Toronto Maple Leaf fans are learning more about the Monday night firing of general manager Brad Treliving.
Treliving parts ways with the Leafs during a season in which they’re likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, (which owns the team) hosted a news conference Tuesday to shed light on the team’s future following Treliving’s departure.
Here’s what he said:
2:24 p.m. - Pelley says he texted Matthews following Treliving’s firing
Pelley was asked if he had spoken to captain Auston Matthews about letting Treliving go, and said he had texted “back and forth” about it this morning, but wouldn’t reveal the details of their conversation.
“I like to leave the conversations that happen with the players to the hockey operations people,” he said.
2:22 p.m. - Discussions about Treliving’s exit began ‘weeks’ ago
Pelley said the decision to let Treliving go began over the “last couple of weeks.”
He explained that Treliving was still the GM leading up to the trade deadline, when the Leafs opted to become sellers.
Pelley admitted that it was not “ideal” to announce Treliving’s firing right before Monday night’s game against the Anaheim Ducks, but said it was Treliving’s request to do so, which he honoured.
2:20 p.m. - Leafs’ ‘foundational pieces’ give Pelley hope for next season
Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 season, Pelley said he believes in the team’s “foundational pieces” and that the right people in the front-office can help deliver playoff success.
“We have to find a way to increase and to improve that lineup, and we need to do it rapidly. But we have the foundational pieces in place, which gives me the confidence that we can contend very quickly, and if we put the right person in place with the right structure in hockey ops, then I’m convinced we can do it.”
2:17 p.m. - Pelley says he bears ‘all the responsibility’ for Leafs’ shortcomings
Pelley said he owns all the Leafs’ failures during the 2025-2026 season.
“I think I bear all the responsibility. It’s my responsibility and I’ve said that since the beginning, the definition of success for my role is about wins and losses...So I accepted responsibility.”
2:15 p.m. - Search for Treliving’s replacement is ‘wide open’
As for who Pelley is looking for to fill Treliving’s shoes, he said;
“It’s wide open and and I think nothing has been determined with the final structure.”
2:12 p.m. - Pelley says the strategy is to win
In the wake of Treliving’s firing, Pelley was asked what the “vision” for the team is going forward.
“I think vision is pretty simple. And I think vision is pretty simple for all 32 NHL teams, and probably any team competing in professional sports, and that is to to win, and that’s the objective,” Pelley said.
“So the vision is pretty simple. The strategy is something that you can develop, but then you need to have the strategy aligned with everybody in the organization, and then the tactics come into play once you actually have somebody in charge of hockey operations. So it just all can’t happen simultaneously.”
2:10 p.m. - ‘I thought we had the right leadership in place’
Pelley was asked what changed since last year, when he said he was confident in Treliving’s leadership.
“I thought we had the right leadership in place. There are a number of factors that played into it this this season. Without getting into the detail, I honestly believe that we we didn’t have the alignment, we didn’t have the culture, we didn’t have the structure that we needed to be successful.”
2:07 p.m. - Pelley addresses comments about his role with the Leafs
Pelley addressed comments he says he’s heard about his role in the Leafs organization and decisions about the team saying he is “not here to be a coach.”
“I am here to create the overall vision, the strategy, put the structure, put the process, put the pillars in place to develop the right culture for us to have a winning and a contending team year after year.”
2:05 p.m. - Leafs’ woes not solely Treliving’s responsibility: Pelley
Pelley explained that he doesn’t think Treliving shoulders the full responsibility of the Leafs’ rocky season.
“But after analysis throughout the entire year, including countless conversations with key personnel and hockey observers, I made the decision, supported by ownership, that the team must chart a new course under different leadership to achieve our ultimate championship goal.”
2 p.m. - ‘I’m disappointed’
“I‘m disappointed as I sit here today, disappointed like we all are in the results for the team this season, but personally affected by having to make this difficult decision and change in leadership for the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Pelley said Tuesday.
“like everyone in this room, I have great appreciation and respect for the Brad Treliving. He’s a good man and an excellent hockey executive, we will immediately begin the search process for the net next head of hockey operations for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley addresses the media following the organization’s decision to part ways with General Manager Brad Treliving pic.twitter.com/ttmchDBdYx
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 31, 2026
Toronto is second last in the Atlantic Division and Matthews is out for the remainder of the season following a hit by Ducks’ defenseman Radko Gudas earlier this month.
Former president Brendan Shanahan hired Treliving in 2023 to replace Kyle Dubas. Shanahan’s contract was not renewed last year following the team’s second-round playoff exit. He was not replaced.
The Leafs have not made it to the third round of the playoffs since 2002.
Pelley thanked Treliving for his time with the Leafs but said to bring a Stanley Cup championship back to the city, the club “must chart a new course under different leadership.”
