Mike Babcock isn’t the only new member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.
The Leafs added Saginaw Spirit general manager Jim Paliafito to Toronto’s front office as director of player evaluation.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos was first to report the news.
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Paliafito is the latest Ontario Hockey League GM to join the Leafs. Director of player personnel Mark Hunter was the longtime GM of the London Knights and assistant GM Kyle Dubas was recruited by the Leafs after serving as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds’ GM.
The Milwaukee native has been with the Spirit since 2009 when he joined the organization as head scout. He became assistant GM of the Spirit in 2010 before being promoted to full-time GM in late 2011. This past December, Paliafito signed a contract extension with the Spirit through the 2015-2016 season, but had the Spirit’s blessing to move onto the NHL.
The Leafs also announced the hiring of amateur scout Lindsay Hofford, who knows Hunter well after working as director of scouting for the OHL’s Knights.