Controversial reporter reveals Keith Pelley is about to lose his Maple Leafs role

Steve Simmons is no stranger to stirring the pot, and his latest article reveals there's a plan in place to replace Keith Pelley as the face of MLSE.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have gotten a lot of flak over the past couple of seasons and while the on-ice product hasn't been great, it's the front office and behind the scenes that gets a lot of attention. From the discovery of AI usage during the trade deadline, to the seemingly rash hiring of John Chayka, a lot falls on Pelley's shoulders.

MLSE's CEO is certainly a polarizing figure, and his spat with the Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons during Chayka's introductory press conference showed that he had little time for the media but unfortunately for Pelley, that may be his new role.

Steve Simmons reveals that MLSE wants to get rid of Keith Pelley

Simmons is back with a new report on Pelley and his role with the Maple Leafs and MLSE and revealed some pretty gigantic news. According to sources close to Simmons, there is a real desire to replace Pelley with Toronto Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro, and transition Pelley to a more media-focused role:

You hear a rumour often enough and it eventually becomes true.

So, I keep hearing that Mark Shapiro will be elevated to a senior position in charge of the Blue Jays, Maple Leafs and Raptors, pushing Keith Pelley to more of a broadcast and media related role with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. And I'm hearing it from people who know things. Shapiro is the chosen one with ownership.

Adding Shapiro into the role would give MLSE a representative who has at least brought a measure of success to the Toronto brand over the last few years, helping build the 2025 World Series runner-up Blue Jays; he's been the President and CEO of the Blue Jays since 2015.

Why replacing Keith Pelley would make the Maple Leafs better

Pelley and Shapiro are almost polar opposites when it comes to business structure. Pelley loves a hands-on approach and we've seen him get in the middle of trade talks, he's a very corporate-minded businessman, and Shapiro couldn't be more different.

While he still has a voice in the matter, Shapiro will often defer to those he trusts like GM Ross Atkins, and he understands there's a way for him to influence decisions without being the focal point. He's also in touch a bit more with the Toronto fanbase, and understands the importance of bringing pride to a team.

Honestly, with so many changes in Toronto sports - the Blue Jays' semi-rebuild, Kawhi Leonard returning to the Raptors, Gavin McKenna as a Maple Leaf, and Josh Sargent as a star in TFC; there's an exciting transition.

A new face as the representative of all those franchises would be the perfect way to usher in a new era and bring in a voice more connected to the Toronto brand.

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