The Toronto Maple Leafs have made it official. On Sunday, the team announced the hiring of franchise legend Mats Sundin and former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka to lead the hockey department. The duo will be introduced at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
Sundin returns as senior adviser
Mats Sundin, the Leafs' all-time leading scorer with 987 points, will serve as senior executive adviser for hockey operations. The 55-year-old Swede played 13 seasons in Toronto and has remained a beloved figure among fans, though he has no prior front-office experience.
“This fan base deserves greatness and I am grateful for the opportunity to help this team, organization and city achieve that,” Sundin said in a statement. “My love for the Maple Leafs and the City of Toronto is an important part of who I am. I look forward to working closely with John.”
Chayka becomes 19th GM in franchise history
John Chayka, who turns 37 in June, takes over as the 19th general manager in Maple Leafs history. He previously served as GM of the Arizona Coyotes from 2016 to 2020, leading them to one playoff appearance. He resigned on the eve of the 2020 postseason and was later suspended by the NHL for conduct detrimental to the league.
“I’m honoured to join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and excited to work alongside Mats,” Chayka said. “This is one of hockey’s most historic franchises, with a passionate fan base who want to win. I’m focused on building a competitive, driven and relentless team.”
Immediate challenges ahead
Chayka faces a lengthy to-do list. The future of head coach Craig Berube remains uncertain after the Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. If Berube is let go, Bruce Cassidy is expected to be a top candidate. The team also holds the No. 5 pick in Tuesday's NHL draft lottery, though they risk losing the pick to Boston if they fall out of the top five.
Another priority is meeting with captain Auston Matthews, who has two years left on his contract. Chayka must gauge Matthews' feelings about the team's direction and his off-season plans.
The Sundin-Chayka tandem is an unproven combination, but the Leafs hope Sundin's presence can restore respect while Chayka's analytics-driven approach brings a modern edge. Only time will tell if this partnership can lead Toronto back to contention.
