Montreal interested in Kings’ Luc Robitaille for general manager

Montreal’s continuing search for a new general manager could end up winding though the Kings’ organization to its Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille.

The Montreal-born Robitaille is the Kings’ president of business operations, the team’s alternate governor and popular public face of the franchise. Sportsnet reported Wednesday morning that the Canadiens were planning to reach out to Robitaille. They are in the early stages of assembling possible candidates for the position.

In fact, the Canadiens already have been in talks with AEG’s Tim Leiweke, who is the president of that organization and governor of the Kings.

“We have had several conversations with the Habs as the new owners are good friends and [former Kings’ executive] Kevin Gilmore is there now,” said Leiweke in an email to The Times on Wednesday. “They have an interest in talking to a few of our guys, but we agreed to wait and discuss that interest after the playoffs get started.

“Thus, that is only a rumor. They are currently allowing us to get the first round under our belts.”

Robitaille, who was on his way to Vancouver for Game 1 of the Kings-Canucks series, declined comment through a team official. He has been the Kings’ president of business operations since May 2007.

The 46-year-old Robitaille, the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history, retired after the 2005-06 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Montreal fired General Manager Pierre Gauthier on March 29.

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Montreal interested in Kings’ Luc Robitaille for general manager