Maple Leafs hire Sundin, Chayka to lead front office

TL;DR

The Toronto Maple Leafs have appointed Mats Sundin as senior executive adviser of hockey operations and John Chayka as general manager, marking a significant front office overhaul. This follows the team's first playoff miss since 2016 and aims to enhance team culture and leadership.

Key points

Mats Sundin appointed senior executive adviser of hockey operations
John Chayka named general manager of the Maple Leafs
Changes follow the team's first playoff miss since 2016
Sundin focuses on team culture and player development
Chayka previously served as GM for the Arizona Coyotes

Mentioned in this story

Mats SundinJohn Chayka

Toronto Maple LeafsArizona CoyotesVancouver Canucks

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs named ex-captain Mats Sundin as its senior executive adviser of hockey operations and John Chayka as general manager on Sunday. The moves mark a reset of the club’s front office after a season that ended with Toronto missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The team said Sundin will provide support across hockey operations, with a focus on team culture, player development and leadership support. “This fan base deserves greatness and I am grateful for the opportunity to help this team, organization and city achieve that,” Sundin said in a release. Toronto fired GM Brad Treliving in March, near the end of the disastrous campaign for the Maple Leafs, who entered the season among the Stanley Cup favorites. The club also did not replace president Brendan Shanahan after he was let go in May 2025. Sundin and Chayka arrive with the organization still searching for its first Stanley Cup since 1967. The Maple Leafs’ all-time leader in points and game-winning goals, Sundin had a complicated Toronto exit in 2008 before a brief stint with the Vancouver Canucks, but remains a fan favorite for his 13 seasons in blue and white. The 55-year-old Swede, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and returned home to start a family after retiring, has never held a formal management position in the game. The 36-year-old Chayka became the NHL’s youngest GM when he was hired by the Arizona Coyotes a decade ago. His time in the desert was marked by an analytics-heavy push and bold trades. “I’m honoured to join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and excited to work alongside Mats and the entire organization,” Chayka said in a release. “This is one of hockey’s most historic franchises, with a passionate fan base who want to win." Chayka abruptly resigned in July 2020 on the eve of the league’s pandemic restart and was subsequently suspended by commissioner Gary Bettman for one year in 2021 for “conduct detrimental to the league and game” after pursuing job opportunities with other teams while still employed by the Coyotes. Arizona was also docked first- and second-round picks for holding unauthorized workouts with draft prospects under his watch, in breach of the league’s scouting combine policy. Chayka hadn’t worked in the NHL since. \\_ AP NHL:

Q&A

What roles have Mats Sundin and John Chayka taken with the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Mats Sundin has been named senior executive adviser of hockey operations, while John Chayka has been appointed as the general manager.

Why did the Toronto Maple Leafs make changes to their front office?

The changes were made following a disappointing season that saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

What is John Chayka's background in the NHL?

John Chayka was previously the youngest general manager in NHL history with the Arizona Coyotes and is known for his analytics-driven approach.

Maple Leafs hire Sundin, Chayka to lead front office

TL;DR

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