Leafs Front Office 2026 | Official: Sundin & Chayka to lead front office
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
Peter D.
Moderator
Range of emotions and thoughts on this:
-- Sundin is and always be my favourite Leaf of all time, so him being back in any capacity, let alone a significant one like this, I'm all for.
-- Maybe the title doesn't matter, but senior exec. advisor, hockey opers. seems like a weird one. Why not v-p or president?
-- I really don't think Sundin - who never really screamed as a management type nor one who would show interest in it - would take on this role after 15+ years of retirement and living in his homeland with his young family if it wasn't worth his while. Especially if it is true they will be moving here full time.
-- I do think the idea of delivering a Stanley Cup to Toronto, something he was unable to do as a player, skewed things into him taking the position.
-- Chayka reporting directly to Pelley is concerning. GTFO of the way, Pelley.
-- Similarly, Sundin's inexperience is not too much of concern to me if he is less hands on in the hockey making side and more in the overall culture of the Leafs and laying the proper foundation down, both off and on the ice. I do wish though he was the bridge between Chayka and Pelley.
-- I didn't care one bit for Dubas at the time, nor did I care for Chayka either as being a part of their "new wave" of GMs. He wouldn't have been my top choice, but...
-- ...old or young. Experienced or inexperienced. Stanley Cup or no Cup. Doesn't matter at this point. We have had a flavour for all types in the last 20 years, and all have failed (some more miserably than others). As such, I'm willing to give Chayka a chance here. What's there to lose at this point. So long as he is proactive, slightly out of the box, willing to make the big move and/or hard decision, and sets a path forward.
-- But frig...Pelley. The guy just does not give any positive vibes as an executive nor for the overall direction of the team. Really hope I/we am/are proven wrong.
-- Sundin is and always be my favourite Leaf of all time, so him being back in any capacity, let alone a significant one like this, I'm all for.
-- Maybe the title doesn't matter, but senior exec. advisor, hockey opers. seems like a weird one. Why not v-p or president?
-- I really don't think Sundin - who never really screamed as a management type nor one who would show interest in it - would take on this role after 15+ years of retirement and living in his homeland with his young family if it wasn't worth his while. Especially if it is true they will be moving here full time.
-- I do think the idea of delivering a Stanley Cup to Toronto, something he was unable to do as a player, skewed things into him taking the position.
-- Chayka reporting directly to Pelley is concerning. GTFO of the way, Pelley.
-- Similarly, Sundin's inexperience is not too much of concern to me if he is less hands on in the hockey making side and more in the overall culture of the Leafs and laying the proper foundation down, both off and on the ice. I do wish though he was the bridge between Chayka and Pelley.
-- I didn't care one bit for Dubas at the time, nor did I care for Chayka either as being a part of their "new wave" of GMs. He wouldn't have been my top choice, but...
-- ...old or young. Experienced or inexperienced. Stanley Cup or no Cup. Doesn't matter at this point. We have had a flavour for all types in the last 20 years, and all have failed (some more miserably than others). As such, I'm willing to give Chayka a chance here. What's there to lose at this point. So long as he is proactive, slightly out of the box, willing to make the big move and/or hard decision, and sets a path forward.
-- But frig...Pelley. The guy just does not give any positive vibes as an executive nor for the overall direction of the team. Really hope I/we am/are proven wrong.
herman
Well-known member
Whoever was hired was always going to have to report to Pelley, the President of the MLSE board representing ownership. If Chayka is someone Pelley respects and isn't constantly second-guessing, there shouldn't be much meddling from that direction.
This is what I'm hoping for as well. Pick a lane and go get it.
Zee
Well-known member
This is what we thought was in place when Shanahan took over, but then he got in his own way and refused to adjust the course when it failed year after year. We don't have to re-litigate the entire Shanahan era, but many mistakes were made, starting in 2016.
L K
Well-known member
It's true. It's also probably true that we shouldn't blame Chayka/Sundin for the faults of Shanahan. Nor should we be blaming any iteration of the team for 1968-present. They deserve the chance to screw it up. Shanahan started hot with the rebranding stuff but when push came to shove he wasn't able to make the tough choice. Now we are in the salvage the dregs mode of this era. It will either go well or be a disaster but they should probably get the chance to make those changes before we hate on the moves.
bustaheims
Well-known member
That's basically where I am - let's see what they do this summer, at the very least, before declaring these the worst hirings ever. That being said, if Berube is still around by the draft, I'll happily invite questions into what exactly they're doing and what the plan is. I don't expect them to can him in their first few days or anything, but they need to get to it sooner rather than later.
What was incorrect about Simmons' reporting?
Well its not like we have a choice - we're stuck with whatever they do whether we like them or not. I think most people are going to give this front office a chance, but that doesn't mean you can't look at candidates' prior history and available candidates and have major reservations with the hires.