TORONTO (May 4) — Perhaps I’m wading into recency bias here, but I doubt it. I was granted my first media credential by the Toronto Maple Leafs 42 years ago, in 1983–84. One season after Joe Bowen became the now–legendary voice of the hockey club. In all of that time, I have never witnessed the reaction to an executive appointment that even approaches Monday’s excoriation of John Chayka. There are convicted pedophiles rotting in prisons that haven’t been raked over the coals like the new general manager of the Maple Leafs. John Ferguson Jr., by comparison, was Sam Pollock, Bill Torrey and Glen Sather rolled into one. Nothing about Chayka — past, present or future — minimally resonated with the horde of media that attended the press announcement on Bay St. If he flukes into a good move on behalf of the team, shockwaves will apparently ensue. Forget poor Mats Sundin. He was a sideshow to the public flogging. It was Chayka absorbing one rifle bullet after another.
Had the Navy SEALs, in 2011, captured bin Laden alive, he would have been greeted more cordially. It’s difficult to comprehend Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, even with all its warts, going after such a lifelong miscreant. Given the tone of the media grilling, Chayka will be balled and chained before he can settle into his private lair in the SBA gondola. With police and SWAT–team sharpshooters trained on him from every corner. Sundin should practice ducking techniques. One false move and… KABOOM!! The Leafs will be searching for their 20th franchise GM. Can John really be that sinful a character — born and raised, evidently, to philander, rape and pillage?
You wouldn’t have known differently if stumbling across Monday’s Q and A session at the home of the Leafs.
In my 17 seasons covering the team on radio, I had to stand up to such cast–iron luminaries as Pat Burns, Pat Quinn, Brian Burke and Ron Wilson. We went at it back and forth (didn’t we, Ron?)… and, yes, occasionally it ventured over the top. But, I never tore the shreds out of another person. As happened to Chayka on Monday.
Where in the mix was even the guise of impartiality? Or, in Chayka’s case, a fair second shot at managing in the National Hockey League? Wouldn’t any of us hope for such a concession? Look at Joel Quenneville thriving in Anaheim after turning a blind eye, with Chicago, to the Kyle Beach atrocity. Those of vintage, like myself, will remember the cheeky and immoral headline in the New York Post the day after Joe Torre (in 1996) was chosen by George Steinbrenner to replace Buck Showalter as manager of the Yankees: CLUELESS JOE. Splashed in mega–type above Torre’s photo. Yes, it was true — Torre, while managing the Mets, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals between 1977 and 1995 failed to craft a championship team. The Big Apple was in an uproar over his appointment by the Boss (as Steinbrenner was known). All Torre managed in the Bronx, as you might recall, was four World Series championships in five years, starting in ’96. Including an eye–popping 114–48 record during the 1998 American League schedule. There was nothing “clueless” about Joe throughout that remarkable stretch.
Torre deployed players provided him by general manager Brian Cashman, but molded, from the dugout, one of the great dynasties in professional sport. I’m not suggesting Chayka will similarly bolster the Maple Leafs… but did he deserve to be so utterly shamed and humiliated before the cameras and microphones? Should the clandestine ploy that backfired on him in Phoenix and led to harsh censure by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman disqualify him from subsequent opportunity? Was he the first hockey executive to attempt something shady? A person I worked with at The FAN–590 who knows Chayka referred to him, in an email, as a “slimeball”. Neither did the person largely elaborate. Chayka, with his wife, Kathryn, owns 50 Wendy’s and five Tim Hortons franchises.
So what?
Sather, while directing Edmonton to four Stanley Cup titles in the 1980’s, controlled three–quarters of Banff.
Was that held against him?
Two years ago, MLSE went conventional and hired the first two “retreads” on the market: Brad Treliving and Craig Berube. This season, Toronto finished 28th in the overall NHL standings. By comparison, the Sundin/Chayka appointments originate from many lengths outside the box. Which doesn’t necessarily portend disaster.
All I’m suggesting here — and I don’t think it’s particularly unique — is why bury Chayka alive before he and Sundin take their first crack at amending the Maple Leafs? If John, as accused in some circles, sold MLSE and Keith Pelley a bill of goods, we’ll know soon enough. Why not offer him the decency of a fair shot; background notwithstanding? Quenneville is getting plenty of love in SoCal and his situation was infinitely more vile.
