*Former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka and Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White have emerged as the frontrunners to replace GM Brad Treliving, who was fired March 30, according to a report from Sportsnet. — Toronto Star
*From four or five favourites, former Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka and Dallas Stars assistant general manager Scott White appear to be emerging, as mentioned Friday by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman in his 32 Thoughts podcast. — Toronto Sun

TORONTO (Apr. 25) — I suggested in my last blog to keep both eyes on Sportsnet and Elliotte Friedman for the latest in the Maple Leafs search for a general manager to replace Brad Treliving. All others in media are doing the same, as Friedman has the story from inside Rogers headquarters at One Mount Pleasant. The latest, according to Elliotte, is that former Arizona Coyotes’ GM John Chayka and Dallas assistant Scott White have emerged as the two finalists for the position. Thereby eliminating Boston aide Evan Gold and Rangers’ assistant Ryan Martin.

Friedman speculated farther about an audience with Ed the Conqueror: What I heard is that [the four finalists] were invited back to Toronto on Tuesday for in–person interviews, and they were all told there was the possibility that a favourite may be invited to stay and meet with the head of Rogers, Edward Rogers, on Wednesday, and could advance to a final stage. From what I understand, that second phase did not happen for any one of the candidates. They all met. Elliotte, a loyal company man, is trying to not make it look obvious that word is trickling down the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment pipeline. Using phrases such as “from what I understand.” But, no one is buying it. All Friedge needs to understand is English. Which he’s quite good at. In fact, no other media person has been quoted about the matter. The Leafs have clearly chosen the route of a still–young executive with data poring from his ears. Such was the blueprint laid out by the Chief Executive Officer of MLSE, Keith Pelley.

To wit, Chayka and White are big–time crunchers of advanced statistics.

Whether or not they recognize what players are born with (heart, character and determination) — rather than solely the regurgitation of computer numbers — remains a mystery. As everyone knows, the Leafs have been devoid of backbone starting in mid–April each year. This season came crashing down far earlier and the club missed the Stanley Cup chase for the first time since 2016. It seems that much more than fancy numerals are missing.

JOHN CHAYKA (ABOVE) AND SCOTT WHITE ARE THE FINALISTS TO REPLACE BRAD TRELIVING WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS.

But, MLSE — which copies and no–longer leads in hockey decisions — appears to be sold on the Bill Zito model. And, why not? Zito was a player agent for a number of years (goalies Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask among his clients) then cut his managerial teeth with the Columbus Blue Jackets, overlooking the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. He was hired in September 2020 as GM of the Florida Panthers, taking over from Dale Tallon, who had signed goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to a seven–year, $70 million contract. Zito would have been quite happy to inheret Bobrovsky after his seven seasons tending twine for the Blue Jackets. Zito traded with Calgary for Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. He dealt with Buffalo for Sam Reinhart and acquired Carter Verhaeghe from Tampa Bay. Florida won the 2024 Stanley Cup, then repeated, last spring, after Zito nabbed Brad Marchand from Boston at the trade deadline. So, yeah, if the Maple Leafs can find Bill Zito–2, they’ll be in dandy shape.

Of course, they had Kyle Dubas–1 when MLSE went away from the recycling model and promoted the top junior executive in the organization. On the surface, Dubas had a marginal term as GM of the Leafs, but hindsight may tell a different story. We know that Brendan Shanahan, who chose Dubas to succeed Hall–of–Fame manager Lou Lamoriello, would not tinker with the core players accrued during his Shanaplan — in consecutive years, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. After two spectacular fails (2018 and 2019) at Boston in Game 7 of the opening round, the Leafs had major difficulty scoring against Columbus in the COVID play in series of 2020.

Then came what should have been the coup de grâce for the Core–4: the collapse against Montreal in 2021, coughing up a 3–1 series lead. At some point afterward — and despite attempting an internal powerplay — Dubas began to disagree with Shanahan’s route of status–quo. Who knows what changes might have occurred if Dubas and the long–time club president hadn’t split acrimoniously. It’s still fashionable to blame Kyle for all that went wrong during the Core–4 era; he seemed to get trounced in contract negotiation. But, again, everything hockey at MLSE went through Shanahan. No move was made without his tacit approval. So, was Dubas the actual villain?

You may notice his current team, Pittsburgh, is back in the playoffs. Which wasn’t supposed to happen.

