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Scott Bowman left the impression on Saturday night that he might be willing to have another dance with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
When he was asked by Ron MacLean on CBC's Hockey Night In Canada if he would accept a job in charge of the Maple Leafs if it was offered by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Bowman sidestepped the question. But he did not say the matter was closed.
"That's a pretty tough question to answer," Bowman said. "You're asking something that's real hypothetical. It would be awful tough to leave [the Detroit Red Wings].
"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it."
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MLSE president Richard Peddie, who was attending Saturday night's Leafs game against the Sharks in San Jose, declined to comment. He said via e-mail that he would not say anything because he did not see the interview.
When Peddie was asked if he or the MLSE board would be interested in talking to Bowman again he replied that "we have a GM."
The future of that general manager, John Ferguson, is in doubt once again because of the Leafs' losing ways. They went into the Sharks game with four consecutive losses and only two wins in their last 12 games.
A source within MLSE said the board of directors wants to fire Ferguson but will not act until there is a succession plan. Earlier on Saturday, Peddie said there was nothing new concerning Ferguson's future.
Bowman, who is under contract to the Red Wings as a consultant, admitted to MacLean that he had three interviews with MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum, Peddie and some of the directors in mid-August in his last flirtation with a senior position with the Leafs. Bowman said the talks ended when Peddie told him they decided to leave general manager John Ferguson solely in charge because it was getting to close to the start of the season.
