The Toronto Maple Leafs are starting their search for a new general maanger after firing Brad Treliving earlier this week, and a former executive that has a very interesting history could become a frontrunner.
According to a report from RG Media on Wednesday, John Chayka has emerged as a potential candidate to take the Maple Leafs general manager job. Additionally, it was reported that Chayka has already interviewed with the Maple Leafs in February.
John Chayka is back in the NHL front-office conversation. RG has learned the former Coyotes GM interviewed with Toronto Maple Leafs in February and is now a legitimate candidate after Brad Treliving’s firing.https://t.co/9CEuoULigm
— RG (@TheRGMedia) April 1, 2026
The timing of this reported interview is incredibly interesting. It was most likely not for the general manager position, since it has been reported that the Leafs didn't make their decision until after the March 6 trade deadline. But, it's certainly a possibility that they were just checking in to see if Chayka would be interested, since Brad Treliving was a dead man walking leading up to the deadline.
John Chayka shockingly becomes candidate to be Maple Leafs GM
Chayka was once seen as part of a wave of the next generation of NHL general managers. The former owner of private hockey analytics service Stathletes, Chayka quickly worked his way up to one of the top positions in the sport, becoming Coyotes general manager at just 26 years old -- the youngest anyone has ever been when named to a general manager position in NHL history.
After four seasons with the Coyotes, which included the team's first playoff berth in several years, Chayka shockingly stepped down from the position just days before the start of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was later revealed that he was actually suspended by the NHL through 2021 for "conduct detrimental to the league and the game", as he was meeting with other teams around the league for opportunities while still Coyotes GM. It was also exposed that Chayka and the Coyotes would hold a private scouting combine for upcoming prospects, which is forbidden by the NHL. The Coyotes had to forfeit a first- and a second-round pick for this.
Basically, Chayka did not perform his job in Arizona to the best of his abilities, despite being heralded as one of the more analytically-driven managers in the league.
Chayka fits what Keith Pelley wants in Leafs GM
This, of course, comes the day after Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley held a press conference about the firing of Treliving and said that he wanted a more "data-focused" general manager for the Leafs.
Chayka fits exactly that, despite the shortcomings of what he has done in the past, and there could be a better fit in Toronto than that in Arizona.
There were ownership troubles for the Coyotes all throughout Chayka's tenure, and the front office was basically an entire mess that only created chaos. The Maple Leafs might be the exact opposite of that, having maybe too much financial stability. Plus, if the Leafs are going to be hiring a President of Hockey Operations who would be the experienced voice in the room above Chayka, in this scenario, that could be a dynamic that at least has the possibility of working out.
It is notable that currently Chayka serves as the CEO of a company called JKC Capital, who have offices in Scottsdale, Bucharest, and Toronto.
It is going to certainly be interesting if John Chayka's return to hockey and the NHL is with the Toronto Maple Leafs of all teams, getting the most attention possible.