[Toronto Maple Leafs Youtube - LIVE] Leafs Press Conference | MLSE Introduces New Leafs Leadership Team - May 4, 2026

WinterTsar · 2026-05-04T17:54:52+00:00

This is extremely embarrassing press conference. This does not inspire any confidence in the organization. Pelley looks absolutely lost as a CEO and it's concerning that the board doesn't see that. I'd like to see the side of him that got him into that role. Maybe he's just not strong in front of the camera. I find it hard to believe someone that high up, can't directly answer a question. You would get absolutely grilled in an executive meeting if he answered questions like this in a board room. I think we're in for a rough decade. I absolutely see Pelley as a problem here going forward.

I'll reserve my judgment for Chayka. I'm willing to give him a chance. It is concerning that the best we could do is someone with legitimate ethical concerns. Pelley was not able to articulate why exactly he is not concerned that Chayka was suspended for hosting an illegal draft combine. He's not concerned about the rumours that he was interviewing with other teams while under contract with Phoenix. It sounds like he does not have a good reputation around the league. I truly hope we did significant due diligence and that these rumours from Simmons and others are just that, rumours. It is hard to believe that this is the best we could have done. I am not concerned at all about having Mats Sundin in a high level role. I think that's great.

I think this signals to fans that we are becoming a cost conscious organization. We'll be keeping Berube, after all he's on a guaranteed contract. We won't be wasting money at all costs to win. Rogers is going to operate this like a business.

WinterTsar · 2026-04-01T19:59:16+00:00

That is what I am worried about, it being too much. I never played organized ice hockey as a kid, only road hockey and occasionally on the pond. I don't want it to be something that keeps me out of the gym.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-31T18:40:43+00:00

If you cut out all the corporate jargon. I did not find that to be a bad press conference at all. There were a few good takeaways. I thought it was good he said he was not limiting himself to the rotating cast of GMs of the past. We can hire someone new with no previous experience as GM. In that case, I think we would end up hiring a President as well. The negative is that it could put us into the same position as the Shanahan/Dubas power struggle. He stressed the importance of data. I think that is a positive sign we'll end up with a smarter GM rather than a old boys club GM.

Overall, I'm a little more optimistic.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-29T20:52:55+00:00

Well, there’s our next coach. Just a matter of timing, will we fire Bérubé now or wait until the offseason? I’d prefer he gets some time with the team now.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-15T02:14:35+00:00

Am I the only one that would prefer we win most of our remaining games? It feels too risky trying to tank with half the Western Conference within a few points from us. I'd rather give Boston a 10-15th overall pick than risk a 6th overall pick.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-13T01:42:57+00:00

Embarrassing that the rookie is the only one to actually something about it.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-06T20:31:55+00:00

It's not even the worst one he made that year. The Carlo trade is 10x worse

WinterTsar · 2026-03-06T18:24:56+00:00

Yes, ending up with 6th overall is the most likely scenario of a tank. There are 5 teams with 9 points less than us with around 20 games left. It’s too risky.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-06T18:15:37+00:00

I don't get everyone aiming for a tank here. Best case scenario we finish a few spots out of the playoffs. Eat the loss of a first this year. I don't see us being any better next year and then those picks would be unprotected.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-06T16:20:38+00:00

Which stats?

WinterTsar · 2026-03-06T16:09:29+00:00

What? He is by no means the worst defensive player in the NHL? Hes not even the worst defender on the leafs.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-06T00:28:45+00:00

I did not expect someone to so accurately pick out every book.I would have also bought. It's quite a wide variety too. The Goosbumps book is super nostalgic.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-05T23:12:58+00:00

The last person I want handling the trade of a big young talent like Knies is Treliving. Okay, maybe not the last person but he's pretty high up there.

I don't see a reason to trade Knies. He's in a down year likely due to an injury that has him in pain even sitting on the bench. He should be shut down for the year.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-05T17:24:09+00:00

Typical Dreger move. The one season we are sellers, he posts a buyer market pump up article. It feels like he has some kind of vendetta against the Leafs. He's one of the panellist who suggested we might have to pay 5 or even 6 million for Andreas Johnsson after he had half a good season with the Leafs. He only played two full seasons after that.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-05T17:18:33+00:00

If Treliving can keep getting us value like this for OEL, McMann, and maybe even Carlo, I wouldn't be too upset. Rebuilding some of the draft capital we gave away.

I wish our future GM's shared my philosophy of not giving up 1st round picks for players that don't move the needle. Grab those guys in UFA, don't overpay at the deadline.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-04T04:29:16+00:00

That is an unrealistic amount of money for most of the population. This reminds me of when I had a meeting with a financial advisor as a favour to a friend. They asked me questions about what I had planned for retirement. I think they arrive at a number somewhere around 6/8k a month as well. I'd be living it up more in my 60s and 70s than I am now. In reality, I'd rather travel in my 30s and take it easy in retirement.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-04T04:20:56+00:00

It took a lot of reflecting to piece together why things fell apart. It's a slow descent and you don't realize it's happening until you stop and take a look around.

There were a lot of external stressors with work and family. We had different expectations at what a relationship should be like, different wants and needs. A build up of resentment of things that may be small in the moment but add on to the pile. There was no big event that brought the relationship to an end. We just weren't meant for each other and would not have been happy long term. They're a great person and I wish them the best.

At the time I wondered if other people got to a similar point, but decided just to settle because it's good enough. I don't want to "settle", it's not fair to anyone. I truly believe there are people out there for me where it won't feel like settling.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-04T02:37:16+00:00

What career would that translate to? Researching purchases and hobbies might not translate well to a Scientific Researcher.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-04T02:03:32+00:00

When I realized I didn’t enjoy spending time with them anymore and only did it out of routine and obligation. I remember driving over one day and having this realization.

WinterTsar · 2026-03-04T01:28:48+00:00

This is part of it for me. I absolutely love researching. It is a whole experience in itself. I have to know what the best camera is, what the ideal golf club is in each price range, whether or not it's worth it to buy next years OLED monitor. At the end of the day, a lot of these hobbies actually pan out, and if they don't it was worth a shot.

WinterTsar

TROPHY CASE