TORONTO (AP) 鈥� Mats Sundin is the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise icon rejoining the Original Six organization as part of their remade front office.
He was not the focus of his introductory news conference.
The succession of rapid-fire questions came for John Chayka as he took over as general manager and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley, . The news conference was pointed and at times uncomfortable.
Chayka’s work in the league as GM of the Arizona Coyotes was under intense focus. They were docked two draft picks for broken rules before the analytics-focused executive was suspended by commissioner Gary Bettman for seeking employment from other teams while still under contract with the cost-conscious team.
鈥淚鈥檝e made decisions I鈥檓 proud of, and I鈥檝e also made mistakes that I鈥檝e learned from,鈥� Chayka, out of the league since 2020, said in his opening remarks. 鈥淚鈥檓 human. I own all of it, and I鈥檓 better because of it.鈥�
Chayka was the youngest GM in NHL history a decade ago and is now 36. The Coyotes’ 300 standings points during his tenure rank him 127th all time at the position.
鈥淎rizona was a really complicated situation,鈥� Chayka said. 鈥淚t was the biggest challenge I ever took on in my life, and it was honestly the hardest thing I ever did, and also in a lot of ways the most rewarding.鈥�
Pelley was then challenged on Chayka鈥檚 resume before another reporter asked why the Arizona indiscretions didn鈥檛 raise red flags in what was described as a 鈥渃omprehensive鈥� search.
鈥淚t was deep due diligence,鈥� Pelley said. 鈥淚鈥檓 quite happy with where we landed.鈥�
Chayka, who started a hockey analytics company before working for the Coyotes and has a number of business interests, was asked following the formal news conference why he鈥檚 viewed so negatively in some league circles.
鈥淢aybe I didn鈥檛 value relationships as much as I should have in the human connection,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat was (age) 26, and now I鈥檓 36. I have three kids, married. 鈥淟ife evolves and changes. … So do I.鈥�
Sundin, who played 13 of his 18 NHL seasons with Toronto, including a decade as captain, was named senior executive adviser of hockey operations. The 55-year-old Swede has never held a management role in the sport.
Pelley said Chayka will run the hockey operations, but big decisions will be a collaborative process that will include Sundin.
鈥淭his is the hockey capital of the world,鈥� Sundin said. 鈥淲e’ve got to do everything we can to get a winning team there and make (fans) proud.鈥�
The pair takes over with the Maple Leafs at a crossroads after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. , and Chayka said he was open to keeping Craig Berube as coach after briefly speaking with him.
鈥淩espected leader,鈥� Chayka said. 鈥淭remendous coach.鈥�
Toronto will also have to decide on a path forward 鈥� Chayka wouldn鈥檛 commit on a potential rebuild 鈥� with captain and star center Auston Matthews, who is signed for two more seasons.
鈥淚t is our job to sell him on what we鈥檙e capable of and reaching the ultimate goal,鈥� said Chayka, who has known Sundin since 2012 when he was still in university. 鈥淚 know that that鈥檚 what鈥檚 most important to him.鈥�
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