3/31/26: In his press conference Tuesday, Pelley told the media that Maple Leafs assistant general managers Brandon Pridham and Ryan Hardy will share the duties of interim general manager while the club conducts its search for its next full-time leader of hockey operations.
Pridham has been widely speculated as a likely candidate for a potential promotion to the general manager position. The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke wrote today that Pridham is “razor sharp” and noted that he “has been a candidate of interest for GM positions around the league previously.”
Hardy has been with the Maple Leafs since 2021-22, arriving there after a three-year stint as general manager of the USHL’s Chicago Steel. In Chicago, he was the USHL’s General Manager of the Year twice, and won the league’s Clark Cup championship in 2021.
In Toronto, he’s served as GM of the team’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Under his management, the Marlies have made the AHL’s playoffs for three consecutive campaigns. They won the league’s North Division in 2022-23 and defeated the Utica Comets in a first-round playoff series.
3/30/26: With a disappointing season coming to a close, the Toronto Maple Leafs shared big news; they’re parting ways with General Manager Brad Treliving.
In a statement from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Keith Pelley, it was said “Throughout the course of the season, there has been deep analysis into both the current state of the Maple Leafs organization and the direction needed to achieve the ultimate goal of delivering a Stanley Cup championship to the city”.
There was no real need for Pelley to elaborate; it has long been apparent that change was needed. Named as the 18th GM in franchise history on May 31, 2023, the book closes on the Treliving era defined by its disappointment, cutting short one more year on his contract.
Major question marks on Toronto’s future already existed when he took the helm; fresh off another painful playoff defeat in the second round at the hands of the Florida Panthers. Still, there was reason for optimism, that perhaps a new voice could take what Kyle Dubas had built and shape it into a true contender.
In came Treliving, after serving as GM for the Calgary Flames from 2014-23, a strong period for the Alberta franchise. In his tenure, Calgary won two Pacific Division titles and were a real Western Conference threat. Shortly before his time ended though, Treliving dealt young superstar Matthew Tkachuk to Florida in a highly scrutinized trade. It has netted the Panthers multiple Stanley Cups, while Calgary has fallen into a rebuild. Unfortunately, things haven’t aged much better for the Maple Leafs either, who are in a far worse spot than they were three years ago.
Treliving was reserved at first, adding veterans but holding their biggest assets. It was probably the right move to not go crazy on renovations out of the gate, but the patience didn’t work out. Another heartbreaking Game 7 defeat by Boston, and it was time for real change.
Thankfully keeping his first round selection, Treliving went with defenseman Ben Danford in 2024. He didn’t stop there, swinging a sign-and-trade with Chris Tanev, reuniting from Calgary, with a six-year pact worth $4.5MM per year. The respected defender is exactly the player the Leafs needed, but he was already 34, and it was clearly a “worry about it later” contract.
Then came the 2024-25 campaign, proving to be the team’s most successful season under Treliving. Toronto finished fourth in the league with an impressive 52-26-4 record. Buzzing along with hopes of finally breaking through on a deep playoff run, it was time to push the chips in and get aggressive at the trade deadline. This is where things went wrong.
Across multiple trades, the Maple Leafs relinquished their first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, along with skilled youngsters Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin. The haul brought them Scott Laughton from Philadelphia and Brandon Carlo from Boston. A steep price to pay, the duo were the exact players the Leafs were missing in playoff shortcomings of past, but it had to pay off in May.
Toronto managed to get by the underdog Senators in six games, and were rewarded with a rematch against the defending champions in Florida. Treliving’s club went up 2-0 in the series, effectively the peak of the entire “Core Four” era. 11 days later though, they found themselves in another Game 7, coming up short yet again in a resounding defeat. The team was right there, so close, but it didn’t matter. As we all know, Mitch Marner moved on, and Treliving was left painted into a corner.
2025-26 marks one decade since the Leafs last missed the playoffs, but the streak will end, for the first time in the Auston Matthews era. There was optimism that Marner’s departure would lead to the emergence of other forwards, but that wasn’t the case. Toronto sits at 24th in the league today, and they’ll be desperate for some lottery luck into the top five, or else their first rounder will go to Boston as salt in the wound.