I covered virtually every game Sundin played at center for the Maple Leafs between 1995 and 2008. He was among the most fundamentally decent humans I’ve ever met… in hockey or elsewhere. Though I knew Mats only superficially, he never sought limelight or public awareness. A man of extreme wealth, he owned a sprawling mansion in his native Stockholm and, to me, appeared unlikely to pursue a second career in the NHL. Though he came back to Toronto for Hall of Fame weekend and other Maple Leaf–sponsored events, Mats seemed perfectly comfortable getting away from the intense hockey glare and settling into quasi anonimity. Perhaps, at a youthful 55, he grew weary of retirement. Such fellow ex–players as Bill Guerin and Joe Sakic have evolved nicely in the absence of managerial experience. Is there a glaring reason why Sundin cannot follow in their steps?
As anyone familiar with this corner will know, I have less confidence in corporate MLSE than either of Chayka or Sundin. A dreadful mistake has been made while stringing along Berube, the coach with two years remaining on his contract. Though it’s a Maple Leaf epidemic, hiring a new manager with a coach already in place is ass–backward. In recent times, Toronto did so with Cliff Fletcher (Tom Watt), Ken Dryden (Mike Murphy), Ferguson Jr. (Pat Quinn), Brian Burke (Ron Wilson), David Nonis (Randy Carlyle) and Kyle Dubas (Mike Babcock). If MLSE truly has faith in Chayka, it will allow him to move on from Berube and provide the veteran coach a fair chance at landing another gig. Then Chayka and/or Sundin can ring up Jon Cooper in Tampa and determine whether he’s max’d out with the Lightning after 13 years and consecutive Stanley Cup championships (2020, 2021). If seeking a new challenge, Cooper would likely pursue managerial responsibility… but money still talks and MLSE is drowning in cash. There is nothing to lose by asking permission to speak with Cooper and take a shot at luring him north.
Otherwise, what I heard Monday about Auston Matthews — unspoken but implied — is that the Leafs and their captain are not at all guaranteed to move forward. Should that be the case, Chayka and Sundin will get my vote for executives of the year in the NHL. In the meantime, why not give the new tandem a reasonable chance?
As any of us would ask for.
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
The problem Howard is that the Leafs should be competing for the best minds and talent in the NHL. Why have teams like Las Vegas, Tampa Bay and Florida been so successful? Because they went out and got the best qualified individuals available. The best Presidents of Hockey Operations, the best General Managers, the best Coaches and Assistant Coaches, the best pro and amateur scouts, etc. We are witnessing this post season how the Montreal Canadiens have benefited from having competent people at the helm. Of course we should give the new duo a chance. But look at the last decade. The franchise brought in a President with no experience in that position. He then promoted to the position of GM somebody who had never held that position before, who then brought in a coach who had never coached in the NHL before. The Leafs squandered that time, and now we are faced with a lengthy period of rebuilding the team, without our first round picks for the next two years (after this draft obviously). So I would have preferred Mr Pelley went after hockey executives with a track record of excellence, who could be then left to finally right the ship and put the team on a solid footing. For whatever reason, there seems to be no end of animus towards Mr Chayka around the league. How is he supposed to negotiate if other GM’s aren’t interested in taking his calls? (Unless it is to fleece the team, which has happened far too often recently).
First order of business, get rid of Matthews. Find some team who believes in him and rebuild with the haul and the 2026 #1 draft choice.
Matthews won’t carry the Leafs, absolutely zero killer instinct!
You are wrong about Matthews. They need to get rid of the three Stooges, Rielly Domi and Tavares. That in itself would be a big improvement on the ice and in the dressing room. Leaders that don’t lead or lead badly. They set a bad example. They are minus machines. Leafs cannot improve or turn around from a losing team until all three of them are gone.
Yeh, right! A real leader
Auston Matthews has 59 pts. (26 goals, 33 assists) and a plus-minus of +2 in 68 games.
