Maple Leafs GM Search Almost Over

The Toronto Maple Leafs are getting closer to hiring a new general manager, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

On Friday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Friedman speaks about the Maple Leafs potentially narrowing down their list of candidates. He even speculates on who he thinks will get the job.

“I said the finalists were Ryan Martin from the Rangers, Scott White from the Dallas Stars, and either John Chayka or Evan Gold from the Bruins. I wasn’t sure about the third one, and now I believe it was Chayka. It was Chayka, Martin, and White,” Friedman clarified.

Friedman went on to say that those three finalists all received invites back to Toronto on Tuesday for an in-person interview. They were all told that a favourite candidate can be invited to stay and meet with the head of Rogers, Edward Rogers, on Wednesday. They would have the opportunity to impress the head of the company that now owns MLSE. Following that process, if everything went well, the next GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs will be chosen.

“I’m told that Ryan Martin from the Rangers was informed sometime after that meeting that even though he had a couple of great interviews and they were impressed, he wasn’t advancing further and that he wouldn’t be the next GM,” Friedman said.

Maple Leafs GM Candidates Narrowed

So, according to Friedman, Scott White and John Chayka are the two finalists for the GM position. As Friedman mentioned, they are two very different candidates. That’s not a bad thing, though. It allows the team to weigh in on two different approaches.

Scott White

White has spent his entire hockey operations career with the Dallas Stars organization. His time with the Stars began as the Director of Hockey Operations for their AHL affiliate during the 2005-06 season. White has gained a lot of experience after twenty years in one of the most well-run organizations in the NHL.

John Chayka

Chayka has gone from owning a private hockey analytics company to being praised as the next golden goose within GM circles. He spent one year as assistant general manager for the Arizona Coyotes. Chayka then got promoted to GM and led that team for four seasons. That ended when he was booted out of the league and suspended due to a hockey operations-related controversy.

“I do believe the organization is leaning that way at this time, but, and it is possible, I think Chayka gets it, but I think we’re far from done,” said Friedman.

MLSE Will Not Be Rushed

Friedman went on to say that he doesn’t think MLSE will announce anything this weekend. MLSE is going to do more due diligence and really try to hire the right person. They are not in a rush to fill the position.

Frankly, the Maple Leafs can take as much time as they need. This will be one of the most important hires in franchise history. It could mean the difference between a quick return to playoff contention or failing the Auston Matthews era and the start of another rebuild attempt.