Sources in Colorado and Toronto have said little about the permission the Maple Leafs granted the Colorado Avalanche to speak to assistant general manager Kyle Dubas — which Toronto quickly revoked.

A report on TSN’s Insider Trading on Wednesday suggested the window shut because the Leafs did not know Avs officials intended to offer Dubas a job, one with reported total control of hockey operations in Denver.

TSN's Darren Dreger says the Leafs initially let Dubas converse with the Avs “to swap philosophical ideas and work on the world of analytics (a Dubus specialty). They did not see Colorado looking at Dubas as a potential hire.”

Dubas, brought in at age 28 by team president Brendan Shanahan before general manager Lou Lamoriello was hired in 2015, has been often mentioned as a successor to the latter.

But the 74-year-old Lamoriello seems re-energized as an exec in Toronto and he clouded the picture when giving an assistant GM’s title to player personnel boss Mark Hunter last year. That said, there is speculation Dubas will soon get a contract extension.

FLAME OUT

Former Leafs GM Brian Burke caused a stir in Calgary on Wednesday, warning the Flames could leave if they don’t get co-operation from the city with a new arena.

Speaking to the Canadian Club, with some season ticket holders and media present, the club’s president of hockey operations stepped up rhetoric the club could look elsewhere for a home after its $890-million proposal for a multi-sport arena complex was opposed by city council in March.

The current Saddledome is now ancient in NHL terms at 30 years old and there’s lots of jealousy among fans in Calgary after Edmonton built the widely acclaimed Rogers Place.

NHL IN SEATTLE?

Hollywood film producer Jerry Bruckheimer and friend of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has joined billionaire investment banker David Bonderman in the group chosen by Seattle to renovate the city’s KeyArena for a planned NHL and NBA team. The expanded group, chaired by former MLSE president Tim Leiweke, were introduced Wednesday.

While the NBA is not looking to grow just yet, the NHL will eventually have to add a 16th team in the Western Conference for balance. The 73-year-old Bruckheimer has been chasing a franchise for years. He and Bonderman were in the hunt for the team that became the Vegas Golden Knights and Bruckheimer pursued the Pittsburgh Penguins about 10 years ago.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said: “I do think the NHL will be here sooner than the NBA. But I think both of them will be here. I think this is the arena that will get us here.”

ICE CHIPS

Kris Knoblauch, who coached Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome and Connor Brown of the Erie Otters and was runner-up in the 2017 Memorial Cup, has taken a job with the Flyers as Dave Hakstol’s assistant. Hakstol will be entering his third year with a one round playoff appearance and a failure to qualify in ‘16-17 ... Memorial Cup winner Windsor will lose head coach Rocky Thompson to the AHL Chicago Wolves, farm team for the Golden Knights. The Wolves hired Thompson as head coach on Wednesday ... That ferocious lion tattoo with a crown that Leafs rookie Auston Matthews had put on his right arm by an artist in Arizona has some resemblance to the alternate logo of the Los Angeles Kings, noted on the Twitter feed of L.A. team mascot Bailey. ‘Honoured @AM34 got a tattoo of me on his arm. Don’t tell Carlton’ @BaileyLAKings posted ... The Blackhawks have signed 6-foot-3 defenceman Jan Rutta ... TSN reports Chris Chelios will be leaving his position as advisor to Detroit GM Ken Holland for a possible ombudsman role with the players’ association.

Honored @AM34 got a tattoo of me on his arm. Don't tell Carlton 😉 pic.twitter.com/b6RnqkJIpy — Bailey LA Kings (@BaileyLAKings) June 6, 2017

lhornby@postmedia.com