Unpacking a wild week for the franchise

To say that this past week has been a chaotic one for the Toronto Maple Leafs would be putting it lightly.

When the week began, they had completed the hires of GM John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin, which garnered mixed reactions from fans and media alike given the former’s poor track record and controversial exit from the Arizona Coyotes. It led to an awkward introductory press conference, highlighted by a tense exchange between MLSE CEO Keith Pelley and the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons regarding Chayka’s character and reputation around the NHL.

One day later, the Leafs got the lifeline of a lifetime when they had the winning combination that secured them the rights to the first overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. Given the high probability that their first-round pick could have fallen out of the top five and into the hands of the Boston Bruins, getting a franchise-altering piece was a colossal victory for a fanbase that had to endure a tumultuous season and looming threats about the future of the core.

All of a sudden, the offseason has gotten a whole lot more interesting and there is a lot to unpack as far as how the next few weeks will unfold. Which is why The Leafs Nation team has come together to dissect this busy week and where the Leafs go from here. Without further delay, let’s get into the roundtable!

What are your thoughts on the hirings of John Chayka and Mats Sundin?

Arun Srinivasan, managing editor: Sundin is my childhood hero, but it’s a high-risk, high-reward hire, both for the Maple Leafs and his individual legacy. He deeply cares about the Maple Leafs, and he’s well-liked across the league. I’m on board, but with some hesitation. As for Chayka, the jury’s out. I would’ve preferred Sunny Mehta or Evan Gold, but Chayka will get the benefit of the doubt, at least through his first summer in charge.

Alex Hobson, associate editor: They’ve warmed up to me as time has gone on. Sundin’s presence as somebody who has been at the forefront of the Toronto media in a leadership role will be valuable, and I’m willing to give Chayka a shot to see what he’s capable of in an objectively better situation than he had in Arizona. Time will tell.

Michael Mazzei, writer and social media coordinator: I am not afraid to admit that John Chayka was not my first choice and remain skeptical that he is indeed the right man for the job. But I am willing to allow him to prove himself, and here’s hoping he has improved in the time away from the NHL. As for Mats Sundin, seeing him back in the fold is awesome for the franchise, and it’s hard not to envision him having success in a front office role as he provides insight and wisdom for Chayka.

Jon Steitzer, editor: I have more faith in them than I did in Brad Treliving and they won’t be a “business as usual” duo and that warrants some optimism. On the pessimistic side, Mats Sundin lacks experience and nothing in John Chayka’s history says that he is the right person for the job. With Mike Gillis available this was clearly not the best direction the Leafs could have gone in.

Dylan Nazareth, writer: I think it shows some creativity in the Leafs front office, though I’m still not convinced on Chayka given his resume. With regards to Sundin, I think it will be good for the team culture and I’ve grown more impressed the more I’ve heard him speak.

Michael Coyle, writer: I am intrigued by the John Chayka-Mats Sundin combination. I am interested to see how great of a role Sundin is going to have on the day-to-day aspect. This will be a good test to see if Chayka has matured from his Arizona days.

How are you feeling after Monday’s press conference and why: more confident, less confident, or neutral?

Srinivasan: I’m more confident in a lot of ways. Chayka outlined that the Maple Leafs’ defence requires some fixing, and outlined where he thinks the game is going, namely that it’s a necessity to have a high-end, mobile blue-liner. As for Sundin, he articulated how he’s kept up with the league since he retired, and is now ready to shape the next direction of the Maple Leafs. Considering that expectations were relatively non-existent, I’m slightly more confident after Monday.

Hobson: I enjoyed listening to Chayka a lot more when he didn’t have Keith Pelley beside him. Chayka certainly warranted some tough questions but I felt that the environment towards him was unnecessarily hostile (nobody welcomed him to Toronto!), and that he took a lot of the anger intended for Pelley. I’ll say neutral.

Mazzei: The main takeaway for me is that Keith Pelley needs to stop doing press conferences and let the executives he has hired do the talking. A lot of people’s frustrations stem from their concerns over the direction of the team under Pelley’s watch, and it’s understandable why some may have less confidence after that presser. For me, I am more neutral because as Chayka himself said, they will be judged by their actions and not their words.

Steitzer: Keith Pelley didn’t inspire much confidence but if he fades away into the background and isn’t part of the day to day operations of the club I guess I could be persuaded to say I’m neutral.

Nazareth: More confident in Sundin. In some ways this felt like a legacy hire to me, but it’s clear he’s all in. Less confident in Chayka, he didn’t do enough to dissuade my suspicions of him.

Coyle: I am neutral following the press conference. I want to see what they do during their first draft and free agency process.

What are your thoughts on the Leafs winning the draft lottery?

