Toronto Maple Leafs name Brad Treliving general manager

The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have found their new general manager.

According to a report Tuesday from TSN insider Darren Dreger, the Toronto Maple Leafs had wrapped up the search for a new GM, and all signs point to them being expected to name Brad Treliving as the new GM.

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli confirmed Wednesday morning that a deal between the Leafs and Treliving is all but done.

Wednesday afternoon, a report from NHL.com confirmed the hiring.

“I am very excited and honored to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as general manager,” Treliving told NHL.com. “I would like to thank Brendan (Shanahan, Maple Leafs president), MLSE and its Board for their support throughout this process. I’m thrilled to join an Original Six team and recognize how much the Maple Leafs mean to this community. This is a very exciting day for my family and I.”

Treliving was one of the reported frontrunners for the position, along with Jason Botterill, Marc Bergevin, and Peter Chiarelli. The general consensus among both fans and reporters seemed like he was the predicted candidate to fill the role.

The Leafs have been searching for a new GM after opting to not re-sign Kyle Dubas, who was in the final year of his contract. According to team president Brendan Shanahan, they both seemingly wanted Dubas to return. However, Dubas mentioned in the team’s locker room cleanout that he wanted to make sure it was best for him and his family, and then proceeded to ask for more money and autonomy in his contract, so Shanahan decided it was time to look at other options.

Treliving spent the last nine seasons as the GM of the Calgary Flames, leaving the organization after him and the team mutually agreed to part ways, with a big reason being Treliving’s relationship with head coach Darryl Sutter. However, the Flames proceeded to fire Sutter a couple of weeks later anyways. The Flames made the playoffs five times during his tenure in Calgary, including two series wins in 2015 and 2022.

Treliving also spent nine seasons from 2002 to 2011 as the general manager of the San Antonio Rampage, which in turn got him into the Phoenix Coyotes organization when the Rampage became their AHL affiliate. He spent eight seasons with the Coyotes from 2008 to 2014, mostly as the general manager of the Rampage and then the Portland Pirates when they become the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate.

Treliving also had a five year professional career from 1990 to 1995 as a defenseman, although he never played in the NHL. He did play two separate seasons in the AHL with the New Haven Senators and the Prince Edward Island Senators, with one assist in 15 games, but he primarily played in the ECHL.