The Toronto Maple Leafs have let go of three more front-office staff members as general manager John Chayka continues to reshape the organization. The Toronto Sun learned that Darryl Metcalf, assistant general manager of hockey research and development; Mark Leach, director of amateur scouting; and Dave Morrison, senior advisor of player personnel, were all dismissed on Wednesday.
Long-tenured staff depart
Metcalf had been with the Leafs since 2014 and played a key role in building the club's analytics department. He had held his current position since 2022. Leach was hired two years ago under former GM Brad Treliving. Morrison was the longest-serving of the three, joining the Leafs in 2004 as an amateur scout and later serving as director of amateur scouting and director of pro scouting.
The team declined to comment through a spokesperson. More changes could be on the way.
Previous departures and new hires
These firings follow a wave of changes since Chayka and Mats Sundin were hired in the first week of May. Assistant GM Brandon Pridham, assistant GM of player personnel Derek Clancey, and special advisor Shane Doan have already left. Chayka has brought in Judd Brackett as assistant GM of player evaluation and Freddie Hamilton as chief of staff.
Behind the bench, Craig Berube was fired, and after a five-week search, Jim Hiller was hired as head coach.
On-ice moves and coaching staff
Chayka has also reshaped the roster, acquiring star defenceman Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, signing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency, and drafting Gavin McKenna first overall. He also rebuilt the team's bottom six forward group.
On Thursday, Steve Sullivan was named head coach of the Toronto Marlies, replacing John Gruden, who was promoted to the Leafs' coaching staff. Sullivan had been promoted to the Leafs in December when Marc Savard was fired and helped improve the team's power play. The Leafs recently announced the hirings of Daniel Alfredsson, John Gruden, and Brad Werenka to Hiller's staff, while Mike Van Ryn and Derek Lalonde will not return. Sullivan's new role explains why he was not mentioned in that announcement.