Fortunately earlier this month Treliving obtained a 2027 conditional first rounder from Colorado for Nicolas Roy, as well as a 2027 second round selection from Seattle for Bobby McMann. It’s a parting gift after most of his moves made the team only older.
All that being said, the Treliving era comes to an end after a 139 – 92 – 27 record and a single playoff series win over Ottawa.
It’s much debated where things went off the rails. Many point to the 2025 deadline deals, but in a way, the downfall may have started on July 1, 2023, when Marner’s no-trade-clause kicked in. Treliving had just taken the job, and dealing Marner would have sent shockwaves across the organization. From his perspective it was probably never a serious possibility. However, with hindsight today, it’s a situation many Leaf fans wish was handled differently.
Maple Leafs management now must find a replacement, with the pressure of desperately salvaging the Matthews/William Nylander/John Tavares core before it is too late. Head coach Craig Berube‘s seat is hot as well, and Toronto could consider a clean slate entirely. Former Vegas bench boss Bruce Cassidy, who was shockingly let go yesterday, presents a great opportunity for the Maple Leafs to obtain a top coach.
Brandon Pridham, current Assistant General Manager of the club, has gotten some noise as due for a promotion, and it might as well be in Toronto. The 52-year-old Ontario native’s time with the Leafs dates back to 2014, starting as a Special Assistant and working his way up to his current role, which he’s held since 2018.
Rob Blake, former Kings’ General Manager, is an Ontario native who could garner some interest as a candidate with prior experience. The former superstar defenseman’s Los Angeles tenure was doomed after continuous early playoff exits, however.
Brendan Shanahan, who served as President from 2014-25, would be a fascinating story if there was ever a possibility for him to return. It would be his first General Manager role, with a chance to clean up what he helped put together.
In terms of recycled candidates, there isn’t the strongest list. There’s no immediate name which is far and away the best option, as Toronto could go in all sorts of different directions. As a storied franchise with a roster which is flawed, but still loaded on paper, they should have no shortage of hopefuls.
A respected veteran in the game, Treliving, 56, should find another role in the league where he could reach 20 years of experience next season. Meanwhile, whoever comes next in Toronto has the opportunity to etch themselves into Maple Leafs history forever, although they’ll be facing a formidable task in righting the ship.
Nashville had better not get any bright ideas
Sadly, they rarely do. 😒
And there was much rejoicing.
*Yaaaaay*
Thank sweet baby Jesus they finally did it
He didn’t do a good job and last year’s deadline trades look horrible in retrospect, but he was kind of painted into corner to begin with.
*a
…and because the NHL is like all other leagues and owners have little to no imagination, this guy will fail up and be running another team next season or be a team president the season after.
Currently the Leafs are worth 4.4 billion dollars according to Forbes, It makes you wonder if the organization even cares about winning, The revenue streams are flowing, And, The fans keep showing up. No urgency at all.
Should’ve traded marner awhile ago knowing they weren’t gonna be able to keep him, you got Roy in return and he’s not even on the team anymore. Could’ve gotten way more for him
Treliving did a poor job but his hands were tied on Marner.
No treliving he had h hange to trade marner when he had Not have no move clause and blew it
It was widely reported/speculated that Dubas wanted to trade one of the core four to which Shanahan disagreed resulting in Dubas being fired. Treliving was hired one month before Marners no movement clause was kicking in. Im sure Treliving was told during the interviews that he wouldn’t be able to move any of the four.
I think it was also reported that Shanahan told the core four they’d all be staying after Dubas was fired.
I am glad they thought he was an upgrade over Dubas.
hopefully the next GM will realize you won’t get very far with a patchwork defense and subpar goaltending.. probably not
Treliving did a poor job but where the Leafs are as an organization today started before Treliving was hired.
The constant parade of overpaid defensemen and average goaltenders will continue unabated.
Let’s see how they treat Radko tonight, otherwise the coach might be next.
Tanev was worth sign ing. But you knew trading for Carlo was a mistake. He was another jack Edwards overhyped future hall of famers like Conner clifton
Tanev played 11 games this year and is only getting older. Giving him 6 years was a mistake.
C’mon. Carlo’s been a good shutdown defenseman for a long time now. Jack Edwards, of all people (seriously??), didn’t force Treliving to seriously overpay for him.
