Chris Pronger told everyone he did not interview for the Maple Leafs job and he was not telling the truth

Chris Pronger admitted that he actually did speak to the Maple Leafs for their vacant front office job after months of trying to say he was never involved.

Pronger spent over a month seemingly auditioning for the Maple Leafs GM position. He had thoughts about Auston Matthews and how to build the team around him, and was also not afraid to call out the team for their conviction; a sign that maybe he was wanting to make some changes himself.

Though he spent all that time trying to give the Maple Leafs some guidance, he repeatedly stated that while he was open to the job, he hadn't actually really spoken or had an in-depth conversation with the team. He clearly knows there was news surrounding his name and it looked like he was capitalizing on his name being thrown about.

Pronger denied a meeting in April but just admitted to one in May so the month gap means something quickly changed

But actually, it turns out Pronger was trying to pull the rug over our eyes the entire time.

Pronger appeared on TSN's Overdrive and talked about the Maple Leafs' front office situation and whether or not he actually was in line to get a position but the story suddenly changed from not interviewing to having a discussion with Keith Pelley and company:

I met with Glasberg and Pelly for a couple of hours. I just had a good, frank conversation about the team, about the direction, and my thoughts on what they needed both in the front office and on the ice with respect to the players.

I got good feedback on my conversation with them, but they were going in a different direction.

That is a huge difference from 'Well I may be open to a job but only if it fits.' He was actively being pursued and perhaps didn't want to cause a distraction but it was pretty much hockey's biggest open secret.

On April 22 he flat out denied he interviewed for the spot, but literally a month later he's reneged on that statement. It's a bit of a bizarre bit of PR for Pronger and really set fans on a journey of speculation.

Pronger asked for autonomy but the team decided that wasn't the direction they were willing to go

Back when Pronger was talking about what he would do for the team, he talked about the way the Maple Leafs front office operated and how Keith Pelley and the MLSE crew seem to like to get involved. He made it clear that he wanted complete control if there was an opening for him.

Well it seems like Pelley and company didn't want to relinquish that power they hold so dearly, and decided to go with John Chayka and Mats Sundin. All we can hope as Leafs fans is that MLSE learns to actually keep hands off this time and let the front office make the final decisions.

Chayka may have been seen as more susceptible to listening to Pelley and MLSE demands, and the CEO's comments about consistently trusting Chayka as the guy could lead credence to the fact that he is the guy - for Pelley to push around.

Though we don't know if Pronger would have been a good choice, clearly he came armed wit ha game plan and explained to Pelley what needs to be done. If he had any proactivity in his body, Pelley would listen to what Pronger had said and apply it regardless of who is in charge.

We've already seen a lot of turnover in the past few weeks with a lot more to come both in the front office and on the roster. That level of action is exactly what Pronger was talking about so at least things haven't completely fallen on deaf ears; but let's hope they actually put some of that plan into action going forward.

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