The grind of Toronto Maple Leafs rumors has not let up this season. If anything, the grind took on a whole new level with the firing of Brad Treliving. Treliving’s dismissal has led to rampant speculation regarding the next exec to take over the Leafs’ GM role.
That said, a new report has made explosive claims about the Maple Leafs’ search for Treliving’s replacement. In a piece published in RG Media, claims regarding a potential frontrunner for the Leafs’ GM role.
The report named former Arizona Coyotes’ GM John Chayka as a potential candidate for the role. But what makes this claim truly explosive is that a source close to RG stated that Chayka interviewed for the Maple Leafs GM role in February of this year.
While the report doesn’t provide any specific details on these Maple Leafs rumors or if the team extended an offer, it’s easy to assume that a discussion happened during the Olympic break.
As such, the situation opens up two key situations. First, it’s unlikely the organization went behind Treliving’s back and spoke to other potential GM candidates. That’s why it’s plausible that Treliving knew the writing was on the wall. He went ahead and did his job anyway, especially at the NHL trade deadline.
Second, the report would confirm that firing Treliving was not a recent decision. The organization had likely made up its mind long ago, but held off in hopes the club would turn things around after the Olympics.
That wasn’t the case, and so Maple Leafs rumors about Treliving’s dismissal became a reality.
Maple Leafs Rumors Have Circled around Other GM Candidates
Hearing of Chayka as a potential GM candidate for the Maple Leafs is surprising. The bulk of the chatter has surrounded current St. Louis Blues GM Dour Armstrong. The veteran exec, however, will be moving on from his GM role in St. Louis to take on the President of Hockey Operations gig.
That’s why he’s been in the spotlight of Maple Leafs rumors. Armstrong would be the right type of candidate the organization is looking for to bring stability and guidance to the organization. That’s the opposite of what a much younger candidate like Chayka could bring to the organization.
Leafs Likely Won’t Go for Younger Candidate
The Maple Leafs likely won’t go for a younger candidate. The organization needs credibility. It craves an adult who can handle things. That’s why Maple Leafs rumors about Chayka, while they may be true, may not lead to his hiring.
Chayka has a checkered history. The NHL suspended the former Coyotes’ GM for “conduct detrimental to the league,” The Athletic reported at the time. He also abruptly resigned in 2020, leaving the organization adrift as they were getting set to enter the COVID bubble playoffs that season.
Hiring someone like Chayka, while a move certainly out of the box, would not deliver good optics for the organization. Maple Leafs rumors should focus on a candidate who can restore confidence in the organization.
While this isn’t to say that an “old-school” executive is necessary per se, the situation does beckon for someone who can be the adult in the room. The organization needs supervision, and a veteran exec can achieve that aim.
Maple Leafs Rumors: New Report Makes Explosive Claims