{"id":6107,"date":"2026-04-15T19:38:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/6107\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T19:38:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:38:11","slug":"toronto-maple-leafs-executives-utilized-artificial-intelligence-during-the-nhl-trade-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/6107\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Maple Leafs executives utilized artificial intelligence during the NHL trade deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\t\t\t\t\t \"President <\/p>\n

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Keith Pelley and the Maple Leafs used AI to generate trade scenarios and information ahead of the deadline which could explain the disconnect with Brad Treliving.<\/p>\n

For a guy who is supposedly so hands-off when it comes to the decision making, it sounds like Keith Pelley is coming in with a boatload of ammunition when it comes to making changes.<\/p>\n

Admirable, if it were the truth.<\/p>\n

It seems like Pelley wasn’t exactly as forthcoming as we seemed to be as some new insight into how the boardroom this season operated shows there was a clear disconnect between Pelley and former GM Brad Treliving; with the deadline the turning point.<\/p>\n

The heavy reality of non-hockey executives using artificial intelligence for trade decisions<\/p>\n

A new expose by The Athletic<\/a> delved deep into the inner workings of the Maple Leafs front office this past trade deadline and shows that while Pelley seemingly trusted Treliving to make decision \u2014 he trusted a computer a little bit more.<\/p>\n

It was revealed that Pelley came into the deadline filled to the brim with AI-generated trade decisions and player results and it was something that the Maple Leafs had absolutely no experience in:<\/p>\n

Pelley didn\u2019t come empty-handed either. He had notes that included possible trade returns that Leafs staff members believed were generated by Large Language Models and Artificial Intelligence; tools that have become increasingly influential at the top of MLSE but hadn\u2019t been part of the usual process with its NHL team.<\/p>\n

Sorry, this may be a bold question but what on God’s green earth was Pelley thinking?<\/p>\n

While the usage of AI has been a hotly debated topic, especially in regards to sports journalism, using it to sway massive franchise-altering decisions is something that not only is a brazen strategy \u2014 it’s frankly stupid.<\/p>\n

Just because something works in a boardroom corporate setting doesn’t mean it works for a hockey team. Did ChatGPT tell him to trade Fraser Minten?<\/a> Did it say the best return for Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton was a 2nd and conditional 3rd?<\/p>\n

Speaking of McMann and Laughton, according to the article it was about a half-hour before the deadline ended when Treliving dangled them to teams. Though Pelley in his personal newsletter to MLSE said there was nothing until about 15 minutes left.<\/p>\n

So which is it? 15 minutes is more than enough time to work out a better deal; there’s five GM’s, scouts, and about ten other personnel you could have consulted.<\/p>\n

A chatbot is not one of them.<\/p>\n

Why stripping player discounts and charging young fans completely shifts the blame to the boardroom<\/p>\n

What’s next? Does the AI now decide that the bottom line can’t be improved without extorting fans more? Does it start making decisions at the top for Pelley?<\/p>\n

This reliance on strictly corporate behaviour absolutely robs the franchise of its identity. This was a club who once wore the crest with pride, and their fans did the same. But now with it being business-oriented first \u2014 they’re losing that loyalty.<\/p>\n

At what point does MLSE and Rogers become satisfied? They already make half a billion dollars in ticket sales<\/a> and nearly reach that mark based off merchandise, concessions, and other ventures. What about the other five teams under the umbrella who bring in tens, if not hundreds of millions?<\/p>\n

Keith Pelley kept stressing that he ‘wasn’t here to sell jerseys.’ He’s right.<\/p>\n

He’s trying to sell fans on a team that has absolutely no idea what it wants besides a boatload of money and text on a screen instead of the heartbeat that actually drives this team \u2014 Leafs Nation.<\/p>\n

Previously on Hockey Patrol<\/p>\n

POLL<\/p>\n

13 MINUTES AGO|4 ANSWERS<\/p>\n

Toronto Maple Leafs executives utilized artificial intelligence during the NHL trade deadline<\/p>\n

Do you think it’s good or bad that the Maple Leafs used AI to help them at the trade deadline?<\/p>\n

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