Here are Brad Treliving's misses, hits as Maple Leafs GM

Breadcrumb Trail Links

Brad Treliving didn’t make it to three years on the job in Toronto before he was let go Monday

Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox Sign Up

Published Mar 31, 2026 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 5 minute read

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Leo Carlsson #91 of the Anaheim Ducks skates with the puck against Matthew Knies #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Honda Center on March 30, 2026 in Anaheim, California. Photo by Ric Tapia /Getty ImagesArticle content

With the firing of Brad Treliving on Monday night, we take a look at his misses and hits during his tenure as Maple Leafs general manager.

Advertisement 2

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.

THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors

Article content

Treliving didn’t last three years on the job after he was hired in May 2023.

Article content

THE MISSES

— The hiring of Craig Berube as coach.

Of course, much has changed in the past year after Berube guided the Leafs to the Atlantic Division title in his first year behind the Toronto bench.

You’re judged on what has happened most recently and 2025-26 has been a disaster.

The Leafs don’t play with structure and there is little semblance of anything approaching defensive responsibility. They’re at or near the bottom in the majority of defensive categories.

Dumping and chasing only works if the players can execute it properly. The Leafs don’t, but perhaps that’s just as much as a comment on Treliving’s roster construction as it is on the coach.

Advertisement 3

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Goaltending last season was better and covered over some Leafs warts. That didn’t happen this year.

Captain Auston Matthews, before he was hurt, was not the same productive player that he was under Sheldon Keefe. Provided a coaching change is made, the new boss will have to find a way to get Matthews’ assets unlocked.

There’s not much of a good argument that could be made today for retaining Berube.

Craig Berube, Leafs players react to Brad Treliving firing: ‘It’s shocking’

A look at possible candidates for Maple Leafs general manager

Max Domi fights Radko Gudas, Maple Leafs beat Ducks in OT

— The deadline-day acquisitions of defenceman Brandon Carlo and centre Scott Laughton last March.

It’s not just what went the other way in the trades — Fraser Minten and a first-round pick in 2026 to Boston for Carlo, and a first-round pick in 2027 and prospect Nikita Grebenkin to Philadelphia for Laughton — that carry bite.

Your Midday Sun

Thanks for signing up!

Article content

Advertisement 4

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Minten, smart beyond his years, has had a fine rookie season with the Bruins. A role in Toronto as the club’s third-line centre was in Minten’s near future.

The pick to the Bruins is top-five protected, so the Leafs could retain it. If so, the Leafs won’t have their own first-round pick in 2027 or 2028.

Carlo went back on the trade block last summer. Laughton wound up doing little for the Leafs and was traded to Los Angeles.

The trades last year form a big reason as to why the Leafs’ future does not look particularly bright.

— Three trades last summer — the acquisitions of forwards Nicolas Roy, Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua.

It was good that Treliving was able to get something instead of absolutely nothing as the Mitch Marner situation came to a head. When Roy was acquired from Vegas in the sign-and-trade, the thinking was the Leafs had their trustworthy third-line centre. But Roy took a while to get into gear and on the whole didn’t make a large impact before he was traded to Colorado. At least Treliving was able to recoup a first-round pick in 2027 in the deal.

Advertisement 5

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

A lacerated kidney in December got in the way of Joshua’s progress, and though he’s not afraid to throw his body around, he hasn’t been a physical force on the forecheck. Joshua was acquired from Vancouver for a 2028 fourth-round pick.

The Leafs sent a conditional third-round draft pick in 2027 to the Utah Mammoth with the hope that Maccelli would rebound after he was a healthy scratch down the stretch last season. That didn’t happen.

As the Leafs’ games became more meaningless, Maccelli started to produce more. That’s not the way it’s supposed to work.

— The general lack of action on Treliving’s part once it became clear that there were major issues this season.

When defenceman Troy Stecher was plucked off waivers in mid-November, it was because Carlo suffered an injury a couple of days before.

Advertisement 6

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

When assistant coach Marc Savard was fired in December, a much bolder move would have been to let Berube go. The Leafs’ season might have been salvaged with a new voice behind the bench, but we’ll never know. Look at what Rick Bowness has done in Columbus since taking over from Dean Evason in mid-January. The Blue Jackets are in a wildcard spot.

A trade of some sort could have shaken up the Leafs. But nothing was done until the deadline early in March.

— Signing forward Max Domi and goalie Anthony Stolarz to lengthy extensions.

Domi got a four-year extension, with an AAV of $3.75 million, at the end of June 2024.

It’s the term that wasn’t great. Domi had 33 points in 74 games last year and has 34 points in 73 games this year. He doesn’t provide much in the way of defensive awareness.

Advertisement 7

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

Stolarz’s four-year extension with an AAV of $3.75 million kicks in next season. Again, term is an issue. The Leafs might be better off with Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby as their tandem.

THE HITS

— Defenceman Chris Tanev topped the list of the good things Treliving did in player transactions.

Even that, though, comes with an asterisk.

The concern with Tanev when he signed a six-year pact, with an AAV of $4.5 million, in the summer of 2024 was his durability. There was no trouble in 2024-25. His play was excellent.

Just 11 games played by Tanev this year, because of injuries, throws his future into question. Tanev underwent core muscle surgery on March 4 and is expected to be ready for camp in the fall. He also turns 37 in December.

Advertisement 8

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content

— The signing of winger Matthew Knies to a six-year contract with an AAV of $7.75 million US in July 2025.

At 23, Knies’ best days in the NHL are ahead of him. He has hit career highs in assists and points this season and has cemented his place in the top six. His contract will only look better as the years go by.

Trading Knies in the off-season would be foolish. Not sure how the new GM could justify trading a player who should be a big part of the Leafs’ future.

— The signing of defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in July 2024 to a four-year pact with an AAV of $3.5 million.

The 34-year-old Ekman-Larsson played with enough consistency to earn on spot on Sweden’s Olympic team.

Age is not an issue and Ekman-Larsson plays with the kind of snarl that other Leafs could emulate more often.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content

Share this article in your social network

Here are Brad Treliving’s misses, hits as Maple Leafs GM

Tags: