The Leafs have made their first major change of the offseason.
Toronto is hiring former Flames general manager Brad Treliving to take over as GM of the Maple Leafs, the team announced on Wednesday.
He is set to replace Kyle Dubas after it was announced earlier in May that Dubas would not return to the Leafs for the 2023-24 season.
Brad Treliving has been named the club’s General Manager
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 31, 2023
"I am very excited and honoured to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as General Manager," Treliving said in the team's statement. "I would like to thank Brendan, 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 the GM in Calgary for nine seasons but became available when he and the club mutually agreed to part ways after the end of the regular season. He was responsible for the Matthew Tkachuk trade last summer that landed the talented winger with the Panthers, while the Flames received Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar.
"I'm very pleased to welcome Brad into the Maple Leafs organization," Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. "Brad brings a wealth of knowledge from his years of experience as a General Manager and hockey executive in Calgary, Arizona and beyond. He has earned tremendous respect amongst his peers throughout his years in the NHL and has built excellent relationships at all levels within the game. We are confident that Brad's leadership and strategic vision will elevate the Maple Leafs in our continued pursuit of a championship."
The 53-year-old has his work cut out for him immediately. Toronto could be looking at an offseason potentially filled with turnover. The "Core Four" of the Leafs all have contracts expiring in the next year or two. Auston Matthews and William Nylander will be free agents in 2024, while Mitch Marner and John Tavares will hit free agency in 2025.
MORE: Full list of every NHL head coaching change in the 2023 offseason
The Sporting News has more details on the hiring of Treliving.
Who is Brad Treliving?
Treliving brings over 20 years of managerial experience to Toronto.
The former defenseman initially got started in hockey operations in 1996, when Treliving co-founded the Western Professional Hockey League and helped merge the league with the Central Hockey League in 2001.
In 2003, he was hired to become the assistant general manager of the Coyotes, working alongside Don Maloney. During that time, Treliving also served as the general manager for the team's AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.
He held both roles within the Coyotes organization until 2014 when he was hired by the Flames as the team's general manager.
Calgary won the Pacific Division twice under Treliving’s watch, but missed the playoffs four times, including this past season. The Flames never advanced beyond the second round in the five years they did qualify for the postseason.
Is Brad Treliving related to Jim Treliving?
Treliving is the son of Canadian businessman and TV personality Jim Treliving.
The elder Treliving is one of the investors on the Canadian television show Dragon's Den.
Brad Treliving trade history
Treliving has made a number of notable trades in recent history during his time with the Flames, part of the appeal for the Leafs to bring him in.
The most notable one is the Tkachuk trade to the Panthers, which occurred last summer. However, Treliving was also responsible for bringing in Tyler Toffoli from the Canadiens in 2022, Milan Lucic from the Oilers in 2019 and Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin in 2018.
Here is a look at some of the biggest trades from Treliving's time in Calgary.
Flames trade away Matthew Tkachuk (July 22, 2022)
- Flames received: F Jonathan Huberdeau, D MacKenzie Weegar, F Cole Schwindt, 2025 1st-round pick
- Panthers received: F Matthew Tkachuk, 2025 4th-round pick
Flames trade for Tyler Toffoli (Feb. 14, 2022)
- Flames received: F Tyler Toffoli
- Canadiens received: F Tyler Pitlick, F Emil Heineman, 2022 1st-round pick, 2023 5th-round pick
Flames trade away Sam Bennett (April 12, 2021)
- Flames received: F Emil Heineman, 2022 2nd-round pick
- Panthers received: F Sam Bennett, 2022 6th-round pick
Flames trade for Milan Lucic (July 19, 2019)
- Flames received: F Milan Lucic, 2021 3rd-round pick
- Oilers received: F James Neal
Flames trade for Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin (June 23, 2018)
- Flames received: F Elias Lindholm, D Noah Hanifin
- Hurricanes received: D Dougie Hamilton, F Michael Ferland, D Adam Fox
Flames trade for Dougie Hamilton (June 26, 2015)
- Flames received: D Dougie Hamilton
- Bruins received: 2015 1st-round pick, 2015 2nd-round pick, 2015 2nd-round pick
