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Leafs Front Office 2026 | Official: Sundin & Chayka to lead front office

Chayka sees holes that need filling and changes that need making, Mats thinks, historically, things were done well and also not well and the things that weren't done well should be done differently, and Keith isn't worried and did due diligence and his happy where they landed and did due diligence. Not super reassuring!

At least Chayka's comments on Berube sounded like the sorta thing you'd say before firing someone.
 
Bender said:
I mean that's just it. The difference is how much rope I'm willing to give and truthfully I'd rather not be a fan or highly pare back my fandom for the next few years if it starts going the way I think it'll go.
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My viewpoint on the team has shifted over the last few years. I'm in my 40s. I have never seen the Leafs in a Cup Finals. The Gilmour and Sundin Leafs are still the upper echelon for me but I also acknowledge that I have had more fun watching the Matthews-Marner Leafs over a full 82 games.

Sundin is still my favourite Leaf. He probably always will be.

But I'm practical now. I don't expect this team to win. It's almost been 60 years. I'll take 70 good regular season games + a semi-competent playoff run over a team that plays like dog shit for 82 games but traps their way to wins.

I'm happy for Montreal winning Game 7 last night, but they got embarrassed outside of goaltending. If that was the Leafs we probably lose that game but also, the result belies the reality of that game.

Berube doesn't produce hockey that is enjoyable to watch. Having the team get shelled for 50+ minutes and then trying to counterattack with limited skill is terrible. Berube did zero adjusting over the 2 seasons in Toronto. Why is he going to suddenly adapt to the roster when he didn't do it in the middle of a free fall? How do you look at his roster deployment down the stretch and feel that he has the teams best interest in mind (and not his own).
 
When Chayka was specifically asked about the draft issue, he certainly knew how to not even reply to that
in his rambling answer. I do give credit for the media asking the questions that needed to be asked even though the
answers were bupkis. Watching Mats it almost seemed like he was thinking "oh crap what have I done"....

As I said before the only credibility that can be gained in my eyes to start is to fire Berube ASAP.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Steve Simmons in particularly has on numerous occasions over the years, including inside a recent article criticizing Chayka, said that the Leafs should have given these guys second chances.
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We all know what Chayka needs to do to win the hearts and minds of hockey media and executives:
* create and beat a sexual assault allegation, or
* have a dead parent(s)
 
In my humble opinion, what Simmons did there was very insulting to Chayka...an unsubstantiated bullshit "19 out of 20" blah blah blah. I don't mind when the Leafs media holds people accountable, but Chayka hasn't made one single decision yet.

Let's give the guy a chance to screw up before we throw him under the bus.

And honestly, I think Chayka should evaluate Berube before simply firing millions of dollars into the sun.
 
Frank E said:
I think Chayka should evaluate Berube before simply firing millions of dollars into the sun.
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There definitely should be a process. The process should also tell him it is wiser to let go of said millions of dollars if the goal is to maximize their current core players. Just the gate revenue of getting back into the playoffs with a regular coach will pay that off and then some.
 
Pelley left a terrible taste in my mouth when he started his MLSE tenure by talking about it being about results and not jersey sales...and then proceeded to monetize everything under the sun while also nickel and diming the players/staff. The less we see/hear from him the better.

I have no idea why anyone is fawning over Steve Simmons questions. There is a way to ask that question with tact (I think Chris Johnston did it a few questions later).

He essentially asked the question "You suck and are a loser, can you tell us why you are so much of a loser"...meanwhile he's the biggest dickhead in the Toronto Sports media.

Steve "I make up stupid hotdog rumours about Kessel because I'm a useless tool" Simmons
Steve "I break medical confidentiality around Auston Matthews and COVID because I'm special" Simmons
 
L K said:
I have no idea why anyone is fawning over Steve Simmons questions. There is a way to ask that question with tact (I think Chris Johnston did it a few questions later).
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Exactly this. The core of the question was valid, but he would've received a more reasonable (non)answer if it was posed professionally.

These journalists could do their own digging about the real story behind the red flags.
 
I’m watching them on Kyper and Bourne now.

Chayka described Berube as a “great coach” but did say he wanted to analyse things before making any decisions on changes which is a fair answer and at least isn’t an unequivocal support of him.

It’s not the pairing I’d have picked for the roles as they’ve set it up. I’ll judge them more on their actions from this point forward however and that issue above is their first pretty major test.
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/2051410117128532392
Flying cover for your new coworkers/meal ticket

“In terms of what needs to change, you know, I do think we need to, you know, do our best to change the mix in the back end. I think, you know, if you look at how this group defended, we defended too long.
We didn't break out the puck well enough. We didn't join the rush well enough. And, you know, a lot of that starts from the back end.
So I think that's a kind of key priority for us and something we'll be focused on.”
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This is the most troubling answer I heard, from Pelley:

It was an exhausting process, but what was most rewarding was that each one of these gentlemen, at no time during the process, talked about structure and titles. They only talked about winning.
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Setting “titles” against “goals” is what Keith was going for, and it’s obvious enough why. Between those two poles, I know where I would like to be, thanks!

But he slipped and let some truth through, I think, when he said “structure.” Oppose those two terms — “goals” versus “structure”— and you get a different picture.

(To paint it for you: rich a-holes getting high on each others farts in one of those fancy steakhouse private dining rooms)
 
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herman said:
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.
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That is the one aspect of Sundin's hiring that I have not seen being brought up (maybe some one has): Yes, Mats collaborates with the GM who has the final decision - whatever 'collaborates' means ... But Mats was around when Peddie messed around with the team and Pat Quinn. Mats will have the ear of board members and so he can help to see that Pelley stays in his lane. Mats is very wealthy and very honest - he's not for sale. He's the canary in the mine here.

I'm not enthusiastic about what they have decided to do. I also wasn't in the room and don't know all the facts that led them to this decision. I do find it hard to believe this was the best they could do. However, there is one positive in that Mats can help to see everyone behaves and does what is best for the team. For that, Mats has ample qualities, integrity and experience.
 
I want to believe Mats will be a stabilizing force but I would have been happier with him "collaborating" with someone not viewed as toxic by much of the league. Fair or not, that will hamper Chayka.

Siegel's pan of the whole thing in the Athletic is hard to disagree with.
 
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