HIGHLIGHTS
- The Maple Leafs fired GM Brad Treliving late Monday night
- Toronto is set to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a disappointing season
- Craig Berube said the team let Treliving down after Monday’s win
The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again making changes in their pursuit of a Stanley Cup.
The organization fired general manager Brad Treliving late Monday after three seasons, a move that follows a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. Toronto is set to miss the playoffs and currently sits 14th in the Eastern Conference, marking a major regression for a team expected to contend.
Following Monday’s win over the Anaheim Ducks, Craig Berube admitted the group fell short of expectations and took responsibility for the outcome.
“We wanted to build something here and didn’t. Last year, we were right there. We didn’t succeed, and this year, we obviously dropped off,” Berube said. “Coming out of the Olympic break, that’s what still bothers me more than anything. We battled pretty good to get to where we were with different situations that went on throughout the season, injuries and other things, but we put ourselves in a good spot after the Olympic break, and just coming out of it, we didn’t perform well enough, obviously, to put ourselves in a better position. We worked hard on the break and got ourselves prepared, but it didn’t translate to the ice.
“He gave me an opportunity here, and I feel like we let him down this year.”
Treliving was hired in 2023 after Kyle Dubas departed for the Pittsburgh Penguins. His first season saw Toronto finish third in the Atlantic Division, but the team was eliminated in the opening round by the Boston Bruins. The Leafs won just one playoff series during his tenure and were knocked out by the eventual champion Florida Panthers last season.
Toronto attempted to retool last offseason, adding pieces through free agency and trades after Mitch Marner left for the Vegas Golden Knights. However, the roster never found consistency, leading to one of the franchise’s most underwhelming seasons in recent memory.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley said the decision followed a thorough evaluation of the organization’s direction.
“Throughout the course of this season, there has been deep analysis into both the current state of the Maple Leafs organization and the direction needed to achieve the ultimate goal of delivering a Stanley Cup championship to the city,” Pelley said. “Brad Treliving is a man that we all have deep respect and appreciation for, both as a hockey executive and as a person, but it was determined that the club must chart a new course under different leadership. The organization is grateful for all that Brad has contributed in his nearly three years with the Maple Leafs, and we wish him and his family the very best.”
Treliving departs with a 129-82-27 record in Toronto after previously serving nine seasons as GM of the Calgary Flames. Despite efforts to reshape the roster, the Leafs ultimately fell short of expectations and will now look for new leadership moving forward.
