Maple Leafs Stick With “Deep Due Diligence” Response When Questioned About Chayka Hire – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs officially introduced John Chayka as the franchise’s 19th general manager and Mats Sundin as Senior Executive Advisor, but much of the focus during the press conference centered on one theme: due diligence—and whether the organization had done enough of it.

MLSE CEO Keith Pelley made it clear that the Leafs anticipated scrutiny surrounding Chayka’s hiring. Chayka even addressed it in a statement prior to taking questions. Given his past with the Arizona Coyotes and the circumstances that led to his departure from the NHL, that was likely the right move. He tried to get out ahead of it.

There were still questions, and a lot of them.

Regardless of inquiries from multiple media members, Pelley repeatedly emphasized that the organization conducted “deep due diligence” and said they were extremely happy with where they landed.

Maple Leafs Say They Did Their Homework

At the height of the drama during the media availability, reporter Steve Simmons suggested that he had done his own due diligence. Simmons says he spoke to 20 people around the league and only one supported the Chayka hiring. He claims that 19 said it was a “sham” and words like “con artist,” “liar,” and “salesman” were used. When asked how he could come up with a different position and respond to that, Pelley said, “We must have talked to different people.”

When asked how the team came to the decision after interviewing what Pelley said was approximately 27 people, the organization held firm throughout the availability that Chayka was the guy. When questioned directly about concerns tied to Chayka’s history, Pelley said he wasn’t concerned and that their research left the organization comfortable.

Chayka was asked for specifics and would only say he was young when he took that job, and the Coyotes were caught up in a lot of off-ice stability issues. ‘Things got missed.’ When it came to getting hired in Toronto, he said the interview process was “exhaustive and exhausting.”

He added that he learned from the experience in Arizona, and he’s better off for having gone through it.

So, Why Did the Maple Leafs Choose Chayka?

What separated him, according to Pelley, was not only his vision for a modern NHL organization but also the confidence the Leafs built through their background work. Pelley says the team jumped on the opportunity to hire him when Sundin was on board.

Chayka framed his time away from the league as a period of growth and a chance to see things through a different lens. He stressed that the NHL has evolved and that he has evolved with it, particularly in areas like analytics, structure, and integrated decision-making. He also understands that in a market like Toronto, words mean little without results. Pelley seemed to agree that this was a good thing.

“I’m human,” Chayka admitted, noting that everything he’s experienced has made him better prepared for this opportunity.

While Pelley stood behind Chayka and his decision to hire him, he really hammered home the partnership between Chayka and Sundin. Calling the tandem “formidable,” Pelley said their long-standing relationship and mutual respect helped solidify the decision. Chayka is the higher-up of the two, but their roles will be collaborative.

Both Chayka and Sundin want it this way. Chayka described a “best idea wins” and the two men are aligned with what needs to happen to build a winning team.

That will include working with the strong core—including stars like Auston Matthews—but also making the necessary, inevitable roster changes. He has already begun conversations with key figures, including Matthews and head coach Craig Berube, as he works to better understand the team internally.

The big takeaway from the presser was that the Maple Leafs trust this tandem, while the media and fans might not. The Maple Leafs know these hires raise questions, but they are standing firmly behind their decisions. The “deep due diligence’ they did will just have to be enough for fans… at least for now.