Maple Leafs Reportedly Close to Hiring Their New Front Office

According to recent reports, the Toronto Maple Leafs are very close to hiring their new front office. After weeks of speculation after the firing of ex-general manager (GM) Brad Treliving, it looks like it is finally coming to an end.

In order to piece this together and figure out who the front office is going to be, it’ll include a few reports from a few of the top NHL insiders. So, let’s dig into it.

Reports Suggest Sundin & Chayka

First, let’s start with the report from Elliotte Freidman on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts the Podcast. He reported that the Maple Leafs are all but set on the combination of Mats Sundin as President of Hockey Operations and John Chayka as the GM.

This would bring a Maple Leafs legend back into the organization and allow Sundin to have the majority of the say when it comes to all things Hockey Ops. As for Chayka, he brings the “data-centric” GM that Keith Pelley mentioned in his end-of-season media availability.

Here is what Friedman said:

“As it stands right now, I’m under the impression it’s gonna be Sundin and Chayka, and they just have to close the deal. Nothing is done until it’s done, but that’s what I believe is going on.

“They feel the pride of the team got damaged last year. The team didn’t have the esprit de corps that you want to have,” Friedman said. “And I think they’re hoping that by bringing Sundin back in and somebody who cares about the Maple Leafs as much as he does, he can at least restore some of that and hope it helps to be a part of what can make them successful.”

“I don’t think it’s a small role. I don’t think he’s coming here to kiss babies and shake hands. I think they’re really hoping he can have an active role in shaping the future of the team.”

If this is the combination, Maple Leafs fans are going to be thrilled that Sundin is back in the mix. He is widely considered to be one of, if not the best, players in franchise history. So, to have him as the head of Hockey Ops, it could drastically change the culture around the organization. Since he can implement a lot of the ideology from his time with the team. Unfortunately, it’s Chayka that has a lot of people in an uproar. Yes, he is a young hockey mind, but his career path has been questionable. Which included him resigning from his role as GM of the Arizona Coyotes and being suspended for conduct detrimental to the league.

Who Else Could Be Hired?

After the Friedman suggested Sundin and Chayka would be the POHO and GM combination. There were other reports suggesting other former Maple Leafs could be given jobs in the front office.

According to Chris Johnston, Jonas Siegel, and James Mirtle of the Athletic, they reported that Tie Domi has been involved in the process to get Sundin to accept the role. As well, former fan favourite forward Gary Roberts could also be involved in the front office.

Sundin isn’t the only former Leaf involved. Tie Domi, Sundin’s long-time pal from their playing days in Toronto, is playing a role in the search. In addition to Sundin, Domi has established relationships with Pelley and Chayka. Tie’s son and current Leaf Max Domi played for the Coyotes when Chayka was GM there. Former Leaf Gary Roberts has also spoken to the team as part of the process.

(from ‘What we’re hearing about the Maple Leafs’ management search,’ The Athletic, April 29, 2026)

They also reported that Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White hasn’t yet been told that he is out of the running for the Maple Leafs’ GM job.

The last player that has had his name linked to the Maple Leafs’ front office is TSN broadcaster Mike Johnson. This came from a recent episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek. Where he floats the idea that Johnson would bring a great hockey mind to work alongside Sundin, who is a close friend of his.

At this point, there is no word on if that would actually happen, but the idea certainly makes sense. Johnson would bring an elite data-centric hockey mind who doesn’t have a “front-office” way of thinking. Instead, he has spent the last number of years between the benches for TSN, watching hundreds of hockey games and while getting a close-up look at the best NHL talent.