Mats Sundin is not the VP expected and the title the Maple Leafs actually gave him raises serious questions
Photo credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs are indeed hiring Mats Sundin, but his role with the team will be slightly different than initially reported.
Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs longstanding general manager search is done, with as expected, John Chayka will be joining as the team's next GM.
Friedman also confirms the hiring of former Leaf captain and Hockey Hall of Famer Mats Sundin, although in a different role than first reported.
The Maple Leafs will announce they’ve hired Mats Sundin, who returns to the organization as Senior Executive Advisor, Hockey Operations. It’s a full-time commitment; he and his family are moving to Toronto. - Elliotte Friedman
Friedman also added that no other additions are planned at this time, making it apparent that it will be Sundin and Chayka leading at the helm.
It's seemingly a different role than initially anticipated where Sundin would be leading hockey operations, something not explained by Friedman's report.
Reports said Sundin was coming in as VP of Hockey Operations and Friedman confirmed his actual title is significantly different
The Toronto Maple Leafs official press release for the hiring of Sundin says that his role as Senior Executive Advisor is to "serve as a strategic advisor and provide support across hockey operations, with a focus on team culture, player development and leadership support".
Friedman says that it will be Chayka, not Sundin, who reports to MLSE CEO Keith Pelley, with the GM job having been advertised as being the one in charge, although there will be shared responsibilities for the two.
It's not clear how much responsibility Sundin has, but Friedman reports that all reason is to believe it's Chayka who is the one in charge, making Sundin's role unclear.
Usually it's the head of hockey operations in charge to let the general manager focus on day-to-day operations, but it seems Chayka at the very least is trusted as Toronto lead executive.
Chayka is signed by Toronto long-term, ensuring the trust in the 36-year-old to lead the team, but it's unclear now what Sundin is entrusted with in hockey operations.
If Sundin is purely advisory then the accountability trap for the culture reset has significantly less teeth than promised
It appears evident that the hiring of Sundin is less of a front office move and more of one meant to bring a sense of culture back into the team's leadership.
There's no one more qualified to be the face of the Leafs than Sundin, the team's all-time points leader and longtime captain, but it points to his role being more of a cultural role than a structural one.
This would indicate that Sundin's role is also about keeping the team happy, including fellow Swede William Nylander, and advising MLSE on strategic decisions.
John Chayka is the one in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it's Mats Sundin being put to the forefront as the face of the Leafs management team.
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