On March 30 the Toronto Maple Leafs relieved general manager Brad Treliving of his duties. With the franchise failing to qualify for the post season, the move became rather predictable, despite the 56-year-old’s contract being set to expire at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.

Immediately after Treliving was shown the door, speculation began over who would be named his replacement. Several prominent names in the managerial capacity came to the forefront.

St. Louis Blues GM GM Doug Armstrong, who led the management team for Canada’s men’s hockey team at the 2026 Olympics in Milan Cortina, was mentioned as a possibility to fill Treliving’s void.

Other names churning in the rumour mill include Sonny Mehta, who is currently employed as the assistant general manager and head of analytics for the Florida Panthers, and former Leaf Jason Spezza, who fulfils the role of assistant GM for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

If Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) elects to promote from within, strong consideration could be given to women’s hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser, or current assistant GM Brandon Pridham. They may also look toward former MLSE employee and long time London Knights GM Mark Hunter.

While there will be no shortage of candidates for the vacant position, the Maple Leafs undoubtedly hope to appoint a GM who possesses a winning pedigree.

The organization is in desperate need of a culture change.

Treliving’s successor will have to restock the Leafs cupboards, which lack notable prospects and draft picks. They will have to navigate transactions, while manoeuvring around several no-trade clauses already in place with aging players currently on the roster.

Former Leaf GM Brian Burke once described the role of Leafs GM as “the Vatican of hockey,” emphasizing the intense pressure and scrutiny GMs face in Toronto. The Leafs GM job is certainly not for the faint of heart.

While several of the aforementioned names could make it to MLSE’s shortlist for the open GM position, one person that I would love to see join the Leafs in a management position is Chris Pronger.

The former Peterborough Petes defenceman suited up in 1,167 career NHL games representing the Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 1999-2000 Norris and Hart Trophy winner captured his lone Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015. He also won two Olympic gold medals for Team Canada in 2002 and 2010.

Although Pronger was suspended eight times in his NHL playing career, he was hired by the NHL in 2014 to work in the department of player safety. He later joined the Florida Panthers hockey operations department for three seasons, and now provides analysis on Amazon Prime’s Monday Night Hockey.

Pronger was a bone-crushing defender during his playing days, and was feared by most opponents. He is now a very articulate and knowledgeable analyst and former executive with incredible hockey IQ.

Pronger would instantly demand respect from media members in Toronto as well as throughout the Leafs organization. He would also provide an element of entertainment at press conferences with his wit and sense of humour.

Pronger would form a Leafs team loaded with skill, pushback and a willingness to win. As an outsider, he was clearly at a loss for words watching Duck blueliner Radko Gudas recently end Auston Matthews season with a vicious knee on March 12. A collision that miraculously garnered a minimal response from the buds.

The next time MLSE president Keith Pelley is at the podium, it should be to announce Chris Pronger as the Leafs new general manager.

© Peterborough Examiner