The Toronto Maple Leafs are continuing to reshape the organization from top to bottom, and one of their biggest offseason moves took place far from the ice.
Toronto has officially hired Andy O’Brien, Sidney Crosby’s longtime personal trainer, as the club’s new vice president of sport performance. The move, spearheaded by general manager John Chayka, gives O’Brien control of several key areas within the organization, including strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports science, rehabilitation, and mental performance.
It’s a move that has already received widespread praise around the NHL.
Maple Leafs Get Approval for Crosby Trainer Hire
O’Brien is widely regarded as one of the most respected performance specialists in hockey.
He spent six seasons as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ director of sports science and performance and played a role in the organization’s Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. He later joined the Florida Panthers as a high-performance consultant and helped build the foundation for the team’s championship runs in 2024 and 2025.
Of course, O’Brien is best known for his long-standing relationship with Crosby. The two have worked together since Crosby was just 13 years old, and O’Brien has also trained several other NHL stars, including Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares.
The hire immediately caught the attention of Stanley Cup champion Erik Johnson, who had nothing but praise for Toronto’s decision.
“Whatever the Leafs paid Andy is worth it x10000. Brilliant guy and I can speak from firsthand experience how good he is. Everything he has you do off the ice translates on ice. Some teams do not hire the best for this position because it is $$$$. Leafs stepped up here,” Johnson said.
The decision comes after a disastrous 2025-26 season in Toronto. Injuries piled up throughout the year, and the Maple Leafs ultimately missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.
Captain Auston Matthews missed significant time after suffering an injury early in the season. Veteran defenseman Chris Tanev was limited to just 11 games, while goaltender Anthony Stolarz appeared in only 26 contests because of injury problems.
Chayka made it clear that improving the organization’s performance and recovery programs would be a priority, and O’Brien appears to be the centerpiece of that plan.
For his part, O’Brien said Chayka’s vision for the franchise played a major role in his decision to join the team. “When John took over, it became clear where the organization was headed. Having someone progressive who understands the nuances of my role was important, and I saw it as a great opportunity to be part of that vision,” O’Brien said.
He also emphasized the importance of building strong relationships throughout the organization. “It’s about creating an environment that helps people be at their best every day,” he added.
The Maple Leafs have made plenty of changes this summer, but this may end up being one of the most important moves of all. If O’Brien can help keep Toronto’s stars healthy and performing at their highest level, his impact could extend far beyond the training room.
