- Brandon Pridham, the Leafs’ salary cap specialist for 12 seasons, is out in a mutual split
- Derek Clancey, AGM of player personnel since 2023, also won’t be back next season
- Read below for what the front office churn means with Chayka still building his staff
John Chayka isn’t done sweeping out Toronto’s front office.
The Maple Leafs announced Sunday they’ve parted ways with assistant general managers Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey, two more departures in what’s already been a hectic couple of weeks for the new regime. The team confirmed both moves on its official account:
Pridham’s exit is a mutual agreement and was first reported Saturday by Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun. He’d been with the organization for 12 seasons, joining in 2014 and getting promoted to AGM under Kyle Dubas in 2018. Around the league, he’s known as one of hockey’s foremost salary cap experts, helping the Leafs work through the big-money deals handed to Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares.
He also served as co-interim GM alongside Ryan Hardy after Brad Treliving was fired late in the regular season, and was a finalist for the full-time job before the Leafs landed on Chayka.
Chayka thanked both men in a team statement:
“Brandon has played an integral role in the organization over the past 12 seasons. We are sincerely appreciative of Brandon’s professionalism, commitment and dedication to the Maple Leafs throughout his tenure.”
Clancey came on under Treliving in 2023 as AGM of player personnel. Before Toronto, he did pro-scouting work with the Penguins, Flames and Canucks.
The Pridham and Clancey exits follow Shane Doan’s departure earlier this month, with the Chayka-Sundin group reshaping the entire hockey operations department:
Since the new front office moved in, the team has fielded questions about Matthews’ long-term future, moved up four spots to land the first-overall pick in the draft lottery, and fired head coach Craig Berube. The coach search is ongoing.
Ryan Hardy is the lone AGM holdover from the Treliving era.
