Toronto Maple Leafs executives utilized artificial intelligence during the NHL trade deadline
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Keith Pelley and the Maple Leafs used AI to generate trade scenarios and information ahead of the deadline which could explain the disconnect with Brad Treliving.
For a guy who is supposedly so hands-off when it comes to the decision making, it sounds like Keith Pelley is coming in with a boatload of ammunition when it comes to making changes.
He stressed in his press conference he was someone on the outside who 'shouldn't be telling the team who to play at left wing.'
Admirable, if it were the truth.
It seems like Pelley wasn't exactly as forthcoming as we seemed to be as some new insight into how the boardroom this season operated shows there was a clear disconnect between Pelley and former GM Brad Treliving; with the deadline the turning point.
The heavy reality of non-hockey executives using artificial intelligence for trade decisions
A new expose by The Athletic delved deep into the inner workings of the Maple Leafs front office this past trade deadline and shows that while Pelley seemingly trusted Treliving to make decision — he trusted a computer a little bit more.
It was revealed that Pelley came into the deadline filled to the brim with AI-generated trade decisions and player results and it was something that the Maple Leafs had absolutely no experience in:
Pelley didn’t come empty-handed either. He had notes that included possible trade returns that Leafs staff members believed were generated by Large Language Models and Artificial Intelligence; tools that have become increasingly influential at the top of MLSE but hadn’t been part of the usual process with its NHL team.
Sorry, this may be a bold question but what on God's green earth was Pelley thinking?
While the usage of AI has been a hotly debated topic, especially in regards to sports journalism, using it to sway massive franchise-altering decisions is something that not only is a brazen strategy — it's frankly stupid.
Just because something works in a boardroom corporate setting doesn't mean it works for a hockey team. Did ChatGPT tell him to trade Fraser Minten? Did it say the best return for Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton was a 2nd and conditional 3rd?
Speaking of McMann and Laughton, according to the article it was about a half-hour before the deadline ended when Treliving dangled them to teams. Though Pelley in his personal newsletter to MLSE said there was nothing until about 15 minutes left.
So which is it? 15 minutes is more than enough time to work out a better deal; there's five GM's, scouts, and about ten other personnel you could have consulted.
A chatbot is not one of them.
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What's next? Does the AI now decide that the bottom line can't be improved without extorting fans more? Does it start making decisions at the top for Pelley?
This reliance on strictly corporate behaviour absolutely robs the franchise of its identity. This was a club who once wore the crest with pride, and their fans did the same. But now with it being business-oriented first — they're losing that loyalty.
At what point does MLSE and Rogers become satisfied? They already make half a billion dollars in ticket sales and nearly reach that mark based off merchandise, concessions, and other ventures. What about the other five teams under the umbrella who bring in tens, if not hundreds of millions?
It's not the fans' fault that you're deciding the profit margin is more important than winning though it won't be untilthe fans themselves decide to speak with their wallets and stop buying into the team will it start to make a difference.
Keith Pelley kept stressing that he 'wasn't here to sell jerseys.' He's right.
He's trying to sell fans on a team that has absolutely no idea what it wants besides a boatload of money and text on a screen instead of the heartbeat that actually drives this team — Leafs Nation.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The private Auston Matthews meeting with Keith Pelley puts the Toronto roster on high alert
The private Auston Matthews meeting with Keith Pelley puts the Toronto roster on high alert
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