There is a new leadership group in place for the Toronto Maple Leafs following the termination of general manager Brad Treliving on Mach 30 when it became clear the team would not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016, which was ironically the same year that they drafted Auston Matthews with the first overall pick in that year’s NHL Draft.
Arriving in town are new general manager John Chayka, the controversial former GM of the Arizona Coyotes, along with former franchise icon and captain Mats Sundin, who will also serve in an executive role.
However, with the new leadership team has come a departure as announced on Monday morning.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Have Parted Ways With Shane Doan
According to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, the Maple Leafs are parting ways with Shane Doan, who was hired under Treliving as a special hockey advisor.
“Shane Doan and the Leafs have parted ways,” LeBrun wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “His deal was expiring June 30. Sounds like a mutual decision. Doan was brought in by former Leafs GM Brad Treliving. Doan recently interviewed in Vancouver. We’ll see where Doan ends up but he’s now a free agent.”
Doan spent his entire NHL career with the Arizona Coyotes, starting back when they were known as the first edition of the Winnipeg Jets prior to their move to Phoenix in 1997.
Following the end of his NHL career, Doan spent two seasons as the chief hockey development officer of the Coyotes.
Voted twice to play in the NHL All-Star Game, Doan scored 402 goals and added 570 assists during his career. The farthest that he and the Coyotes ever got in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was 14 years ago when they reached the Western Conference Final for the first and only time, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in five games.
John Chayka’s Introductory Press Conference Was Filled With Fireworks
There was controversy during last week’s introductory press conference for Chayka and Sundin, as Toronto Sun writer Steve Simmons openly questioned Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley about Chayka’s controversial past with the Coyotes.
Meanwhile, Chayka acknowledged that his past actions with the Coyotes are worthy of scrutiny, but that he’s risen above them.
“I understand [there] will be lots of questions about my path, about my time away from the game and about my time in Arizona,” Chayka said. “That experience shaped me, required discipline, creativity and resilience. I’ve made decisions I’m proud of, and I’ve also made mistakes that I’ve learned from. I’m human now in all of it, and I’m better because of it.”
Pelley also said that the club conducted “due diligence” in their search for a new GM before landing on Chayka.
“We conducted due diligence, and it was a deep due diligence,” Pelley said. “It was a thorough process. I’ve read all the reports, I’ve talked to numerous people; I won’t reveal who I’ve talked to that were close to the process. I’m very happy with where we landed.”
Maple Leafs Officially Parting Ways With Key Front Office Executive