Brackett previously served as the Minnesota Wild’s director of amateur scouting for the past five seasons. He is highly regarded for his personnel evaluation, and was lauded as a scout for USA Hockey.
“We are thrilled to welcome Judd to our organization,” Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said in a release. “He has established one of the strongest amateur scouting and drafting track records in the NHL and has consistently demonstrated an ability to adapt and evolve his approach as the game changes. As we continue to build our hockey operations department, Judd will play a key role in integrating traditional scouting, video analysis, and data-driven insights to strengthen our decision-making process.”
Hamilton played 75 NHL games split across four teams, last suiting up in 2017-18. He’s built strong familiarity with Chayka, and graduated with an MBA from Yale University after his playing career ended. We are excited to add Freddie to our hockey operations department,” said Chayka.
“Throughout his playing career, Freddie distinguished himself through his character, professionalism, and work ethic,” Chayka said. “Since retiring, he has built an impressive career in business and finance, gaining valuable experience across investing, strategy and organizational leadership. His diverse background and collaborative approach will make him a valuable addition to our group as we execute key strategic initiatives and strengthen alignment across our hockey operations department.”
Toronto’s front office is taking shape ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, where it will be a major player, holding the first overall pick. Chayka, Sundin, Brackett and director of amateur scouting Mark Leach will enter the draft with the goal of strengthening a relatively barren prospect pool, while looking to revamp the roster towards playoff contention for the 2026-27 campaign. Leach was previously tasked with overseeing the draft, but it appears Brackett and Leach will work in conjunction throughout June.