What John Chayka's latest shake-up of assistant GMs means for Leafs - Canada News Beep

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Brandon Pridham, Derek Clancey latest to depart under new GM’s watch

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Published May 17, 2026 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 3 minute read

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The Maple Leafs announced on Sunday that the team and assistant general manager Brandon Pridham have agreed to part ways. Photo by Darren Calabrese /THE CANADIAN PRESS FILESArticle content

Cap and depth chart management, vital on any NHL team trying to get back in playoffs, will have new people in charge of those portfolios in Toronto.

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A news release on Sunday from incoming Maple Leaf general manager John Chayka confirmed a report from the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons the day before that long-time assistant GM Brandon Pridham, who kept the club salary-cap compliant in a wild era of NHL change since 2014, is leaving.

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The club statement termed it a mutual parting of the ways, at the same time announcing player personnel AGM Derek Clancey’s three-year hitch is done and the Newfoundlander is “departing the organization.”

Pridham was a Brendan Shanahan hire, a huge pickup from the NHL’s Central Registry office with a background in scouting, contracts, the amateur draft and CBA issues. He, past club president Shanahan and young AGM Kyle Dubas ran the Leafs for a while before Lou Lamoriello became GM and while many thought Pridham would go to Pittsburgh with Dubas when the latter was fired as GM a few years ago, he stayed to help Brad Treliving. Pridham was also a co-interim GM after Treliving was let go and until Chayka’s arrival this month.

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It’s believed he received some consideration for the post Chayka eventually secured from MLSE CEO Keith Pelley and Pridham now joins a cast of attractive candidates for NHL teams who might be seeking new AGMs as several were interviewed for executive positions in Toronto, Vancouver and Nashville in recent weeks.

In Pittsburgh, Dubas’ staff already has two ex-Leaf employees, Jason Spezza as AGM and Wes Clark, vice-president of player personnel.

Pridham’s next move not known

While Pridham’s next move isn’t known, the GTA native will be busy in coming days watching his son Jack, a 6-foot-2 right wing with the Kitchener Rangers and third-round pick of Chicago, play in the Memorial Cup. Brandon Pridham’s biggest challenges were fitting in support pieces after mega-contracts for Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander and Mitch Marner pushed the Leafs to their last dollar when the cap ceiling flattened during COVID-19.

Clancey was a Treliving appointee from a similar position with the Vancouver Canucks, a former pro scout in Calgary from when Treliving was Flames’ GM. Clancey made his name in Pittsburgh where his 14 years in the Penguins’ hockey office contributed to three Stanley Cups.

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“Brandon has played an integral role in the organization over the past 12 seasons,” Chayka said Sunday. “We are sincerely appreciative of Brandon’s professionalism, commitment and dedication to the Leafs throughout his tenure.

“Derek also brought valuable experience and insight to our hockey operations department during his time with the club. We thank both for their contributions to the organization and wish them and their families all the very best moving forward.”

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Now it’s about who Chayka replaces Pridham with and whether the player personnel file will be taken by the new GM himself. Chayka has already let go special advisor Shane Doan (a title usurped by Chayke’s right-hand man Mats Sundin), after firing coach Craig Berube and now cutting ties with the AGMs.

MLSE boss Keith Pelley had ruminated after Treliving’s demise in March that continuing to employ six AGMs might be unwieldy. Not counting Sundin, three remain on the masthead, Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser (player development), Ryan Hardy (minor league operations where the Marlies are still in playoffs) and Darryl Metcalf (hockey research and development, which is a Chayka specialty).

Lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

What John Chayka’s latest shake-up of assistant GMs means for Leafs

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