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New Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager John Chayka, left to right, MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley, and new Toronto Maple Leafs Senior Executive Advisor, Hockey Operations, Mats Sundin, hold a press conference in Toronto on Monday, May 4, 2026. (Arlyn McAdorey\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/p>\n
Arlyn McAdorey\/AP<\/p>\n
New Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager John Chayka speaks during a press conference in Toronto on Monday, May 4, 2026. (Arlyn McAdorey\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/p>\n
Arlyn McAdorey\/AP<\/p>\n
New Toronto Maple Leafs Senior Executive Advisor, Hockey Operations, Mats Sundin, speaks during a press conference in Toronto on Monday, May 4, 2026. (Arlyn McAdorey\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/p>\n
Arlyn McAdorey\/AP<\/p>\n
New Toronto Maple Leafs Senior Executive Advisor, Hockey Operations Mats Sundin, left to right, MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley, and new Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager John Chayka, hold up a jersey following a press conference in Toronto on Monday, May 4, 2026. (Arlyn McAdorey\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/p>\n
Arlyn McAdorey\/AP<\/p>\n
TORONTO (AP) \u2014 Mats Sundin is the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise icon rejoining the Original Six organization as part of their remade front office.<\/p>\n
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He was not the focus of his introductory news conference.<\/p>\n
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The succession of rapid-fire questions came for John Chayka as he took over as general manager and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley, who hired them. The news conference was pointed and at times uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
Chayka’s work in the league as GM of the Arizona Coyotes was under intense focus. They were docked two draft picks for broken rules before the analytics-focused executive was suspended by commissioner Gary Bettman for seeking employment from other teams while still under contract with the cost-conscious team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made decisions I\u2019m proud of, and I\u2019ve also made mistakes that I\u2019ve learned from,\u201d Chayka, out of the league since 2020, said in his opening remarks. \u201cI\u2019m human. I own all of it, and I\u2019m better because of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chayka was the youngest GM in NHL history a decade ago and is now 36. The Coyotes’ 300 standings points during his tenure rank him 127th all time at the position.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cArizona was a really complicated situation,\u201d Chayka said. \u201cIt was the biggest challenge I ever took on in my life, and it was honestly the hardest thing I ever did, and also in a lot of ways the most rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n Pelley was then challenged on Chayka\u2019s resume before another reporter asked why the Arizona indiscretions didn\u2019t raise red flags in what was described as a \u201ccomprehensive\u201d search.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was deep due diligence,\u201d Pelley said. \u201cI\u2019m quite happy with where we landed.\u201d<\/p>\n Chayka, who started a hockey analytics company before working for the Coyotes and has a number of business interests, was asked following the formal news conference why he\u2019s viewed so negatively in some league circles.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I didn\u2019t value relationships as much as I should have in the human connection,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was (age) 26, and now I\u2019m 36. I have three kids, married. \u201cLife evolves and changes. … So do I.\u201d<\/p>\n Sundin, who played 13 of his 18 NHL seasons with Toronto, including a decade as captain, was named senior executive adviser of hockey operations. The 55-year-old Swede has never held a management role in the sport.<\/p>\n Pelley said Chayka will run the hockey operations, but big decisions will be a collaborative process that will include Sundin.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the hockey capital of the world,\u201d Sundin said. \u201cWe’ve got to do everything we can to get a winning team there and make (fans) proud.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The pair takes over with the Maple Leafs at a crossroads after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. GM Brad Treliving was fired, and Chayka said he was open to keeping Craig Berube as coach after briefly speaking with him.<\/p>\n \u201cRespected leader,\u201d Chayka said. \u201cTremendous coach.\u201d<\/p>\n Toronto will also have to decide on a path forward \u2014 Chayka wouldn\u2019t commit on a potential rebuild \u2014 with captain and star center Auston Matthews, who is signed for two more seasons.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is our job to sell him on what we\u2019re capable of and reaching the ultimate goal,\u201d said Chayka, who has known Sundin since 2012 when he was still in university. \u201cI know that that\u2019s what\u2019s most important to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/a>
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