All this speculation is annoying. The playoffs are on. I am tired of these guys (the media) talking out of their ass about the Leafs management.
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Leafs Front Office 2026-27
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
herman
Well-known member
A) it’s their job to chase the hockey related stories. Ignoring the largest market in their audience? how can that be profitable for
B) they also talk playoffs
C) everything they podcast is timestamped by topic, and the threads here are marked by topic, so you should be able to find the discussion that resonates with your interests
Ok, it's me.
L K
Well-known member
Going from Boston Pizza to Wendy's is probably a slight upgrade but elegant exactly did Chayka do in Arizona to suggest he was any good. I know ownership was a dogs breakfast but the Coyotes were nothing when he was in charge and his biggest claim to fame was a tampering penalty
There's certainly some warts in his transaction history but acquiring Kuemper and Raanta gave Arizona one of the top goalie tandems in the league for a little while. He drafted/acquired Keller, Schmaltz, and Chychrun and gave them all big contract extensions that all turned out to be pretty great value deals for the team. Also acquired Lawson Crouse, who along with Keller and Schmaltz, are still making pretty big impacts on the team 6 years after he left. I'm not saying he's some hockey prodigy but considering that a) he was almost certainly rushed into a GM job and b) he was rushed into a GM job with a minor league hockey team masquerading as a NHL team I think he did a fine enough job.
I'm certainly skeptical about giving him the top job with no oversight though considering his time as a GM with Arizona is basically the equivalent to someone's experience as a AGM with a real NHL team.
I also think all the circumstances leading to him leaving Arizona look a little differently now considering all that we learned about Alex Meruelo in the time since.
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
I'm ok with Chayka as long as you have a POHO like Gillis to oversee. What they don't need is a meddling Pelley.
Yeah that that might just be the biggest negative to not getting a Gillis-type POHO.
herman
Well-known member
Who is John Chayka, and why are the Leafs considering him?
Digging beyond the surface proved to be very easy.
www.pensionplanpuppets.com
Friedman on the latest 32T also indicates the Leafs are waiting on a Sundin decision
dappleganger
Well-known member
To me there are ethical issues with Chayka that you have to stay away from.
Absolutely. He can work his way back into the league but how do you get fired and banned from the league for shady practices for a number of years and go directly to running the Leafs? It's nonsensical.
I'm getting more comfortable with the idea of Scott White being the only guy hired. The guy is 58 year old, has 20 years of management experience going back to the AHL, and has been directly under Jim Nill for 13 seasons in Dallas. As much as I'd like Gillis involved I'm not sure how much tutelage he would provide with White.
ZBBM
Well-known member
Once again, you are correct. Let him handle the on-ice and Mats drive the vibe.
L K
Well-known member
The only thing is I think I want as much separation from Pelley and his meddling as possible. Having Peddie sticking his nose in every franchise is overkill. It's also amusing to me that Rogers loves having Atkins/Shapiro for the Jays but doesn't want a President in their other entities.
If the Leafs stay out of his way and let him do what he needs to do, I'm fine with that, but I don't like the vibe I get from Peddie.
If the Leafs stay out of his way and let him do what he needs to do, I'm fine with that, but I don't like the vibe I get from Peddie.
lamajama
Well-known member
I'd rather steal their head scout..
Well we got their head scout's 2nd in command. So getting Jim Nill's second in command would be fitting too.
I think the world of Sundin. He was a great Leaf. Having him have some role with the Leafs is nice.
But I don't think he's done much in hockey management or executive management, etc since he retired.
Spezza allegedly turned down his candidacy for the Leafs because he felt he had much more to learn.
In terms of working experience he would seem well ahead of Sundin.
To have the GM search up in the air over what Mats decides seems surreal to me. I'm not sure I believe it
An assistant GM in training might make some sense but the Leafs management shouldn't be turned upside down for that.
They're making me uneasy
But I don't think he's done much in hockey management or executive management, etc since he retired.
Spezza allegedly turned down his candidacy for the Leafs because he felt he had much more to learn.
In terms of working experience he would seem well ahead of Sundin.
To have the GM search up in the air over what Mats decides seems surreal to me. I'm not sure I believe it
An assistant GM in training might make some sense but the Leafs management shouldn't be turned upside down for that.
They're making me uneasy
herman
Well-known member
Chris Johnston noted on his podcast:
podcasts.apple.com
So for whatever it’s worth, the former players who knew him felt the POHO position was something Sundin had the chops for.
From The Chris Johnston Show: Sundin For Maple Leafs Job? | The Chris Johnston Show, Apr 17, 2026
Sundin For Maple Leafs Job? | The Chris Johnston Show
Podcast Episode · The Chris Johnston Show · April 17 · 46m
podcasts.apple.com
So for whatever it’s worth, the former players who knew him felt the POHO position was something Sundin had the chops for.