Overview
- Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Tuesday and reiterated Wednesday that Toronto is negotiating a vice‑president of hockey operations role with franchise icon Mats Sundin and expects John Chayka to be hired as GM if Sundin agrees.
- CityNews reported the working model has Sundin in a senior hockey‑ops post—widely described as vice‑president of hockey operations—with Chayka running day‑to‑day roster decisions as general manager under that structure.
- No appointments have been announced as talks continue, and assistant GMs Brandon Pridham and Ryan Hardy are handling daily duties until the new leadership is in place.
- Former Kings executive Mike Futa said he was one of three finalists for GM alongside Chayka and Dallas Stars assistant GM Scott White, confirming how the search narrowed in recent days.
- Chayka’s candidacy is being vetted against his Arizona exit, which included an NHL suspension in 2020 for conduct the league called detrimental and penalties tied to a private draft‑combine event, while any decision on coach Craig Berube is being held until the front office is finalized.