John Chayka Leafs GM

[steve li]

Steve Simmons not a fan of the selection. Here he is questioning Keith Pelley:

Simmons:
You talk the due diligence you did prior to hiring him and now hiring him. In the past 3-4 days I have contacted 20 people in the NHL many of whom are names we all know, of all 20; 1 was supportive of his hiring, the other 19 thought it was a sham, quite honestly.

Words like clown artist, liar, salesman; how did you come to a different conclusion than I did in such a short time?

Pelley:
We must have talked to different people.

Simmons:
That’s it? Because the hockey world is ASTOUNDED by this announcement.

Phew!

[DawgDad]

The Playoff Panel on TV seemed far more charitable.

[TheJackBurton]

I don't know if he is a good or bad GM because Phoenix.

However, he has a hell of an offseason ahead of him. He has to decide if Mathews is going to continue to be a Maple Leaf, how is he going to fix the defense and the goaltending situation all with no first rounder this year which would have been top 10.

Right now it's an absolute dumpster fire, and I don't know that he keeps Berube or maybe they wait until Jon Cooper becomes available.

[TAFKAP]

I don't know if he is a good or bad GM because Phoenix.

However, he has a hell of an offseason ahead of him. He has to decide if Mathews is going to continue to be a Maple Leaf, how is he going to fix the defense and the goaltending situation all with no first rounder this year which would have been top 10.

Right now it's an absolute dumpster fire, and I don't know that he keeps Berube or maybe they wait until Jon Cooper becomes available.

I'd think Cooper would be smart enough not to walk into something like that. I'd hate to see it, REALLY hate to see it, but, if Cooper holds on one more year I could see him in Chicago like when Quenneville took over. They have at least another year and some meaningful veterans to sign first.

[Frank Underwood]

Seems like a poorly thought out, high risk move for an organization that seems to have little room for error at this point. But hey, maybe the guy has a clue now and will surprise everyone. But if I’m Army/Steen, I place my call about Knies right now!

[skilles]

Someone probably needs to pump the brakes in Toronto IMO. Things really are not that bad.

[JK92]

I don't know if he is a good or bad GM because Phoenix.

However, he has a hell of an offseason ahead of him. He has to decide if Mathews is going to continue to be a Maple Leaf, how is he going to fix the defense and the goaltending situation all with no first rounder this year which would have been top 10.

Right now it's an absolute dumpster fire, and I don't know that he keeps Berube or maybe they wait until Jon Cooper becomes available.

Where's Sam Montembeault land? Toronto or Edmonton?

[bluetunehead]

Steve “my source tells me Phil Kessel eats too many hot dogs” Simmons talking about his sources is very funny.

[Cahokanut]

I'd guess that guy and those that remain un named. Don't like him.

I don't know what he has done outside being young and having that one gm job, that had no money for gm to invest, that gave us that controversy right before the big game.

What M I missing.
He couldn't do anything worse then what's been done and can Toronto even do better, Right Now.

[Younghopp1991]

Im probably beating a dead horse but could this maybe be a stop gap option for a year? Probably a much better chance STL lets army walk after this coming season? I could see us trending up next year and army telling stillman “steen doesnt need me, im just in the way.”

[STL fan in MN]

I'd guess that guy and those that remain un named. Don't like him.

I don't know what he has done outside being young and having that one gm job, that had no money for gm to invest, that gave us that controversy right before the big game.

What M I missing.
He couldn't do anything worse then what's been done and can Toronto even do better, Right Now.

What did he do? Chayka tried to get a job with NJ while still under contract with the Coyotes without getting permission to talk to the Devils. He was then fired and Bettman banned Chayka from the league for a year. Also, while under his watch, the Coyotes conducted a non-allowed secondary physical testing for prospective draftees. They lost their 1st rd pick as punishment.

I’m sure Chayka will say that the NHL was being extra harsh on him/the Coyotes as Bettman wanted the owner to sell but still, he did 2 really against the rules things in a short time as GM. And being a GM is all about trust. Other GMs are going to be hesitant to work with him.

[Cahokanut]

I'd guess that guy and those that remain un named. Don't like him.

I don't know what he has done outside being young and having that one gm job, that had no money for gm to invest, that gave us that controversy right before the big game.

What M I missing.
He couldn't do anything worse then what's been done and can Toronto even do better, Right Now.

What did he do? Chayka tried to get a job with NJ while still under contract with the Coyotes without getting permission to talk to the Devils. He was then fired and Bettman banned Chayka from the league for a year. Also, while under his watch, the Coyotes conducted a non-allowed secondary physical testing for prospective draftees. They lost their 1st rd pick as punishment.

