The Toronto Maple Leafs’ search for a new general manager appears to be entering its final stages.
After a disappointing season that ended with a last-place finish in the Atlantic Division at 32-36-14, and the franchise missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, sweeping changes followed, including the firing of GM Brad Treliving. Now, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Toronto’s search may be down to just two names.
Maple Leafs Zeroing In on New General Manager
The 2025-26 season unraveled quickly for the Maple Leafs. The offseason sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to Vegas left a major offensive hole, and Toronto never fully recovered. The power play regressed, scoring depth thinned out, and defensive inconsistencies piled up.
Then came another major blow when Auston Matthews suffered a season-ending injury in March.
With goaltending unstable and the team slipping out of contention, Toronto became a deadline seller, a dramatic shift for a franchise that entered the year with far bigger ambitions. It ultimately led to front-office upheaval. Now the focus has shifted to who will lead the reset.
According to Friedman, the Leafs’ finalist group initially included New York Rangers associate GM Ryan Martin, Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White, and former Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka, who Friedman now believes was the mystery third candidate over Boston Bruins executive Evan Gold.
All three reportedly returned to Toronto this week for another round of in-person interviews.
Friedman said candidates were told there was a chance one of their favorites could advance to a further stage involving a meeting with Rogers chairman Edward Rogers, though that second phase ultimately did not materialize for any of them.
But after those meetings, things changed.
Friedman reported Ryan Martin was informed he would not be moving forward despite making a strong impression, leaving the search seemingly down to White and Chayka.
“I think it’s more research on the two guys they have and the two people they’re at right now, which is White and Chayka. And I think they’re going deeper into that. It definitely points in this direction, but like I said, it’s not over,” Friedman added.
He described them as almost polar opposites in age, background, experience, and overall profile, making the final decision particularly fascinating.
That contrast may be part of why Toronto is taking its time.
Despite the process narrowing, Friedman indicated the Maple Leafs are not rushing toward an immediate hire. The organization is reportedly continuing its evaluations carefully, wanting to be certain it hasn’t overlooked anything before making one of the franchise’s biggest decisions in years.
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And given how much is riding on this hire, that caution makes sense. Now the question is whether that future belongs to Scott White or John Chayka.
