Thoughts on the Leafs hiring John Chayka (GM) and Mats Sundin (senior executive adviser)

[LGR4GM]

Came across this article https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7235335/2026/05/04/maple-leafs-pelley-chayka-sundin-nhl/

Quote

The “decision” that Keith Pelley, the president and CEO of MLSE, was referring to in late March was the hiring of the next front office of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This was it then? With the most important decision of his tenure, at a crucial pivot point for the franchise, the best Pelley could do — the best the Leafs, one of the league’s most iconic and richest franchises, could do — was hire John Chayka as general manager and the apparent head of hockey operations and Mats Sundin as senior executive adviser of hockey operations?

Chayka is Meghan Chayka's brother and former Coyotes GM. Mats Sundin needs no introduction but he has 0 front office experience. The Leafs seem a bit lost in the woods if you ask me. Idk you if you can pounce and pry anything useful out of a team that technically doesn't own its 1st round picks in 27 and 28 (it could be 26/27 depending on the draft lottery). On top of that their defense needs a complete overhaul as it already isn't that good but with 3 of the 6 32 or older, you gotta figure you are looking at a multi-year rebuild now. 

[inkman]

15 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Came across this article https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7235335/2026/05/04/maple-leafs-pelley-chayka-sundin-nhl/

Chayka is Meghan Chayka's brother and former Coyotes GM. Mats Sundin needs no introduction but he has 0 front office experience. The Leafs seem a bit lost in the woods if you ask me. Idk you if you can pounce and pry anything useful out of a team that technically doesn't own its 1st round picks in 27 and 28 (it could be 26/27 depending on the draft lottery). On top of that their defense needs a complete overhaul as it already isn't that good but with 3 of the 6 32 or older, you gotta figure you are looking at a multi-year rebuild now. 

As long as Meghan goes nowhere near that team, I’ll be happy. 

[transient]

Shades of Murray and Lafontaine... look how well that turned out.

[GASabresIUFAN]

Chayka didn't exactly turn Arizona into a legit contender, but did do a good job of pissing off Shane Doan (who currently works for the Leafs).  

Any room for Shane in the Sabres front office?

[Pimlach]

4 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Chayka didn't exactly turn Arizona into a legit contender, but did do a good job of pissing off Shane Doan (who currently works for the Leafs).  

Any room for Shane in the Sabres front office?

You really do not want that with his son on the team.  

[LGR4GM]

US media couldn't even fathom to ask this question in any situation. 

 

 

[LGR4GM]

Here is the full thing

 

[PromoTheRobot]

57 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Chayka didn't exactly turn Arizona into a legit contender, but did do a good job of pissing off Shane Doan (who currently works for the Leafs).  

Any room for Shane in the Sabres front office?

He's a name bandied about for the Canucks GM job.

[PromoTheRobot]

19 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

US media couldn't even fathom to ask this question in any situation. 

 

 

The balls on that guy to say that. But is that reporter's opinion any more valid than the team's? He talked to 20 people who hated Chayka. Don't know who they are or what weight they carry.

[thewookie1]

5 hours ago, Pimlach said:

You really do not want that with his son on the team.  

If he’s a dude in the office I don’t really see the issue. Doan is already signed long term so it’s not a concern in that regard and I doubt we have any plans to trade him either.

[thewookie1]

Chayka is a snake oil salesman, and is one of the few managerial staff to ever get kicked out of the NHL for something completely unrelated to sexual assault or gambling. He wasn’t even good in Arizona after his first draft. He traded a 1st for Patrick Stephan too

[Eleven]

10 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Chayka is a snake oil salesman, and is one of the few managerial staff to ever get kicked out of the NHL for something completely unrelated to sexual assault or gambling. He wasn’t even good in Arizona after his first draft. He traded a 1st for Patrick Stephan too

For what was he kicked out?

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, Eleven said:

For what was he kicked out?

2 things, supposedly interviewing for a new gm job without his team knowing which he disputes and something with bringing prospects in for on ice testing. 

[Eleven]

2 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

2 things, supposedly interviewing for a new gm job without his team knowing which he disputes and something with bringing prospects in for on ice testing. 

Oh I remember the second thing!  Not the first, though.

[Pimlach]

No thoughts on it.  Just want the Leaves to continue to suck.  

[Rasmus_]

Not worried about the Leafs.  Go Sabres!

[Flashsabre]

One story going around is that the GM won’t have much power and Pelley will have a heavy say. Chayka wants to get back in the league so he will take the job while a lot of qualified GMs wouldn’t. I think Sundin is just a figurehead.

[bg17]

 

[Archie Lee]

41 minutes ago, bg17 said:

 

Love Dave Hodge. I have a work colleague who mimics the Dave Hodge pencil flip when there’s something goofy going on at work. 
 

Re: Steve Simmons’s question relating to the 20 NHL people he spoke to; while the general sentiment was accurate, Simmons couldn’t get 20 credible NHL people to take his call. He is not that well regarded. 

[Night Train]

That presser was awesome !   

Welcome new hire ! 

[HoosierDaddy]

12 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

One story going around is that the GM won’t have much power and Pelley will have a heavy say. Chayka wants to get back in the league so he will take the job while a lot of qualified GMs wouldn’t. I think Sundin is just a figurehead.

Sundin is one step above the team mascot. Pacers fans used to call Larry Bird, when he was in an "advisory" role, "Boomer for adults." This is Boomer:

 

[Second Line Center]

 

[Porous Five Hole]

Plus the Leafs have promised out their 2026 first round pick to Boston and 2027 first round pick to Phili.  
 

They only keep their pick in 2026 if it is top five protected after the draft lottery tonight. While that would help a bit, it then means they don’t have their own first round pick until 2029. 
 

They probably hired Chayka because no self respecting GM wanted anything to do with an old roster and poor draft capital. 

[TageMVP]

Guy sucks and its a bad hire 

Poor McCabe I always liked that guy 

[SabreFinn]

Question is, do they have the guts to blow it all up and do a total rebuild? Trade Matthews to Sharks for the 2nd overall and Misa/Smith? Or Nylander to Ducks for McTavich and other assets?