Report: Leafs denied permission to speak with Lightning GM BriseBois

The Toronto Maple Leafs are searching for a new general manager and president of hockey operations after parting ways with Brad Treliving near the end of the regular season.

On the latest episode of his podcast 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman shared that the Leafs requested permission to speak with Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois and were denied that permission by the Lightning.

“I don’t think anyone is shocked to hear that the Lightning would say no,” Friedman said. “I do think they asked permission to speak to him and were rejected.”

BriseBois would have been a massive swing for Toronto, as he was Steve Yzerman’s right-hand man with the Lightning for years before ascending to the top chair ahead of the 2018-19 season. The Quebec native then put the finishing touches on the roster that went on to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.

With BriseBois not an option, Friedman and others have reported that the Leafs are honing in on former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka and franchise legend Mats Sundin.

“Everyone listening to this knows what I’ve reported over the past couple of days,” Friedman said. “I think they’re working on a Mats Sundin-John Chayka combination. It is a matter of Sundin agreeing to a contract and to what they have planned for him… Last I heard, on Thursday, there was still confidence that this was moving in a proper direction, but again, nothing is done until it is done.”

The Leafs, led by MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley, are searching for a new identity and direction after Treliving’s stewardship of the roster led to a disastrous 32-36-14 record this season, which culminated in the Leafs missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The new front office will be tasked with finding the right mix of complementary pieces to surround star forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander while putting together a more formidable defense.