The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to keep fans and the media brimming with anticipation regarding one of their major 2026 offseason storylines.
That storyline is the organization’s ongoing GM search. Last week, news hit here on Heavy that the shortlist was down to two candidates. It seemed for a moment that an announcement was imminent, but there was the possibility that the new name could drop this week.
But there was no real clarity on what was holding up the Maple Leafs’ decision. Well, insider Elliotte Friedman shed some interesting light during the Monday edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
During the show, Friedman reported that the decision could pretty much come down to former captain Mats Sundin deciding on whether he’s willing to take on a role with the organization. And if so, Sundin needs to determine what that role could be.
“I think what we’re kind of awaiting here to see how this is all going to work is Mats Sundin’s decision. And, we’ll see where that goes this week. But as you’ve heard me say, I wonder if he’s contemplated a larger role as has been hinted or reported. I still believe that’s true, and I think everyone’s hoping to get an idea this week of where he’s leaning and what he’s considering.”
Friedman underscored the fact that Sundin’s decision will ultimately determine the makeup of the Maple Leafs’ front office. As has been the prevailing thought, Sundin is not interested in a figurehead role.
He’s looking to make a significant impact on the organization moving forward.
What Role Could Sundin Take in Maple Leafs Front Office?
The biggest question would be whether the role Sundin is considering is the GM role. Now, that’s an interesting situation, as Sundin doesn’t really have much experience in that regard. While he’s certainly a capable professional, the question might be whether he would be suitable for the role, given his lack of experience.
That said, the plan might be to bring in Sundin as the President of Hockey Operations (POHO). That role has less to do with the day-to-day ops of the team and could focus more on liaising between the hockey ops side of the management team and the upper echelons of the Maple Leafs organization.
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Toronto Can Move Forward with GM Once Sundin Decides
The likeliest situation is that Sundin is in the running for the POHO role. The entire conversation regarding the GM search has not landed on Sundin. In fact, last week, news broke that former Vancouver Canucks exec Mike Gillis was out of the running for POHO consideration.
Meanwhile, the GM shortlist came down to two names: Scott White and John Chayka. As such, the decision to include Sundin could be to officially bring him into the Maple Leafs organization. Then, he can give his input regarding the GM search.
It could very well be that the GM decision is the deciding factor in getting Sundin aboard. It remains unclear, however, what timeline this entire situation could take. The key seems to be the desire to avoid rushing things.
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