There is no word as to why the Mike Gillis negotiations went pear–shaped. Perhaps Mike was too “media friendly.” God forbid a hockey figure at uber–secretive MLSE should possess such a heinous quality. Bold–face lying to the public about injuries — a Leafs’ staple — may not be so simple. Better to hire a young buck and mold him (gulp!) in the MLSE image. The media and fans lose out but strict control is maintained by Ed the Conqueror and his minions. What about Mats Sundin? Could the all–time franchise points leader come aboard as president and not sully his divine public reputation? Does he need the aggravation of plunking himself in the middle of Leaf chaos; the team sorely requiring change on the ice, yet at the mercy of corporate types? Sundin’s line–mate with the Leafs from a generation ago, Gary Roberts, is also generating whispers. It’s implausible that MLSE will hire Chayka or White to run the club solo. If Chayka gets the nod, look for his older sister, Meghan, to be involved. Co–founder of the hockey analytics firm Stathletes, Meghan is a rising media figure at TSN and widely considered a top candidate to become the first woman GM in the NHL; assisting John with the Leafs might crack open that door.

White isn’t as well known in fan and media circles but he’s worked exceptionally well in the long shadow of Jim Nill during many good seasons with the Dallas Stars. He has a wealth of executive service as director of hockey ops for the Stars since May 31, 2013. How long ago was that? Just eighteen days after the Leafs famously blew their 4–1 third–period lead in Game 7 at Boston and were dispatched in overtime by Patrice Bergeron. Seems like only yesterday but a baker’s–dozen years have nearly passed. Could White guide the Leafs back to respectability?

Of course, cancel what I’ve written prior to this sentence if Chayka, White or any candidate comes in with a pre–condition of retaining the club’s “foundational pieces” (Pelley’s words); those that have failed the Leafs in the Stanley Cup hunt for nearly a decade. If MLSE/Pelley has instituted a “hands off” policy for Matthews, Nylander, Knies and Rielly, the club is a cinch to repeatedly miss the playoffs. Any shmoe with a computer could take the Toronto GM position under such a bogus provision. Don’t be fooled by fancy phrases or corporate malarkey.

For answers, however, keep watching Sportsnet and Elliotte. Like everyone in the hockey world. There’s no chance MLSE/Rogers will allow another media person to break the biggest Leafs story in years.

THE PLAYOFF WAR OF 1976 ENDED PFFFFFT

As long as memory endures, I’ll close my eyes and feel the sapping humidity inside Maple Leaf Gardens from the south–mezzanine balcony. If you don’t believe that heat rises, think again. Those 3½–hour playoff marathons between the Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers in late–April. With no air conditioning in the old cashbox. The familiar combatants: Dave (Tiger) Williams, Kurt Walker and Scott Garland on the home side; Dave Schultz, Bob Kelly, Don Saleski among the visiting Broad Street Bullies. Ontario law interceding through Attorney General Roy McMurtry. Each team holding serve on home ice — the Leafs winning Games 3, 4 and 6 at the Gardens; the Flyers, 1, 2, 5 and 7 at the Spectrum. The scene in the photo, below, is what I’ll most remember of the Toronto home encounters. Sadly for fans of the Blue and White, the series ended with a fizzle, not a bang.

GAME 7 UNRAVELED QUICKLY ON THE LEAFS

The Maple Leafs embarked on Game 7 of the 1976 quarterfinals after an extra day’s rest and with “Pyramid Power” as fuel after the record–tying five goals scored by Darryl Sittler in Game 6, keeping Toronto alive with an 8–5 victory. The Leafs’ equipment staff packed away all the pyramids and transported them to Philadelphia. Whereupon the items were arranged strategically in the visitors’ dressing room. And, whoa, did it appear the Leafs had something going when Jack Valiquette scored on the first shot of the game, at 1:24 of the opening period.

Andre Dupont deadlocked the match but Toronto’s Bob Neely connected with 1:04 left in the period and the Leafs took a 2–1 lead to the intermission. The entire Maple Leafs season — and “Pyramid Power” — came tumbling down in a 3:16 span of the middle frame when the Flyers pored in four consecutive goals: Saleski, Mel Bridgman (with two) and Ross Lonsberry doing the irreparable damage. The game ended 7–3 in favor of Philadelphia, which went on to upend Boston in the Stanley Cup semifinals only to fall against Montreal in the championship round.

GAME 7 OF THE LEAFS AND FLYERS TOOK PLACE 50 YEARS AGO TONIGHT, AT THE SPECTRUM. MOST OF FRANK ORR’S TORONTO STAR STORY IS BELOW.

VETERAN SPORTS SCRIBE JIM PROUDFOOT FOLLOWED THE MAPLE LEAFS–FLYERS SERIES FOR THE STAR. A CLOSER LOOK AT HIS GAME 7 COLUMN IS BELOW.

 

LEAFS–FLYERS GAME 4 SUMMARY. THE SECOND PERIOD TOLD THE STORY.

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