Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser is stepping away from the Toronto Maple Leafs an announced the decision on her personal Instagram on Thursday.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs making a flurry of changes to not only the lineup but the front office and behind the bench, we've seen key names depart; even ones who have been here for a decade or longer.
Brandon Pridham and Shane Doan were let go earlier and the team just announced the firings of key figures like Mark Leach and Darryl Metcalf. It's meant as a measure to bring new voices and new faces to the organization in the hopes of sparking some success.
Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser announces her departure via personal social media
Well we can mark another name down on the list of people who are leaving, and it's certainly one you don't want to hear. It was announced via her personal Instagram page that Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser is also leaving the Maple Leafs and put out a heartfelt statement regarding her time with the team:
Since joining the club in 2018, I have been immensely proud of the work our player development team has accomplished. I want to sincerely thank the incredibly talented individuals, coaches, management, and players whom I have been fortunate enough to work alongside over the last eight years.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity, wish the team nothing but the best moving forward, and look forward to the next chapter.
Wickenheiser joined the team back in 2018-19 as an Assistant Director of Player Development before transitioning into an Assistant GM position in 2022-23.
The Canadian hockey legend is known for her outstanding international play where she accumulated four Olympic gold medals for Team Canada and is one of the greatest female players in hockey history; arguably the greatest in some people's eyes.
After retiring from hockey she pursued a medical degree and was able to find herself in a residency at the University of Toronto's Department of Family and Community Medicine.
The latest departure in Toronto is a big one
Wickenheiser joins a contingent of former Maple Leafs executives who have either been shown the door or left of their own accord. It's going to be tough to not have such a strong and passionate hockey name around; and she was huge in the development camp that just concluded.
There's no word if she'll follow her contemporaries and get a job elsewhere or if she will simply focus more on being a doctor. But it's going to leave a hole for sure in the Maple Leafs front office, though with all the changes being made it seems like everyone is on the cutting room floor.
It also isn't known when or if there is going to be anyone replacing Wickenheiser but it's hard to replace someone who not only was so integral to the team for the past seven years but also someone who is a dedicated and passionate legend of the game.
For now, the Maple Leafs changes are going to keep happening and it's unfortunate that Wickenheiser is just the latest body to head out the Bay St. office doors.
Will Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser return to the NHL?
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