A lot of AGM's and head scouts get GM gigs and they can't translate whatever made them successful in support roles into their jobs as GMs. Hunter is still pretty green as far as being NHL management, just surprised he's not taking the time to really develop himself for that promotion.
Once upon a time, Marc Bergevin was a pretty highly regarded management prospect coming out of Chicago. Jim Nill hasn't been able to duplicate his success in Dallas as he had in Detroit. Jason Botterill hasn't done much in Buffalo to date.
Jim Benning has somehow made Vancouver an absolute mess with only a few high picks giving them hope for the future as well.
I just wonder who the Leafs decide to have replace him? My guess is
Chuck Fletcher from Minnesota (assuming he's not re-signed by Minnesota or goes elsewhere of course),
Jim Paliafito internally and
Victor Carneiro from SSM.
Chuck Fletcher and Jim Paliafito split everything Dubas and Hunter did outside of Director of Player Personnel, and Victor Carneiro gets Hunter's Director of Player Personnel role and will scout as well.
Fletcher will get title of AGM, Marlies GM and maybe some fancy Ex. VP of Hockey Operations title like he did with Minnesota as well. He'll have a whole bunch of different responsibilities, including helping out Dubas properly transition to the GM role, so might as well give him a fancy title to go with it.
Paliafito will keep his current job of Director of Player Evaluation but just add AGM to it. He already does more AGM stuff than Hunter ever did anyways, and he has earned the promotion. He may only have a few more responsibilities than he does now, but the Leafs may decide to promote or add someone to be an Assistant Director of Player Evaluation to help him if his plate is too full.
Carneiro was SSM's Director of Player Personnel from now all the way back to the Dubas days, and also has a ton of experience as a scout in the OHL (with London of all teams), which would make him a perfect replacement for someone like Hunter.