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Greg Wishynski
multiple authors
Toronto Maple Leafs The team announced Sunday that they have hired a surprise combination of former star player Matt Sundin and former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka to lead their front office.
Sundin will be the team’s senior executive advisor for hockey operations. Chaika is the 19th GM in franchise history to replace Brad Treliving. The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs this season and have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967, the longest active championship drought in the NHL.
“Today is an important day for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization,” Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to welcome John and Mats to their roles, two great hockey minds who will strengthen our entire hockey club. From the beginning of this process, it has been about building a championship-caliber team for our fans and our city and today is an important step toward that goal.”
The Maple Leafs fired Treliving – who had served as GM through May 2023 – after the season. Toronto cast a wide net for his replacement, interviewing executives with prior general manager experience such as former general manager Mike Gillis. vancouver canucksAs well as rising stars like Scott White, assistant GM (dallas stars), Ryan Martin (New York Rangers) and Evan Gould (boston bruins). One name was prominently mentioned in his search Florida Panthers Assistant GM Sunny Mehta, who was hired immediately New Jersey Devils as their new general manager.
Sundin, 55, is a Hockey Hall of Fame center who played 13 seasons with the Maple Leafs and is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He has never worked in an NHL front-office position before, but has been around the Maple Leafs in recent years, including training camp.
According to multiple sources, Sundin’s role as senior advisor is not superfluous: it is expected that he will have a significant influence on the direction of the team on and off the ice.
Officially, the Maple Leafs say Sundin will be a “strategic advisor and will provide assistance in hockey operations with a focus on team culture, player development and leadership support.”
The 36-year-old Chayka was the youngest general manager in major league sports history when he was hired by the Arizona Coyotes in May 2016 at the age of 26. He joined them a year ago as assistant general manager after co-founding Statlets, a hockey analytics organization that works with Canadian junior teams.
“I am honored to join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and look forward to working with Matts and the entire organization,” Chayka said in a statement. “This is one of hockey’s most historic franchises, with a passionate fan base that wants to win. My focus is on building a team that is competitive, motivated and relentless – one that is in the best position to win for our fans and the city of Toronto.”
The Coyotes made the playoffs once during Chayka’s time as general manager. They ceased operations in 2024, with the remains of the franchise used to launch the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City.
Chayka’s time with the Coyotes came with some moments of controversy. He resigned just before the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2020 after his relationship with Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo strained after Chayka sought a new opportunity outside the organization. Sources told ESPN at the time that the opportunity was up to Devils owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer.
The NHL suspended Chayka from working in the league until 2021 after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman accused the teams of “conduct that is detrimental to the league and the game.” In an unrelated matter, the Coyotes were also stripped of two draft selections for violating the scouting alliance policy of conducting physical testing of draft-eligible players. This happened when Chayka was the GM of the team.
Chayka did not return to the NHL after being waived by the Coyotes in 2020. He has been the CEO of JKC Capital, which runs Wendy’s and Tim Horton’s franchises in Canada.
The Maple Leafs will formally announce the hiring of Sundin and Chayka at a news conference on Monday.
Key questions for the new executives: How does the club intend to regroup after missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons, and where is the star center auston matthews Fits into those plans. Matthews, 28, is under contract through 2028 with a cap hit of $13.25 million.
