The Toronto Maple Leafs have continued to restructure their front office, with several influential individuals departing the organization. These changes follow the appointment of general manager John Chayka, who is also reshaping the team’s roster.
Among those no longer with the team are assistant general managers Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, who oversaw player development, and Darryl Metcalf, from hockey research & development. Other departures include Mark Leach, director of amateur scouting, and Dave Morrison, senior advisor of player personnel.
Hayley Wickenheiser, who recently concluded leading the club’s development camp, shared on Instagram that her departure came after discussions with Chayka regarding her future role. She stated that while she expected to maintain a significant impact, it became clear that the leadership group had a different vision.
Wickenheiser joined the Maple Leafs in August 2018 as assistant director of player development and was promoted to assistant general manager in July 2022. She expressed pride in the work accomplished by the player development team during her eight years with the club.
Chayka issued a statement acknowledging the difficult decisions to part ways with valued colleagues, emphasizing that these moves were part of an ongoing organizational evaluation and not a reflection of the individuals’ commitment. He also extended gratitude for their contributions and wished them well.
Metcalf had been with the Maple Leafs since 2014 and played a significant role in establishing the team’s analytics department, holding his assistant general manager position since 2022. Leach was hired two years prior under former general manager Brad Treliving.
Morrison’s tenure with the Maple Leafs dates back to 2004, when he initially joined as an amateur scout. His roles within the organization included director of amateur scouting and director of pro scouting.
Further changes in the front office include the departures of director of player development Danielle Goyette, along with four members of the research & development department: director of hockey systems Wesley Waldner, analyst Bruce Peter, and developers Andrew Low and Cameron Farquharson. Player development department members Joe Underwood and Michele Moore Davison have also left.
Several scouting personnel are also no longer listed on the team’s website, including pro scout Jason Taylor, amateur scout Scott Carter, and college free agent scout Mike DeAngelis.
Recent Front Office and Coaching Adjustments
These recent changes follow earlier departures since Chayka and Mats Sundin were hired in early May. These included assistant general manager Brandon Pridham, assistant general manager of player personnel Derek Clancey, and special advisor Shane Doan.
Chayka has also made new hires, bringing in Judd Brackett as assistant general manager of player evaluation and Freddie Hamilton as chief of staff. Brackett’s role was highlighted when he, rather than Leach, spoke to the media after the draft, a task Leach had handled at the scouting combine three weeks prior.
On the coaching front, Craig Berube was dismissed, and after a five-week search, Jim Hiller was appointed as the new head coach. The coaching staff has also seen changes, with Daniel Alfredsson, John Gruden, and Brad Werenka joining Hiller’s team this week. Mike Van Ryn and Derek Lalonde will not be returning.
Steve Sullivan was announced as the new coach of the Toronto Marlies, taking over from John Gruden, who was promoted. Sullivan had previously been promoted to the Maple Leafs coaching staff in December from the Marlies.
Roster Restructuring Under Chayka
Beyond the front office, Chayka has initiated significant changes to the team’s roster. These include acquiring defenceman Darren Raddysh and signing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
Simultaneously, Chayka has focused on rebuilding the team’s bottom six forward group, indicating a comprehensive approach to reshaping the organization both on and off the ice.
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Source: torontosun.com
