Maple Leafs quickly replace Wes Clark in front office.

The Toronto Maple Leafs dealt with a bit of an awkward situation last week following the departure of Wes Clark from the organization.

Clark, who had served as the Maple Leafs director of scouting after being appointed to the role by former Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas during the 2021-22 season, published a message on social media that rubbed some fans the wrong way. The message was clearly hinting at Clark's loyalty to the aforementioned Kyle Dubas, but some took it as a shot against the Maple Leafs organization as well.

That left the Maple Leafs with an ugly bit of public relations as well as a hole in their organizational hierarchy that needed filling, one that they have rapidly filled with a more than adequate replacement.

On Thursday, the Maple Leafs officially announced the hiring of Mark Leach, formerly of the Dallas Stars, and announced that Leach would take over as the director of amateur scouting. Leach's new role will effectively see him replacing Clark, and it is hard to argue with Leach's track record of success from his time with the Dallas Stars.

The Stars went on a deep playoff run this season and many had predicted they would emerge from the Western Conference Final to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Final, thanks in large part to the depth they boasted on their roster. That depth includes the likes of Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven, players who were a big factor for the Stars in the Stanley Cup playoffs and just so happen to be players who were targeted by Leach during his tenure with that organization.

If Leach is able to replicate the success he had in Dallas with the Maple Leafs, I suspect fans will quickly forget the name of Wes Clark.