The Toronto Maple Leafs could be close to installing new leadership.
After a month-long search, the Maple Leafs are working towards installing a duo of Mats Sundin as vice-president of hockey operations alongside former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Wednesday's edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.
"As it stands right now, I'm under the impression it's gonna be Sundin and Chayka and they just have to close the deal. Nothing is done until it's done, but that's what I believe is going on," Friedman said.
Sundin, 55, has never held an NHL front-office role previously. Friedman reported that "it took some time and it took some convincing," but the sides are now negotiating.
The Maple Leafs icon and Hockey Hall of Famer is the franchise's all-time leader in points and game-winning goals. He played 981 games for the team over 13 seasons between 1994 and 2008.
"They feel the pride of the team got damaged last year. The team didn't have the esprit de corps that you want to have," Friedman said. "And I think they're hoping that by bringing Sundin back in and somebody who cares about the Maple Leafs as much as he does, he can at least restore some of that and hope it helps to be a part of what can make them successful."
However, Sundin's position would be much more than ceremonial, per Friedman.
"I don't think it's a small role. I don't think he's coming here to kiss babies and shake hands. I think they're really hoping he can have an active role in shaping the future of the team," Friedman said.
Chayka, 36, was the youngest GM in NHL history when he took the reins of the Coyotes in 2016 and 26 years old.
He spent four seasons with the club, leading it to one playoff berth, before resigning in 2020. He was suspended from the NHL for the 2021 calendar year after pursuing job opportunities with other teams without permission from Arizona.
Now, five years later, he could be headed to the Maple Leafs to help lead a team coming off its first missed playoffs in a decade and facing urgency with only two years left on captain Auston Matthews' contract.
"If Sundin does get the job, I think it's gonna be Chayka. Now if something happens here and it doesn't occur, I don't know where this is all gonna go. I don't know what the backup plan is," Friedman said.
