With John Chayka having served as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ general manager for just over a month now, he’s beginning to build relationships with players.
Speaking to the media on Friday at the NHL Scouting Combine, Chayka provided some insight into his off-season conversations with Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.
“We’ve had several conversations with him and his representatives, and what I saw was a happy captain — someone who’s got a lot of pride to be the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, someone who wants to win in Toronto, which aligns with how we’re thinking about it,” said Chayka.
“We’re going to spend more time with all of our players. We’ve spent a better part of these three weeks getting to know everybody and getting some face time and connecting with them, and just listening honestly a lot, and hearing about how the season went and the trends and the things that we think are opportunities.”
Matthews, 28, played at a less than a point-per-game pace in 2025-26 for the first time since his rookie season with 53 points (27 goals and 26 assists) in 60 games.
His season ended early on March 12 after he sustained a grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion in his left leg that required surgery.
Chayka also shared the latest on fellow forward Max Domi, whom the Maple Leafs announced at the end of May would be out indefinitely due to complications arising from off-season surgery.
Domi, 31, played 80 games for the Maple Leafs last season, registering 12 goals and 24 assists.
“Max is a tough situation, obviously he’s a special person and loves the Leafs, and we love him,” said Chayka.
“He had a procedure, didn’t go the way we had hoped. He played through some injuries … tough kid, but ultimately we’ll get to training camp and assess him from there.
“… He embodies being a Toronto Maple Leaf and cares and really wants to be here for the good times, so we’re going to support him, like all our players, and make sure he’s in a good spot.”