All articles tagged with #toronto maple leafs
Max Domi is out indefinitely for the Toronto Maple Leafs due to complications from an undisclosed surgery addressing an undisclosed issue he played through last season, with re-evaluation at the start of training camp. He appeared in 80 games last year, posted 36 points, and the health concern—and his two remaining years on a four-year, $3.75 million cap-hit contract—adds uncertainty to his role under GM John Chayka next season.
Toronto’s new GM John Chayka acted quickly by firing coach Craig Berube, signaling urgency to salvage a fragile rebuild. With an aging core, limited draft assets, and a weak free-agent class, he must land a No.1 defenseman, a top-six forward, and a solid center while rebuilding depth—likely bringing in an experienced coach such as Bruce Cassidy or Jay Woodcroft—yet this overhaul will be far from easy without high picks or a deep prospect pool.
The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Craig Berube after a 32-36-14 season that finished 28th and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, part of an organizational reset led by GM John Chayka and Mats Sundin. With star winger Mitch Marner gone to Vegas and Auston Matthews potentially needing convincing to stay, Toronto is pursuing a coaching change as it reshapes its front office and roster.
Toronto fired Craig Berube and GM John Chayka is weighing a diverse group of candidates for a fresh start, including veterans Bruce Cassidy and Peter Laviolette and several younger or developing coaches such as Steve Sullivan, Jay Woodcroft, David Carle, Jussi Ahokas, and Manny Malhotra, signaling a shift toward a blend of experience and development-focused leadership for Toronto's refreshed roster.
Toronto defied 8.5% odds to win the top pick in the NHL Draft Lottery, landing Gavin McKenna and igniting a high-stakes, microscope-filled era for the Maple Leafs, while the Sharks grab second and Canucks vent.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, moving from No. 5 to No. 1, while the San Jose Sharks jumped to No. 2 and the Vancouver Canucks dropped to No. 3. Washington Capitals remained at 16th, with their second first‑round pick from Anaheim potentially landing as high as 18th or as low as 29th depending on the Ducks–Golden Knights playoff outcome. The draft order for the first 16 picks is set for Buffalo on June 26‑27, with top prospects Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg leading the class; Leafs GM John Chayka called the result an elated, meaningful opportunity. The event marks another decentralized draft, with teams selecting from their home bases.
Toronto earned the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft lottery, while Boston’s chance at Toronto’s top-five-protected first-round pick from the 2025 Brandon Carlo deal remains out of reach as the draft moves to June in Buffalo.
The Athletic published a post-lottery mock draft predicting the 2026 NHL Draft’s top 16 picks, with the Toronto Maple Leafs winning the No. 1 slot and targeting Gavin McKenna; San Jose would grab Ivar Stenberg at No. 2, and a slate of defensemen and forwards fills out the rest of the first round as teams plan for the draft in Buffalo on June 26–27.
Toronto Maple Leafs announced John Chayka as their general manager, triggering sharp backlash from reporters and fans who call the hire a monumental misstep, with some labeling him a fraud. The piece revisits Chayka’s Arizona Coyotes tenure—controversial moves, the Shane Doan retirement dispute, questionable drafting, and a private scouting combine that cost draft picks—and suggests this level of skepticism about the hire could make it one of the worst GM decisions in sports history.
Boston’s playoff run still leaves them with a stake in the 2026 Draft Lottery: if Toronto’s first-round pick lands outside the top five, the Bruins receive it as part of a trade that sent Brandon Carlo to the Maple Leafs (the pick is top-five protected). The Leafs have an 8.5% chance to move to No. 1, and the lottery will be conducted in two stages on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET, ahead of the June 26–27 draft in Buffalo. Boston currently holds eight selections, including Toronto’s first-rounder, plus a mix of second-, third-, fourth-, and a seventh-round picks.
A Toronto Sun reporter questioned the Maple Leafs’ newly hired GM John Chayka about the hiring process and due diligence at a high-profile press conference, sparking backlash amid past league suspensions and questions about the team's direction after its worst season since 2009.
Mats Sundin is in Toronto to interview for a potential front-office role with the Toronto Maple Leafs as the club rebuilds its leadership after firing GM Brad Treliving; the position isn’t defined yet, but Sundin’s status as the franchise’s all-time scoring leader and former captain fuels speculation about his future with the organization.
Auston Matthews declined to commit to staying with the Maple Leafs beyond his two years left on a four-year, $13.25 million cap-hit contract as Toronto misses the playoffs for the first time in his 10-year tenure. With GM Brad Treliving fired, new leadership is expected to be hired. Matthews is recovering from an MCL tear suffered in March and expects to be ready for next season, stressing he loves being captain and focusing on the team rather than the noise, while acknowledging the season featured his lowest offensive metrics in a decade alongside strong face-off and shot-blocking numbers.
Ron Francis will step down as Seattle Kraken President of Hockey Operations after the 2025-26 season, with Jason Botterill taking over as GM. The Kraken have struggled since their playoff run, felled by costly signings and a cautious roster, and Francis may be linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ GM opening.
Toronto Maple Leafs fire general manager Brad Treliving after a disappointing tenure highlighted by costly 2024-25 deadline trades and a painful playoff miss; with the team floundering at 24th in the league this season, the club will search for a replacement, eyeing candidates such as Brandon Pridham, Rob Blake, Bruce Cassidy, and Brendan Shanahan to steer a course back toward a championship.