3 Things We Already Know About John Chayka’s Maple Leafs
Eight Weeks, and a Lot Has Already Changed.
John Chayka has only been the Maple Leafs’ general manager for eight weeks, but one thing is already pretty clear: he’s not afraid to make bold moves, and he doesn’t waste time doing it.
In that short span, Chayka has already turned over half the forward group, roughly two-thirds of the goaltending, and about one-third of the defence.
Most GMs at this stage are still easing in—getting a feel for the roster and slowly figuring out where changes might come. Chayka has already gone well past that. This has been an overhaul.
In past years, July 1 often came and went with Brad Treliving—and before him Kyle Dubas—being relatively quiet in free agency. Chayka, on the other hand, looked like he was already out of the blocks before the gun went off. The moment free agency opened, he was moving, and he didn’t stop.
Related: The Bobrovsky Bet Is Really a Bet on Everything Around Him.
This Is a Very Different Maple Leafs Team.
The roster that takes the ice for Game 1 of the 2026–27 season is going to look very different from last year’s group. Gone are goaltenders Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby, defensemen Brandon Carlo and Simon Benoit, and forwards Nick Robertson, Matias Maccelli, and Calle Järnkrok.
In their place are Sergei Bobrovsky in goal, defensemen Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae, and forwards Jack Roslovic, Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger, and Zack MacEwen.
You can probably add first-overall pick Gavin McKenna to that group as well, and maybe even defenseman Ben Danford if he earns a spot.
The bottom-six forward group, the goaltending, and a chunk of the blue line have all been reshaped. The top six forwards and core of the defence, for now, remain mostly intact.
But if the first eight weeks of Chayka’s tenure have shown anything, it’s that this might not be finished yet.
Mats Sundin’s Influence Is Real.
One of the more interesting parts of this early stretch has been the role Mats Sundin has played behind the scenes. Chayka has repeatedly talked about how valuable Sundin has been during this roster shakeup. According to Maple Leaf Hot Stove, Chayka said:
“Mats Sundin was amazing—super helpful and super thoughtful guy. I obviously knew him, but going through this process with him was new. He’s been an incredibly important sounding board for all of us.”
That suggests Sundin is more than just a franchise face or alumni presence. Chayka clearly values his input, and it sounds like he’s become one of the more trusted voices in the room as decisions get made.
The Bigger Picture for the Maple Leafs.
If these first eight weeks are any indication, Maple Leafs fans should expect an aggressive front office, a roster that keeps evolving, and an organization that isn’t shy about making tough calls in the name of building a contender.