[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Gresto

Perhaps, but she's too young and untested.

I think to remain relevant the NDP must at least meet the Liberals on the lower-left of the quadrant, and preferably exceed them into the corner at least a bit, if not ambitiously. Otherwise they have lost their traditional raison d'etre, which was to be Canada's social democrats. Canada needs a fire-and-brimstone leftist party to keep it honest.
Offhand, I can't think of a credible candidate with the gravitas and "charisma" to pull it off, which is why I think they should have hung onto Mulcair for the interim until someone emerged. An éminence grise like Sanders or Nader would be welcome here. Broadbent, but he's simply too old.
I have heard Avi Lewis's name bandied about, and he would be an intriguing aspirant. He has the lineage, and years in the trenches as a leftist media personality, but he has no political inexperience and is apparently not biting.

Interesting thought but, as you say, no real political experience. Also a bit of a "silver spoon socialist", which might be hard for some to digest.