The Toronto Maple Leafs have overhauled their sport performance department.
The group will be led by new vice president of sports performance Andy O’Brien, the team announced Monday.
O’Brien will oversee all aspects of performance optimization for the organization, including strength and conditioning, sport science, sports nutrition, injury rehabilitation and mental performance.
The Maple Leafs also announced the additions of Dr. Craig Slaunwhite as director of health and performance integration, Jason Martin as head strength and conditioning coach, Josh Crouse as assistant strength and conditioning coach and Dr. Jordan Shallow as human performance consultant.
“We are thrilled to welcome Andy and his sports performance team to the Toronto Maple Leafs and look forward to the impact they will have on the organization,” general manager John Chayka said in a statement.
“Providing every resource possible to help our players perform at their best is the highest priority at every level of the organization.”
O’Brien, 48, brings more than 25 years of experience in athlete performance across professional sports. He most recently served as chief performance officer with Cizzle Brands Inc. and as director of sport science, player health and performance with Junxion Performance, while also working as a high-performance consultant with the Florida Panthers.
The Charlottetown native previously spent six seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins as director of sports science and performance from 2015-21, where he helped develop the team’s off-ice training strategy and integrate sport science into daily operations.
O’Brien began his NHL career with the Panthers in 2005, serving as the club’s head strength and conditioning coach for four seasons.
During his time with Florida and Pittsburgh, O’Brien worked with four Stanley Cup championship teams — the Penguins in 2016 and 2017 and the Panthers in 2024 and 2025 — while also being part of five Cup Final appearances.
He has also led a private training practice where he has worked with elite athletes across professional and Olympic sports, including Maple Leafs forward John Tavares and Penguins forward Sidney Crosby.
“I’m incredibly honoured to join the Maple Leafs,” O’Brien said. “From my first discussions with John and the leadership group, it was clear that this organization is dedicated to industry-leading player care and supporting the individual athlete in every way possible.”
Slaunwhite joins Toronto after holding high-performance roles with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL, Jordan Basketball Federation and Acadia University. He has also worked with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets and Panthers, as well as the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.
Martin spent the past three seasons as the Penguins’ player development strength and conditioning coach while also working as manager and head strength and conditioning coach with Junxion Performance in Toronto.
Crouse joins the Leafs after serving as director of performance with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL during the 2025-26 season. He previously spent seven years leading sports performance at St. Francis Xavier Athletics.
Shallow, who joins as a human performance consultant, has worked with athletes and teams across the NHL, NFL and MLB. He also is the co-founder and president of Pre-Script, a biomechanics and resistance training certification program.
The Maple Leafs said the additions are part of the organization’s continued investment in player care and development.
“O’Brien’s record as an innovator and winner, coupled with his values, philosophy and vision, are wholly aligned with what we are building here in Toronto,” Chayka said.
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