In 2016 Jack Todd wrote a story that the lottery smelled and was rigged by the NHL to give the NHL’s largest market the win. If I remember correctly Daly came out of a back room with a card that said the Leafs won. This time the lottery was televised live but I still expect Todd will have something to say like AI was used because the NHL wants the Leafs back in the playoffs.
There shouldn’t be a lottery. It isn’t fair. Last place should pick first.
Carson Carels, Howard. Not Gavin McKenna. Carels will be the number one dman you’ve always wanted for the Leafs.
I’m out. Flames are my team. Go Craig Conroy go! After 59 years, I don’t have words for how low and pathetic the Leafs have stooped. I’m out.
I agree with your take as far as giving the new duo a fair shake. Having said that, the fan base was looking for something to hang on to. This was the opposite of instilling hope and confidence. That’ll all melt away should they prove to be competent. Keith Pelley should be banned from any office or press conference associated with the Leafs. He’s the face of the corporate side of the business and the average fan wants hockey people with a hockey vision and gameplan to be the face of the team. Shanny, with all his warts, filled that role. AI, search teams for GM, team alignment etc. Just a gong show. The fact he started a Leafs press conference discussing the Raptors said it all. Tone deaf. Put the man in an office somewhere in MLSE and seal the door!
Well said Howard, What I take from that news conference was that the vitriol was just as much directed at Pelley as Chayka, Although I wouldn’t know John Chayka if I backed over him with my car, I Felt sorry for Mats Sundin, it should have been a celebration of his return, But one thing I do know for sure, the biggest clown in that room was Keith Pelley. How that guy failed himself into that position is beyond me
Over the top with pedophiles and bin laden.
Not a fan of Sundin or Matthews but I obviously don’t know enough about either.
I don’t watch games anymore anyway.
They all should get paid only if they win.
Otherwise it’s just a ballet.
Why over the top? I didn’t accuse Chayka of anything. But, I wanted to show the contrast between professional and personal.
Of course we have to give them a fair shot. What else is there to do? Mats is a good guy and was a good Leaf. Media are funny, though. All they care about is the recent past. Attack them team when they’re losing and all good when they’re winning. No one excoriated Brad Treliving while he was ruining the team. They were expecting another playoff run like they had the season previous. People watched and did not protest as he had the foolish trade deadline in 2025, and asked Mitch Marner to waive his no move clause several times, ensuring that he wouldn’t want to resign here, though he was the team MVP, the heart and soul of the team and the leader of the team. Then he gave him away to Vegas for a fourth liner in Nic Roy. The media predicted another first place division finish afterward. Don’t listen to the media. Don’t let them form your opinions for you. Make your own judgement. All the resources are available to us today. Games, highlights, stats. In his last season as GM of the Leafs Brad Treliving could not have done worse if he tried. Worst GM in Leafs history. So inept it’s an accomplishment to have done so badly.
Tre’s trades were terrible, but he did all he could regarding Marner. He turned down 8 x $13.5m in summer 2024, or more accurately didn’t even respond to the offer. They knew then Marner was leaving even though Marner publicly continued with the facade throughout 24-25 that he wanted to remain a Leaf. Their only option was to arrange a trade. Marner refused to waive right up to the deadline.
This is Toronto. I think all this could’ve been avoided if they’d let Chayka (perhaps being interviewed by his sister) had done a 1 on 1 interview thoroughly addressing what happened in the desert (ideally even before the presser). This is also why the Leafs couldn’t hire Coach Q or sign Carter Hart. Other markets wouldn’t care, but if you’re not going to talk about the elephant in the room you’re in trouble lol
I like your take on Cooper. Watching Tampa Bay get knocked out by Montreal, all I could think at the end was how genuinely likable he is as a person.
Berube looked like a great coach when he had Pietrangelo playing bombs away from the blue line and smashmouth hockey in his own end. I don’t think his system is able to win without great defensive players.
IMO If Toronto wants to win, they need to move on from Berube.
No matter who the GM is. Matthews has to go to begin a fix. Nylander too. Not sure how it can be done if he doesn’t want to leave. And why would he when he rules the roost?
An “executive” with zero experience and a previously suspended cheater. Already a tampering investigation with whiffs of nepotism from the so-called screening committee. If all this is deemed acceptable to this franchise, no wonder it has long since become the national laughing stock.