Hunter dismisses notion he could join Islanders: 'There is nothing to that'

Mark Hunter insists he hasn't discussed the possibility of joining the Islanders with Lou Lamoriello, the former Toronto Maple Leafs GM who was named New York's president of hockey operations Tuesday.

"Isn't it quick how people want to (make those connections?)" Hunter said with a chuckle to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan on Tuesday night. "There is nothing to that. I have not talked to Lou. Lou has a million things going on right now. He has bigger fish."

Hunter called the Leafs GM position "a job you dream of" and expressed disappointment with not being tabbed as the next one, but said he understood team president Brendan Shanahan's decision to promote Kyle Dubas.

"No, I don't get bitter," Hunter said. "People make decisions and Shanny had his reasons. (I) feel good about what has happened with the team, where we have gone and where we can go. Sure, it's disappointing. But we all make decisions and move ahead and don't look back."

He has a non-compete agreement that will prevent other teams from hiring him until July 15.

Dubas was named Toronto's GM earlier this month, following Lamoriello's departure in late April.

Hunter parted ways with the Leafs on Tuesday morning, in a revelation that came about an hour before Lamoriello was officially appointed to his new role.

The former assistant GM served in Toronto's front office for about three-and-a-half years, beginning as director of player personnel in the fall of 2014 and becoming co-interim GM along with Dubas when Dave Nonis was fired in April 2015.

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