Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment President and CEO Keith Pelley “shed light” on the state of the Maple Leafs after firing GM Brad Treliving, noting that the organization could “hire both a general manager and a president of hockey operations, or may amalgamate the roles into one,” according to Sonny Sachdeva of SPORTSNET.ca. Pelley, during a Tuesday press conference, said the one requirement the Maple Leafs will focus on in their GM search is finding a “data-centric” candidate. Pelley said, “I’m open to any structure. However, I can tell you that you need strong hockey operations people, with strong hockey backgrounds.” Pelley spoke of a “lack of ‘alignment’ between the different factions of the club’s front office this season,” and the “need to rethink the overall structure of the organization.” He “made clear he does not intend to be a central part of the Maple Leafs’ brain trust himself” (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/31).
STRONG SEARCH: ESPN.com’s Kristen Shilton noted Assistant GMs Brandon Pridham and Ryan Hardy will manage the Leafs while Pelley “spearheads an ‘exhaustive’ search for a ‘data-centric’ manager of hockey operations to guide Toronto into its next chapter.” On parting with Treliving, Pelley said, “I honestly believe that we didn’t have the alignment, we didn’t have the culture, we didn’t have the structure that we needed to be successful.” Pelley believes in Toronto’s “foundational pieces.” Whoever takes the reins from here will be in “charge of maximizing the Leafs’ current roster while also acquiring assets” (ESPN.com, 3/31). In Toronto, Lance Hornby noted it is expected “many” will pursue the GM spot if they are “not first pursued” by Pelley. Pelley mentioned that they “have all the resources to be successful.” He added that a firm will be “employed with the goal of identifying the ideal candidate by mid to late May.” Pelley said that he had “been e-mailed by seven candidates already, but has not made any overtures himself and the field is ‘wide open’” (TORONTO SUN, 3/31).
EYEING WHO? TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said some of the candidates who are “deliberating whether they want to throw their hat in the ring were watching that news conference carefully because there are some people who believe that this is a team that actually needs a rebuild.” TSN’s Chris Johnston noted how Pelley mentioned that a data-minded person is a priority for the Leafs here. Johnston added, “They are willing to look at potentially having a first-time general manager if that person ends up being paired with someone with a proper level of hockey experience. Perhaps in a president type of role.” TSN’s Darren Dreger cited sources around the league as saying that the Maple Leafs “are a team that actually needs a president of hockey operations.” Dreger: “Here’s an opportunity for the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment team to actually rebuild hockey ops” (TSN.ca, 3/31).
TANKING NOT AN OPTION: In Toronto, Kevin McGran wrote the Maple Leafs are “not going to tank the rest of the season” if Pelley “has his way.” Pelley said there is “zero chance that the Toronto Maple Leafs will tank.” Pelley: “I’m disappointed in the results we’ve provided to our fans. Today is a step to change that, get back to our winning ways and to contend for the (Stanley) Cup on an annual basis” (TORONTO STAR, 3/31).
SOLVE IT: In Toronto, Steve Simmons wrote Pelley will “tell you he’s not a hockey expert” as business and media has “been his game in a hugely successful career.” And he comes across now “not knowing all that much about the NHL and those who play in it” (TORONTO SUN, 3/31). In Toronto, Rosie DiManno writes the Blue Jays went from “worst to first not because of data and analytics but because of esprit de corps in the clubhouse.” They discovered an “ineffable intangible.” Non-hockey guy Pelley “needs a recruitment firm’s guidance because he doesn’t have a clue how to get there on his own” (TORONTO STAR, 4/1). SPORTSNET.ca’s Luke Fox wrote the Maple Leafs “are Pelley’s problem to solve.” Pelley “must hire” former Leafs President Brendan Shanahan’s long-delayed successor, then “remain mostly hands off.” The next Leafs hockey ops chief “must come with vision, be prepared for pain and patience, and set realistic expectations and timelines.” Fox: “A smart fan base will understand” (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/31). GLOBE & MAIL’s Cathal Kelly wrote at Pelley’s press conference, there was the “familiar conflicting message that highlights every Leafs presser after a firing — the hockey team is a disaster; also, the hockey team is fine.” The disaster part “is obvious.” Despite being amongst the worst teams in the NHL, the Leafs are “also Stanley Cup contenders”. Kelly: “Not now, but soon. Like, 24-hours-after-they-hire-a-new-guy soon” (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/31).
EVERTHING IS FOR SALE: THE ATHLETIC’s Jonas Siegel writes it is not just the hockey side of the operation that has “evolved under his leadership, that is,” things have “changed on the business side, too.” Siegel: “How far will the Leafs go to make a buck?” The team launched the “Fan Access” program under Pelley’s leadership last spring. While one tier of “Fan Access” is free (dubbed “Fan”), the “Superfan” tier ran for $135 this season. The “MVP” tier is a “whopping” $1,500. During Pelley’s tenure as president and CEO of MLSE, the team has “appeared intent on monetizing as much as it possibly can.” Siegel: “What can be sold will be sold” (THE ATHLETIC, 4/1).