Maple Leafs Zero In on John Chayka as GM, with Mats Sundin in Senior Role

Key facts

• John Chayka, 36, became the youngest GM in NHL history at age 26 with the Arizona Coyotes in 2016.
• Chayka resigned from the Coyotes in 2020 and was suspended by the NHL for the 2021 calendar year for unauthorized job discussions.
• The Maple Leafs attempted to interview Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois, but the Lightning declined.
• BriseBois led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and has been with the organization since 2010.
• Toronto is working toward hiring Mats Sundin as vice president of hockey operations alongside Chayka as GM.
• The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and captain Auston Matthews has two years left on his contract.
• Toronto is one of three NHL teams seeking a new GM, along with the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks.

A Front-Office Overhaul Takes Shape

The Toronto Maple Leafs are moving to reshape their hockey operations leadership, with former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka emerging as the leading candidate for the GM role and franchise legend Mats Sundin expected to join as vice president of hockey operations, according to multiple reports. The team also made a bold but unsuccessful bid to interview Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, before pivoting to the Chayka-Sundin tandem. The Lightning swiftly turned down Toronto's request, as reported by Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.

Chayka's Unconventional Path Back to the NHL

Chayka, now 36, was the youngest GM in NHL history when he took over the Coyotes in 2016 at age 26. He resigned in 2020 and was later suspended by the league for the 2021 calendar year after pursuing job opportunities with other teams without permission from Arizona. Steve Peters, a former video coach for the Coyotes who worked under Chayka and now works for ESPN, described Chayka as a highly intelligent executive who studies and learns from successful people. "With John, you're getting a really smart guy," Peters said on Sportsnet's Real Kyper & Bourne. "He knows how to say the right things to people, he reads, he studies, he learns from people who have succeeded in things he wants to do." Peters added that having experienced staff around him in Toronto, unlike in Arizona, will be key to Chayka's success. "In Toronto, he's got people that have been there before," Peters said. "Mats Sundin is a great example. This is somebody that gives John Chayka a little more cachet."

BriseBois Rejection and Toronto's Fallback Plan

The Maple Leafs' attempt to interview BriseBois was a long shot, but Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president Keith Pelley decided it was worth asking. BriseBois, who replaced Steve Yzerman as Lightning GM ahead of the 2018-19 season, has been with the organization for over 15 years, starting as an assistant GM and GM of their AHL affiliate in 2010. He is credited with acquiring key players such as JJ Moser, Ryan McDonagh, Brandon Hagel, and Nick Paul, and he hired current Lightning head coach Jon Cooper to coach the Norfolk Admirals in 2010. BriseBois has also served as an assistant GM for Team Canada in recent years. With BriseBois off the table, Toronto has turned its focus to Chayka and Sundin, a pairing that would bring together a data-driven executive and a revered former captain.

Urgency Mounts as Matthews Window Narrows

The Maple Leafs are coming off their first missed playoffs in a decade, a failure that has intensified pressure on the organization. Captain Auston Matthews, the team's franchise cornerstone, has only two years remaining on his contract, adding urgency to the front-office restructuring. The team is one of three NHL clubs currently searching for a general manager, alongside the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks. Toronto's new leadership will be tasked with reversing the team's postseason shortcomings and maximizing the remaining window with Matthews.

Sundin's Imminent Return: From Captain to Executive

Mats Sundin, who served as Maple Leafs captain from 1997 to 2008 and remains the franchise's all-time leading scorer, is poised to return to the organization in a senior hockey operations role. His arrival would mark a dramatic second act for a player whose departure from Toronto was awkward but whose legacy endures. Sundin's tenure began with a blockbuster trade in 1994, when GM Cliff Fletcher sent captain Wendel Clark to the Quebec Nordiques for Sundin, who would go on to become the franchise's points leader. Now, Sundin is expected to work alongside a GM in the trenches, providing institutional knowledge and credibility.

What Comes Next: Hiring Decisions and the Draft

The Maple Leafs are expected to finalize their front-office hires in the coming weeks, with the NHL draft and free agency looming. The team holds the eighth overall pick in the draft lottery, which could be used to address roster needs or as trade capital. How the new leadership team of Chayka and Sundin will mesh with existing hockey operations staff remains an open question. Chayka's analytics-driven approach, which was ahead of its time in Arizona, will be tested in a market that demands both immediate results and long-term planning.

A High-Stakes Gamble in Hockey's Brightest Spotlight

The Maple Leafs are betting that a combination of Chayka's innovative thinking and Sundin's gravitas can restore the franchise to contention. But the path is fraught with risk: Chayka has been out of the NHL for five years and carries the baggage of his suspension, while Sundin has no front-office experience. Peters summed up the potential upside: "I think John was probably just a little bit ahead of his time when he came to Arizona." In Toronto, with a deeper support system and a legendary figure by his side, Chayka may finally get the chance to prove that assessment correct.

The bottom line

• John Chayka, the youngest GM in NHL history, is the frontrunner to become Toronto's next general manager, five years after resigning from the Coyotes.
• Mats Sundin, the Maple Leafs' all-time leading scorer, is expected to join as vice president of hockey operations, providing experience and cachet.
• Toronto's attempt to interview Lightning GM Julien BriseBois was rejected, forcing the team to pivot to the Chayka-Sundin plan.
• The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and captain Auston Matthews has two years left on his contract, creating urgency.
• Chayka's analytics-driven approach, once considered ahead of its time, will be tested in a high-pressure market with a strong support staff.
• Toronto is one of three NHL teams searching for a GM, alongside Nashville and Vancouver, as the draft and free agency approach.