responsible for salary cap compliance, for their open general manager position.

Daily Faceoff hockey insider Frank Seravalli reported the news early on Monday morning. The Flames have been operating without a permanent general manager since April 17, when the club mutually agreed to part ways with Brad Treliving.

Pridham, 49, has been with the Maple Leafs since 2014. He joined the club as an assistant to the general manager before being promoted to his current assistant general manager position under Kyle Dubas in 2018.

Before joining the Maple Leafs, Pridham spent 15 years working for the National Hockey League in both the Central Scouting and Central Registry departments.

Among Pridham’s extensive duties during his tenure at the NHL head office included serving as the contact person for NHL general managers and other executives on issues involving the the Collective Bargaining Agreement, salary cap, and NHL Central Scouting.

Pridham has taken active roles in negotiating contracts, managing the salary cap, and navigating the CBA during his time with the Maple Leafs — not exactly an enviable task, given the hurdles over which the team has had to jump to keep its expensive core together.

In his press conference following Treliving’s departure last month, Flames president of hockey operations and interim general manager Don Maloney — heading the search for the new GM — said the club is looking for “somebody younger, progressive, [and] inventive” to take over in Calgary.

This year, the Maple Leafs advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004, although they subsequently fell to the Florida Panthers in five games.

Much has been made about Dubas’ lack of a contract beyond this season, but less is known about Pridham’s status. Nevertheless, it appears he’s one of the top targets on the Flames’ list.