The first three calls the new Maple Leafs GM needs to make the moment he is hired

Although the next general manager will have a plethora of needs to be addressed, there a few key areas that the next Leafs GM will want to make sure to get an understanding of where the future stands with some key parts of the organization.

Whoever is named GM is walking into an uncertain team that is consistently swirling with rumors about potential departures, and they'll need someone to decide on those tough decisions needed to be made.

One area to address team wise is the team's overall structure and how to build the roster back into a contending one, what pieces will be pivotal to a retool, and which ones will be necessary subtractions.

Even with injuries, it seems foolish to debate otherwise that Matthews isn't key for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but an incoming GM will have to monitor if Matthews is ableto be his best self, and what it means if not.

Matthews has looked like a shell of himself in the blue and white, having just 60 goals and 131 points over the last two seasons in 127 games, his 27 goals this past season a career-low.

It's a far cry from the Rocket Richard leading 69 goals Matthews set in 2023-24, and the question remains if the Leafs will ever see that Matthews again.

Not only showing less of his goalscorer prowess, but Matthews has evidently lost a bit of his explosiveness. After a season ending injury gave his 2025-26 an early exit, is that the final dagger for Matthews?

This will open up for the next GM to assess the health of Matthews, and if the word 'trade' will need to be considered with the captain depending on how Matthews looks out of recovery and back on the ice.

The risk for Toronto is, if Matthews regresses further and drifts even further from his prime self, his trade value may become zilch with a $13M+ contract until 2028. Toronto may have to let that play out.

Trading Matthews this offseason has never made much sense, but it's a quiet conversation that may start louden depending on how Matthews looks next season.

One name who insiders and analysts seem to view as the potential big departure for the Toronto Maple Leafs next season is defenseman Morgan Rielly.

The 32-year-old has looked out of his prime over the last two seasons, showing signs of age, and inconsistency that has put into question his ability to continue as a #1 for the Leafs after this season.

A Morgan Rielly trade isn't an entire necessity, but if the Leafs do keep Rielly, they'll likely need to find someone who can take on his current duties as the team's number one.

The longest serving member of the Leafs currently, Rielly has been linked with an exit this season but has control over his future with a full no-move clause.

A general manager could try to convince Morgan Rielly to waive his NMC, but comfortable as a Leaf, they'll have the tough task of deciding what Rielly's future in Toronto looks like.

Rielly doesn't hurt keeping as a point producing defender who can lead one of the team's two power play units, although Rielly is hard to envision as a long-term option for much longer, even if he continues as a Leaf next season.

Rielly isn't the only defenseman with Toronto who has an unclear future. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has also been linked in trade talks, but he could easily return to Toronto. The future and health of Chris Tanev is also a question.

The real biggest question over the Leafs offseason isn't about the players, but what the future of Toronto behind the bench looks like.

If Craig Berube had the argument he had little to work with due to the moves made by Brad Treliving, his coaching struggles at the end of this season may have sealed his fate.

Berube likely won't know his future until the Leafs hire a head coach, and he'll need a believer to keep him afloat, with even injuries and trades not enough to defend Berube's performance this season.

Firing both the general manager and head coach in the same offseason is something that MLSE would rather avoid, especially for the financial aspects, but perhaps an unavoidable option.

Any general manager won't personally know Craig Berube well enough to determine his coaching ability with certainty, but may play an impactful part as to whether Berube is Toronto's coach next season.

There's some other small business that has to be considered, including the continuing Matthew Knies trade rumors, which don't make much sense.

The Leafs goalie room will be worth a watch as well as Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov banged down the door this season for an NHL spot, with both Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll having down seasons.

For the next Toronto Maple Leafs general manager, the position comes with a variety of headaches, and an uncertain future needing a decision maker.

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The new GM’s first trade has already been decided for him