Not going to fix anything. Should have punted on Matthews and his injury history and kept Marner.
They’ll need a full rebuild to get back to the core 4 peak. Probably the best team that never was
I kinda feel bad for Treliving… team is a s-show.
Now if only they could fire the Toronto Sun…
You Leafs fans will never be happy. You’ve been “good” plenty of times. But never great. Hamilton will get a team and win before you guys do.
“the ultimate goal of delivering a Stanley Cup championship to the city”. What an adorable thing for someone in Toronto to say.
Wait, they can’t say “deliver a Stanley Cup” since it often lives in Toronto at the Hall of Fame…the guy with the hair who rides around with it also live in Toronto.
Also they should be doing everything possible to lose considering their hated rival Boston could get a top ten pick from them if it falls outside the top 5
Now Leafs have a chance to start moving in the right direction: This was a mistake that should never have had to be corrected. Treliving was a massive failure in Calgary …and made virtually the same mistakes in Toronto.
Leafs got what they deserved
Funny how when one team (in this case, Vegas) makes a big move it seems to embolden other teams to do the same. A true copycat league.
Marner was never the issue
The pundits were right too many soft playmakers
Marner and Mathew’s were the core
Nylander is a poor man’s Marner
Tavares is a poor man’s nylander
Domi is a poor man’s Tavares
Anyone see a pattern?
Two out of Domi nylander and Tavares needed to be traded over a year ago!
Marner was part of the problem. In 21 career games 5-7 he has a total of 6 assists. That’s a problem.
Marner was in no way the problem. He was not in a line-up that could max out his skills. Marner needs a true power-forward partner/finisher to excel.
The problem with Mitch, if there is one, is that he plays hard but he bounces off of real hockey players.
With Toronto Marner shrunk during the big moments every year. He was definitely part of the problem.
He wasn’t the only problem but saying he had nothing to do with it is just like some Leafs fans saying Dubas was this great GM while he was in Toronto.
The Carlo trade is the epitome of Treliving. I can’t remember anything quite as bad done recently.
One has to be totally incompetent to hire Treliving with his track record.
They likely didn’t trust him to make the inevitable Matthews trade. Btw I’m pulling my Martone, Flyers 2026 #1 & Leafs 2027 #1 for AM offer.
It’s an oversimplification, but the successful GMs in recent years appear to all be analytics/moneypuck GMs. The failed and failing ones are the traditional GMs, sometimes abetted by traditional GMs kicked upstairs to be POHO’s. You can succeed as a traditional GM with a strong analytics group, but not with a meddling owner.
Chiarelli is available ;)
The only hire that would make Treviling look good at all, is a Chiarelli signing. Come on Leafs!!!
Who would’ve thought reloading the Bruins (bitter divisional rival) would have been a bad idea?
No one here in Massachusetts!
I bet Doug Armstrong takes the job. He’s handing the reigns over to Steen after this season and is supposed to move into the President of Hockey Ops role with the Blues. Would be a home run hire for the Leafs.
He’s under contract in STL and they reportedly won’t release him to become a GM of another team.
Awww…us in Flames land are very sad by this.
The undertone has always been said that if the Leafs actually won the cup, then the fan base would not have anything to look forward to, then they would stop watching (and paying). They constantly do the right thing for such a great fan base.
Shanahans tenure has caused some of this situation
There is no fixing this “core”
Until they realize this nothing will change for Toronto
Mathews is oft injured and a playoff bust.
No one will ever succeed in toronto because it a cesspool of the most toxic fanbase in sports.
All this sounds just like the Redwings historic fall. We’re still stalling out in March, short on resolve and determination to push into the playoffs. 2/3rds of the Wings are in cruise mode, riding the luxury bus so to speak, just when they need to be outside pushing it hard. Getting hard to watch.
The Pens GM seemingly has made every possible move this year to let them rebuild while not tearing down and it’s been almost unreal with who he has brought in to play and hiring the right coach. I really don’t know what went wrong in Toronto with him just as I couldn’t understand their festering hatred of certain “Hot dog” eating player we took off your hands who then filled two stanley cups with those hotdogs! Keep sending them down this way. Thanks.