Toronto Maple Leafs Confirmed to Have Tried to Poach General Manager From Canadian Rival
The Maple Leafs hired Brad Treliving in 2023, but according to Elliotte Friedman, they tried to poach Canadiens Executive VP Jeff Gorton first.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been chasing a Stanley Cup for a long time, and in recent years, they've gotten relatively close, but with the moves that they've made under GM Brad Treliving, this doesn't appear to be a team that's ready to compete in 2025/26.
The team hired Treliving back in the summer of 2023 after he departed his long-time role with the Calgary Flames, but according to a new report from Elliotte Friedman, he may not have been their first choice.
Toronto Maple Leafs Tried To Poach Jeff Gorton From The Montreal Canadiens
According to Friedman during his latest 32 Thoughts report, he reveals that back in 2023, the Maple Leafs made an official request to interview Executive Vice President Jeff Gorton of the Montreal Canadiens, with the owner swiftly denying the request.
External requests for permission to talk to Jeff Gorton: Toronto (2023), Columbus (2024), Islanders (2025). Montreal owner Geoff Molson consistently declined, stating Gorton would be a long-term Montrealer. Molson delivered: complete with a promotion and trusty sidekick Kent Hughes extended alongside him.
As told by Eric Engels in a report earlier this month, the team had faith in Gorton as a long-time piece for the Canadiens front office, and given how well their rebuild has gone, it's safe to say that they made the right decision.
Ultimately, things in the NHL could have been vastly different if the Maple Leafs landed Gorton instead of Treliving, especially for the two teams involved, but as of right now, it's clear that Montreal's confidence in Gorton was well founded, with the team now on the rise as Toronto's future is up in the air.
TRENDING NOW
