The first significant change in the Toronto Maple Leafs' front office under new general manager John Chayka has occurred, as the team confirmed the departure of Shane Doan on Monday afternoon.
Doan's Tenure with the Leafs
Doan was hired in June 2023 by former GM Brad Treliving, just two weeks after Treliving took over, serving as special advisor to the general manager. His contract was set to expire on June 30. The move is not unexpected, as the Leafs had recently granted the Vancouver Canucks permission to speak with Doan about a role in their front office.
Front Office Restructuring
MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley hinted at the end of March that a leaner front office might be forthcoming, regardless of who became the new GM. Since Doan was a direct hire of Treliving, his departure was widely anticipated. It remains to be seen whether any of the five assistant general managers—Brandon Pridham, Derek Clancey, Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, Darryl Metcalf, and Ryan Hardy—will continue under Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin.
Coaching and Captaincy Updates
Despite the Leafs' failure to make the playoffs this season, there is a growing sense that head coach Craig Berube will be retained. Berube has two years remaining on his contract. No updates have been provided on discussions between Chayka, Sundin, and captain Auston Matthews regarding his future with the organization. Matthews has two years left on his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2028.
The Leafs also recently assigned top defence prospect Ben Danford to the Toronto Marlies, while Newhook scored twice to lead the Canadiens to a Game 2 victory in Buffalo.