Srinivasan: It’s a reinvigorating moment for the Maple Leafs, which will afford Chayka and Sundin plenty of flexibility in the direction they elect to take the franchise in. It changes the trajectory of the franchise, and the Maple Leafs can now entertain the previously unthinkable notion of trading one of Auston Matthews or William Nylander, for a bevy of picks and Grade-A prospects.

Hobson: Utter insanity. All hope was lying in retaining the first round pick, and winning the lottery altogether was completely pushed out of my mind. Gives the franchise a whole new outlook moving forward.

Mazzei: I was in disbelief when I saw the #12 ball, and it is still hard to put into words just how exciting it is that the Leafs secured the first overall pick. It changes everything for the franchise and brings light to what was previously a bleak future.

Steitzer: It was the feel good story of the summer. The Leafs might not have deserved to win but I’m happy they did.

Nazareth: All things considered, it’s good for the league. You have a generational Canadian prospect projected to go first overall, and now he can land in one of the biggest Canadian markets.

Coyle: That was a massive moment for the franchise. This pick gives the Maple Leafs many options leading up to the draft, and free agency.

Now that they have the first overall pick, how do you think the Leafs should approach their retool/rebuild?

Srinivasan: Select McKenna with the first overall pick, and then aim to get younger by any means necessary. If it means targeting low-risk, high-reward targets like Shane Wright via trade, then Chayka should explore every avenue to build around McKenna, Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan as the team’s under-25 core. Get younger, shoot first, and ask questions later.

Hobson: To me, it’s as simple as draft Gavin McKenna and invest in win-now defencemen. As tempting as it would be to take one of the defencemen in the draft, bringing in McKenna extends their window and gives the Leafs a potentially better version of Mitch Marner to ride shotgun with Auston Matthews. Regroup this summer and go for it again in 2026-27. I guess you could call that a retool.

Mazzei: The objective is simple for Chakya and Sundin: they have to retool. Knowing that their next two first-round picks belong to the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins, the team should prioritize winning as much as they can and ensuring the picks are as low as possible. Having the first overall pick is a great place to start the retool, but there is plenty more work that needs to be done beginning with improving the blueline.

Steitzer: Winning the lottery opens the door to a retool being possible but if Auston Matthews is anything less than 100% committed to the Leafs beyond his contract I think the rebuild still needs to be on the table.

Nazareth: Considering they don’t have first-round picks the next two seasons, I think it’s more of a re-tool. Luckily for them, they’ve already got some strong pieces to build upon. Throw a player like Gavin McKenna in there, trade some big contracts to bring in some picks and younger pieces, and this team is already going in a better direction.

Coyle: I think the Maple Leafs draft Gavin McKenna and try to add to their defensive group through free agency. I think the Maple Leafs look at moving Joseph Woll and that could fetch a NHL-caliber defenseman in return.

Who do you think the Leafs should draft first overall and why?

Srinivasan: Gavin McKenna. McKenna is the best player in the class, he’s a ready-made top-six left wing for Auston Matthews, and he’s the next face of the franchise. No disrespect to Ivar Stenberg, but this isn’t much of a debate.

Mazzei: I like what Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg bring to the fold and either one will be a great addition to the Leafs both next year and the next decade. My gut tells me to lean towards the one with a bigger upside, and that’s why I won’t overthink it and go with McKenna.

Steitzer: I would be happy with either McKenna or Stenberg. Drafting defencemen high is a far bigger gamble and less likely to fit the needs of a retool, which is the option the team will run with.

Nazareth: It has to be Gavin McKenna. You’re bringing in a top-line winger who will also be one of the faces of Canadian hockey moving forward. It’s a win in all aspects.

Coyle: I think they take McKenna. As Alex Hobson wrote, don’t overthink this process. Grab McKenna and you have the potential to walk away with a franchise altering player.

What has been your favourite moment of the playoffs so far?

Srinivasan: Aside from Senators superfan Kyle Ivan getting banished to Taiwan, I’ve really enjoyed Frederik Andersen emerging as the Conn Smythe favourite for the Carolina Hurricanes. I wish the best for Andersen, his tenure with the Leafs was criminally underrated, and it’s nice to see him thriving on the biggest stage.

Hobson: Seeing the Ottawa Senators get swept after beating the Leafs in game 82 and helping them secure the first overall pick.

Mazzei: Not a moment in a game, but seeing Sabres fans step up and sing the Canadian national anthem was awesome to see. Also, seeing the Bruins and Senators exit early put a smile on my face.

Steitzer: The Oilers’ early exit was a nice little treat.

Nazareth: The Montreal Canadiens defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 with nine shots. Just incredible stuff.

Coyle: My favourite moment from these NHL playoffs was Game 1 of Colorado vs. Minnesota. The back and forth, high-scoring affair was entertaining, and finished with a score you wouldn’t typically see come playoff time.

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