Maple Leafs Part Ways With Hayley Wickenheiser

The Toronto Maple Leafs have parted ways with Assistant General Manager (AGM) Hayley Wickenheiser, the Hockey Hall of Famer confirmed Thursday in a personal statement. Her exit is part of a sweeping front office overhaul under new General Manager John Chayka.

Wickenheiser, 47, joined the organization in 2018 as an assistant director of player development under then-GM Kyle Dubas and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2022. She said she had expected to retain a significant role following recent conversations with Chayka, but that his leadership group “envisioned a different path.” Wickenheiser had just wrapped her eighth season with the club, having overseen last week’s development camp that featured first-overall pick, Gavin McKenna.

“Since joining the club in 2018, I have been immensely proud of the work our player development team has accomplished”, stated Wickenheiser.  “I want to sincerely thank the incredibly talented individuals, coaches, management, and players whom I have been fortunate enough to work alongside over the last eight years. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity, wish the team nothing but the best moving forward, and look forward to the next chapter.”

Before moving into hockey operations, Wickenheiser established herself as one of the greatest players in the history of the women’s game. She won four consecutive Olympic gold medals with Canada (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014) and a silver in 1998, earned tournament MVP honors in 2002 and 2006, and captured seven World Championship titles. Canada’s all-time leading international scorer with 379 points in 276 games, she was inducted into both the Hockey Hall of Fame and the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2019 in her first year of eligibility. She retired in 2017 and went on to earn a medical degree at the University of Calgary.

Wickenheiser was among more than a dozen personnel to depart this week as Chayka reshapes Toronto’s hockey operations group. Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun first reported that the Leafs also moved on from director of amateur scouting Mark Leach and senior advisor of player personnel Dave Morrison, while AGM of hockey research and development Darryl Metcalf and director of player development Danielle Goyette are out as well. The moves follow the May exit of AGM Brandon Pridham and AGM of Player Personnel Derek Clancey, among others.

In a statement, Chayka called the decisions difficult, said they were not a reflection of the departing staff’s commitment, and thanked them for their contributions. He has already begun installing his own people, including recently hired assistant GM of player evaluation Judd Brackett, with several vacated roles expected to be filled before the season.