Maple Leafs shape front office with Mats Sundin, John Chayka - ESPN

The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired a surprising combination to lead their front office in former star player Mats Sundin and former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka, the team announced Sunday.

Sundin will be the team's senior executive adviser for hockey operations. Chayka is the 19th GM in franchise history, replacing Brad Treliving. The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs this season and haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1967, the longest active championship drought in the NHL.

«Today is an important day for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization,» Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement. «I'm thrilled to welcome John and Mats to their roles, two great hockey minds that will strengthen our entire hockey club. From the start of this process, it's been about building a championship-calibre team for our fans and our city and today is an important step towards that goal.»

The Maple Leafs fired Treliving — who had served as GM since May 2023 — after the season. Toronto cast a wide net for his replacement, interviewing executives with previous general manager experience such as Mike Gillis, formerly of the Vancouver Canucks, as well as rising star assistant GMs such as Scott White (Dallas Stars), Ryan Martin (New York Rangers) and Evan Gold (Boston Bruins). One name mentioned prominently in their search was Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta, who was quickly hired by the New Jersey Devils as their new general manager.

Sundin, 55, is a Hockey Hall of Fame center who played 13 seasons with the Maple Leafs and is the franchise's all-time leading scorer. He has never held an NHL front-office position before but has been around the Maple Leafs in recent years, including at