I’m sure Chayka will say that the NHL was being extra harsh on him/the Coyotes as Bettman wanted the owner to sell but still, he did 2 really against the rules things in a short time as GM. And being a GM is all about trust. Other GMs are going to be hesitant to work with him.

Did he get fired? I thought half the cut was that he left the team to get that job right before the playoffs(big game)

As for the rest.

So your telling me he broke the rules by trying to abtain more information on potential prospects. Yes, that's bad.

The guy probably didn't know all that. To much study of data and all that moneyball nerd [shirt].
Im thinking the big knock on him is more hockey Canada politics then not.

Anyway it's not like he has gotten the best of jobs. Maybe at another time. But Toronto is no place to be. More so, the next couple of years.

I don't like him. I don't dislike him.

[TheJackBurton]

I don't know if he is a good or bad GM because Phoenix.

However, he has a hell of an offseason ahead of him. He has to decide if Mathews is going to continue to be a Maple Leaf, how is he going to fix the defense and the goaltending situation all with no first rounder this year which would have been top 10.

Right now it's an absolute dumpster fire, and I don't know that he keeps Berube or maybe they wait until Jon Cooper becomes available.

I'd think Cooper would be smart enough not to walk into something like that. I'd hate to see it, REALLY hate to see it, but, if Cooper holds on one more year I could see him in Chicago like when Quenneville took over. They have at least another year and some meaningful veterans to sign first.

Possibly, but Cooper is one of the few head coaches in the league that with his resume would actually quiet the fans and would be a major coup for the Maple Leafs. Can't discount Chicago, but he may not want to be part of a team that has been a cellar dweller for 5+ years, even with their potential.

Also he wouldn't be Babcock part deaux, no player has a single bad thing to say about Cooper.

[Rollie Fingers]

He may be a (bleep) GM, but he owns like 60 Wendy’s stores.
So he’s well off in that regard.

[TAFKAP]

I don't know if he is a good or bad GM because Phoenix.

However, he has a hell of an offseason ahead of him. He has to decide if Mathews is going to continue to be a Maple Leaf, how is he going to fix the defense and the goaltending situation all with no first rounder this year which would have been top 10.

Right now it's an absolute dumpster fire, and I don't know that he keeps Berube or maybe they wait until Jon Cooper becomes available.

I'd think Cooper would be smart enough not to walk into something like that. I'd hate to see it, REALLY hate to see it, but, if Cooper holds on one more year I could see him in Chicago like when Quenneville took over. They have at least another year and some meaningful veterans to sign first.

Possibly, but Cooper is one of the few head coaches in the league that with his resume would actually quiet the fans and would be a major coup for the Maple Leafs. Can't discount Chicago, but he may not want to be part of a team that has been a cellar dweller for 5+ years, even with their potential.

Also he wouldn't be Babcock part deaux, no player has a single bad thing to say about Cooper.

I honestly believe they need to blow it up. They are rotten to the core, have no draft picks and need to start over. Chicago has enough talent, that given the right type of veterans, they could start something like Quenneville walking into both Chicago and now Anaheim. I never thought Anaheim would make the playoffs before the Sharks. That was a surprise.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

I don't know if he is a good or bad GM because Phoenix.

However, he has a hell of an offseason ahead of him. He has to decide if Mathews is going to continue to be a Maple Leaf, how is he going to fix the defense and the goaltending situation all with no first rounder this year which would have been top 10.

Right now it's an absolute dumpster fire, and I don't know that he keeps Berube or maybe they wait until Jon Cooper becomes available.

I'd think Cooper would be smart enough not to walk into something like that. I'd hate to see it, REALLY hate to see it, but, if Cooper holds on one more year I could see him in Chicago like when Quenneville took over. They have at least another year and some meaningful veterans to sign first.

Possibly, but Cooper is one of the few head coaches in the league that with his resume would actually quiet the fans and would be a major coup for the Maple Leafs. Can't discount Chicago, but he may not want to be part of a team that has been a cellar dweller for 5+ years, even with their potential.

Also he wouldn't be Babcock part deaux, no player has a single bad thing to say about Cooper.

I honestly believe they need to blow it up. They are rotten to the core, have no draft picks and need to start over. Chicago has enough talent, that given the right type of veterans, they could start something like Quenneville walking into both Chicago and now Anaheim. I never thought Anaheim would make the playoffs before the Sharks. That was a surprise.

Why would Cooper want to walk into that mess?