The Toronto Maple Leafs continue making big changes after another disappointing season. A few days after firing head coach Craig Berube, the franchise has now parted ways with assistant general managers Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey.

The move shows that the Maple Leafs are making major front-office changes under new general manager John Chayka. Additionally, Mats Sundin has been hired as senior executive adviser.

In his statement, Chayka acknowledged that both GMs brought valuable experience to the team. He thanked them for their contributions to the organization.

“We are sincerely appreciative of Brandon’s professionalism, commitment, and dedication to the Maple Leafs throughout his tenure," he stated, as per The Canadian Press.

He also reflected on Clancey's input.

"Derek also brought valuable experience and insight to our hockey operations department during his time with the club," he stated.

Brandon Pridham spent 12 years with Toronto and was one of the team’s longest-serving executives. He was considered one of the NHL’s best salary-cap experts and helped the Maple Leafs manage difficult salary-cap situations after the pandemic.

Before joining Toronto, Pridham worked in the NHL’s central registry department. After the Maple Leafs fired former GM Brad Treliving, Pridham reportedly helped manage hockey operations with Ryan Hardy on an interim basis.

The team also considered him for the full-time GM role before finally choosing John Chayka.

Meanwhile, Derek Clancey joined Toronto in 2023 after spending several years with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He mainly worked on scouting, prospect analysis, and player evaluation.

His job included helping the team identify future talent, studying player performance, and improving roster decisions.

Now, with new leadership in place, Toronto could make major changes in those areas as well. The team will aim to regroup for next season.

Toronto Maple Leafs Had a Disappointing 2025-26 Season

After winning the Atlantic Division in 2024–25, expectations were high for the Toronto Maple Leafs to go further. But the following campaign saw a significant decline.

The Maple Leafs finished with a 32–36–14 record and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference with 78 points. For the first time in nine years, they missed the playoffs.

The series of blemishes brought in front-office shakeups. The arrivals of John Chayka and Mats Sundin, along with the departures of Craig Berube and the AGMs, indicate a team in rebuild.

They will also have a chance to select the No. 1 draft pick after winning the NHL Draft Lottery recently.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now facing a tough situation where they must rebuild confidence while also finding new, experienced executives who have worked behind the scenes for many years.

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul