Treliving parts ways with the Leafs during a season in which they\u2019re likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade.<\/p>\n
Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, (which owns the team) hosted a news conference Tuesday to shed light on the teams\u2019 future.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what he said:<\/p>\n
2:24 p.m. – Pelley says he texted Matthews following Treliving\u2019s firing<\/p>\n
Pelley was asked if he had spoken to captain Auston Matthews about letting Treliving go, and said he had texted \u201cback and forth\u201d about it this morning, but wouldn\u2019t reveal the details of their conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to leave the conversations that happen with the players to the hockey operations people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
2:22 p.m. – Discussions about Treliving\u2019s exit began \u2018weeks\u2019 ago<\/p>\n
Pelley said the decision to let Treliving go began over the \u201clast couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
He explained that Treliving was still the GM leading up to the trade deadline, when the Leafs opted to become sellers.<\/p>\n
Pelley admitted that it was not \u201cideal\u201d to announce Treliving\u2019s firing right before Monday night\u2019s game against the Anaheim Ducks, but said it was Treliving\u2019s request to do so, which he honoured.<\/p>\n
2:20 p.m. – Leafs\u2019 \u2018foundational pieces\u2019 give Pelley hope for next season<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 season, Pelley said he believes in the team\u2019s \u201cfoundational pieces\u201d and that the right people in the front-office can help deliver playoff success.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BVGK5WKZHZAM7JOPBZRWUIUBSM.JPG\")
Keith Pelley MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley speaks during a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Frank Gunn <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to find a way to increase and to improve that lineup, and we need to do it rapidly. But we have the foundational pieces in place, which gives me the confidence that we can contend very quickly, and if we put the right person in place with the right structure in hockey ops, then I\u2019m convinced we can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
2:17 p.m. – Pelley says he bears \u2018all the responsibility\u2019 for Leafs\u2019 shortcomings<\/p>\n
Pelley said he owns all the Leafs\u2019 failures during the 2025-2026 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I bear all the responsibility. It\u2019s my responsibility and I\u2019ve said that since the beginning, the definition of success for my role is about wins and losses…So I accepted responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
2:15 p.m. – Search for Treliving\u2019s replacement is \u2018wide open\u2019<\/p>\n
As for who Pelley is looking for to fill Treliving\u2019s shoes, he said;<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s wide open and and I think nothing has been determined with the final structure.\u201d<\/p>\n
2:12 p.m. – Pelley says the strategy is to win<\/p>\n
In the wake of Treliving\u2019s firing, Pelley was asked what the \u201cvision\u201d for the team is going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think vision is pretty simple. And I think vision is pretty simple for all 32 NHL teams, and probably any team competing in professional sports, and that is to to win, and that\u2019s the objective,\u201d Pelley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the vision is pretty simple. The strategy is something that you can develop, but then you need to have the strategy aligned with everybody in the organization, and then the tactics come into play once you actually have somebody in charge of hockey operations. So it just all can\u2019t happen simultaneously.\u201d<\/p>\n
2:10 p.m. – \u2018I thought we had the right leadership in place\u2019<\/p>\n
Pelley was asked what changed since last year, when he said he was confident in Treliving\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we had the right leadership in place. There are a number of factors that played into it this this season. Without getting into the detail, I honestly believe that we we didn\u2019t have the alignment, we didn\u2019t have the culture, we didn\u2019t have the structure that we needed to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LKCDKNKT5ZH4XFJXJQMWBSY7QE.JPG\")
Brad Treliving Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving watches his players during the opening week of the team’s NHL training camp in Toronto, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Sammy Kogan 2:07 p.m. – Pelley addresses comments about his role with the Leafs<\/p>\n
Pelley addressed comments he says he\u2019s heard about his role in the Leafs organization and decisions about the team saying he is \u201cnot here to be a coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am here to create the overall vision, the strategy, put the structure, put the process, put the pillars in place to develop the right culture for us to have a winning and a contending team year after year.\u201d<\/p>\n
2:05 p.m. – Leafs\u2019 woes not solely Treliving\u2019s responsibility: Pelley<\/p>\n
Pelley explained that he doesn\u2019t think Treliving shoulders the full responsibility of the Leafs\u2019 rocky season.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut after analysis throughout the entire year, including countless conversations with key personnel and hockey observers, I made the decision, supported by ownership, that the team must chart a new course under different leadership to achieve our ultimate championship goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
2 p.m. – \u2018I\u2019m disappointed\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2018m disappointed as I sit here today, disappointed like we all are in the results for the team this season, but personally affected by having to make this difficult decision and change in leadership for the Toronto Maple Leafs,\u201d Pelley said Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201clike everyone in this room, I have great appreciation and respect for the Brad Treliving. He\u2019s a good man and an excellent hockey executive, we will immediately begin the search process for the net next head of hockey operations for the Toronto Maple Leafs.\u201d<\/p>\n
MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley addresses the media following the organization\u2019s decision to part ways with General Manager Brad Treliving pic.twitter.com\/ttmchDBdYx<\/a><\/p>\n