NHL executives are baffled by the Leafs hire and Toronto fans should take it as the ultimate compliment
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
People around the NHL are stunned about the Sundin/Chayka partnership in Toronto, however it could be their secret weapon no one saw coming.
It was announced onSaturday that Keith Pelley and the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be holding a press conference in order to announce the hirings of Mats Sundin and John Chayka. Presumably, Sundin will run hockey ops and Chayka will handle GM duties, but until we know for certain — it's a wild card.
That decision has brought about a lot of debate and speculation about what type of moves that Chayka and Sundin will make, and with names like Mike Gillis, Scott White and Mike Futa also in the mix at one point — one has to wonder if this was a rush job.
It's something that NHL execs are having a hard time coming to terms with as well and it's leaving them scratching their heads.
The NHL's 'Old Boys Club' and why the hiring of Chayka and Sundin is deeper than you think
James Mirtle spoke to a few executives around the NHL and all came to same conclusion that the hiring of Chayka and Sundin is 'baffling' and that there may not have been enough due diligence on Pelley's part:
I have been asking around and talking to executives with other teams, and they're a bit baffled that this is the choice. - JD Bunkis Podcast (04/30)
Granted, fans and analysts alike are also baffled considering that Chayka has not only been out of the loop for a few years, but also left under some controversial circumstances.
Obviously the big question as well is whether or not Sundin is fit for the role. Having him come in is great for the culture, but giving him the immense amount of power to run the show could be a blessing or a disaster and we have no precedent to lean on either.
But along with what the Oakland Athletics did during their 'Moneyball' era, if you're going to shock the system, you may as well confuse people too. While others are confused about what could happen, they won't expect what Chayka and Sundin already have in mind — and that's a killer app for them.
A wild-card front office is the perfect way to confuse and exploit Toronto's rivals
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt. - Sun Tzu; The Art of War
I open with this quote because it fully encapsulates what Toronto needs to do. If the enemy, or in this case rival teams, end up not knowing where the team is coming from next, they can't prepare for the shockwaves they are going to send.
We hear all this talk about keeping Auston Matthews happy, so what if Chayka and Sundin have a trade in mind already and are waiting to strike? What about the draft? They could very well have a plan to trade up and figure a way to get both their top-five, and another first-rounder too — we don't know.
But as much as Toronto can be secretive, they can't hide in the shadows for too long. With a lot of changes needed, the quicker and more they strike the better.
Chayka is going to work hard with his years and years of analytics to craft the best roster to work alongside the head coach; be it Craig Berube or someone else.
Meanwhile Sundin is going to be working hard to instil a winning culture and bring hope and trust back to the fans, while also knowing what it takes to play for the jersey and will bring in those who have as much heart as they do talent.
For years and years we've see Toronto tend to slip back into old habits and pull from what they know instead of going outside the box. Chayka and Sundin offer the perfect deterrent to a league that already knows what Toronto is thinking.
There's another quote from The Art of War that also fits swimmingly:
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.
Opportunity awaits for the Maple Leafs. It's time to strike.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Connor McDavid’s idol is joining the Leafs and the timing after his first round exit is impossible to ignore
Connor McDavid’s idol is joining the Leafs and the timing after his first round exit is impossible to ignore
Previously on Hockey Patrol