5 takeaways from Keith Pelley’s media availabilities

MLSE CEO Keith Pelley met with reporters Tuesday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena, after firing Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving on Monday. Pelley opened his remarks by expressing his respect for Treliving, then quickly confirmed that the search for a new general manager will begin immediately. Brandon Pridham and Ryan Hardy will work in tandem throughout the summer during their search for a new executive.

“This is the most important decision that I will likely make in my tenure at MLSE,” Pelley said Tuesday.

Without further ado, here are five key takeaways from Keith Pelley’s media availabilities:

The next general manager will be data-driven, and it could preclude the old guard

In many respects, Brad Treliving represented the old guard. Treliving was earmarked for the Maple Leafs’ GM role after Brendan Shanahan summarily dismissed Kyle Dubas in 2023. A deep understanding of analytics is no longer considered a luxury for younger hockey executives to break through the glass ceiling, it’s a prerequisite for success. While many are positing Doug Armstrong as the favourite for the job, Pelley may go through an unconventional route. Pelley also said at least seven candidates have expressed interest in the vacancy.

“They have to be data-centric,” Pelley said, when explaining the criteria he’s using to assess the Leafs’ next GM. “They have to really understand the importance of data and where data is moving. We have just completed a complete rebuild of TFC, all using date combined with cultural checks. That’s what we will do and every single decision we make will be evidence based. Evidence-based decisions are never wrong, and that’s not to say there’s not room for the heart, not to say there’s no room to check culture, but it’s all evidence-based.”

Although there’s a natural inclination to consider big-ticket names, especially considering the Maple Leafs’ willingness to spend hansomely, this may open the door for some new voices. Sunny Mehta, a data-driven assistant general manager for the Florida Panthers, could emerge as a leading candidate. Will the Maple Leafs consider promoting Hayley Wickenheiser or Brandon Pridham internally? Or considering that Pelley comes from a non-hockey background, will he elect to find an executive from another sport, or an agency like Wasserman or Quartexx Management, where the Montreal Canadiens recruited Kent Hughes from?

“It’s wide open. Nothing has been determined with the final structure. We currently have six assistant general managers, is that the right structure? What is the right structure? It might come down from interviewing candidates, after talking to people, but we are open.”

Pelley clarifies the scope of his involvement in hockey operations

The extent of Keith Pelley’s involvement in hockey operations has been largely shrouded in mysery. Pelley attended a February 24 practice, coming out of the Olympic break, carefully observing the team while speaking to Treliving. Last year, Pelley effectively told reporters he’d be a hands-off manager, letting hockey-minded people run the team. Of course, Pelley has zero appetite for losing and he surveyed the landscape of the league, it became clear that he needed to make a change.

Pelley clarified the extent of his involvement with the hockey operations on Tuesday.

“I’m not here to be a scout. I’m not here to be a coach. I’m not here to be a general manager,” Pelley said. “I have no desire on giving any input on who should play left wing.”

Pelley also clarified that while he sat on in discussions during the NHL Trade Deadline, he did not approve or veto trades, rather using the time to gather further information. And while it would have been prudent to dismiss Treliving ahead of the trade deadline, it’s clear that Pelley reached this decision during the team’s continued slide throughout March.

Pelley on Brad Treliving in charge of trade deadline: ‘We made that decision over the past couple of weeks through dialogue with ownership. Once you make a decision, you get ahead of it now, you get an extra 15 days and it’s such an important search.”

Pelley wants to be a hands-off supervisor and leave the hockey operations to his staff, while sweeping in when the results become untenable. And after citing the Raptors’ year-over-year improvement multiple times, Pelley may have grown fed up with Treliving sometime during the past week.

Berube’s tenure will effectively come to a close with a new GM in place

“ Craig Berube is the head coach, and that is determined by the general manager or the president of hockey or the head of hockey operations. That’s not decided by myself,” Pelley said.

“His role of the hockey club doesn’t change today, other than the fact is that he will work closer with Brandon Pridham and Ryan Hardy. Once we have a new head in hockey in place, if that recommendation is around Craig Berube at that particular time, we will listen. Something as big as Craig Berube would go all the way to ownership.”

It’s the correct decision: half-measures clearly don’t work, and considering that Pelley spoke about alignment several times, the new general manager and head coach absolutely need to be on the same page when it comes to tactics, personnel and deployment.

Berube seems to be coaching out the string. Barring a miracle, or really, a supremely convincing job interview with the next GM, Berube’s days appear to be numbered in Toronto.

There is clear reverence for the Canadiens and Sabres, as the Atlantic takes new shape

We covered the changing of the guard in the Atlantic Division earlier this month. No one in Leafs Nation wants to hear it, but the Montreal Canadiens are poised to rule the division for the next decade. And yet, it was surprising for Pelley to admit that he didn’t see the Canadiens or Sabres’ rise to power coming, ahead of the season.

“We definitely didn’t see the train coming in the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens, and how strong those two teams are, along with the likes of Detroit and Ottawa.” Pelley said. “Boston, with a strong spine, have been able to re-tool. Florida and Tampa are always strong. But Buffalo and Montreal have shown that with young, energetic teams, they’re going to be here for a long time.”

Toronto’s prospect pool is rather barren, as Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis outlined. And if the Maple Leafs are refusing to tank, or entertain the notion of a full-scale rebuild, it could be a very difficult task to catch up to the rest of the division. Tampa Bay and Florida are Toronto’s age-related cohorts, each with two Stanley Cups to show for it. Florida could recoup its first-round pick this year, after battling several injuries to its core. Both teams have accomplished their goals.

How will the Maple Leafs catch up to the rest of the division? And with Pelley mentioning the Canadiens and Sabres unprompted, he may be particularly fascinated with Kent Hughes’ rise from super agent to general manager of a young, upstart in a hockey-crazed market.

Asked Keith Pelley in a scrum is there was something about Kent Hughes’ unconventional background that he wants to mirror in his search for a new GM. Here’s his full response, with some details on the Sabres and Canadiens prospects.

Pelley: We definitely didn’t see the train coming in the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens.

Buffalo and Montreal have shown that young, energetic teams, they’re going to be here for a long time. Pelley specifically mentions Michael Hage and Radim Mrtka as top prospects.

There may be one major reason why Pelley doesn’t want to bottom out completely, and he’s currently out for the season.

Pelley still believes that Auston Matthews can be the focal point

Although many are begging for an outright rebuild, Pelley doesn’t seem ready to entertain this notion. Pelley believes that Auston Matthews can still be the focal point of a Stanley Cup-winning Leafs team down the line.

“We have the foundational pieces in place, which gives me the confidence we can contend very quickly,” Pelley said.

When asked why Pelley still believes that the foundation can still work, given that Matthews and William Nylander have been together for a decade, he deflected blame from the stars, noting that the Lightning and Panthers needed well-rounded teams. That may be, but the Lightning and Panthers’ superstars also delivered during the playoffs, with nearly a dozen future Hall of Famers between both clubs.

Throughout this transitory period, Pelley wants to maintain a strong relationship with Matthews and it’s possible that the captain may have some input on the next general manager.

“Auston and I texted back and forth this morning, but I’d like to leave the conservations I’ve had with players to the hockey operations people,” Pelley said.

For many, it’s hard to stomach the idea of running it back in 2026-27. Although everything is on the table, it appears that Pelley’s ardent belief in Auston Matthews means that he’ll remain a lifelong member of the Maple Leafs, barring even further disaster.

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