That the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Brad Treliving as the team’s new general manager (GM) gives fans a hint about the values of their team. On the face of it, the move represents the organization’s ongoing pursuit of success. It also suggests that the Maple Leafs, as an organization, were less than happy with where things were for their team.
In this post, I want to begin to explore the implications of the Maple Leafs’ hiring of Brad Treliving and what it means for the team.
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Treliving is a Seasoned Hockey Executive
Treliving’s hiring as a member of the Maple Leafs’ front office is positive. It brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. As the former Calgary Flames GM, he has a proven track record of managing the day-to-day operations of an NHL team. He has the knowledge, expertise, and strategic abilities that would make him a valuable addition to the management team.
Treliving Brings a Culture of Accountability
Hiring Treliving suggests that the Maple Leafs are prioritizing a culture of accountability and a commitment to continuous improvement. Treliving’s reputation is that he’s a diligent and meticulous executive. He cares to align his vision with his team’s desire to create a winning environment.
Treliving should promote a culture of professionalism, discipline, and a focus on results. What was interesting to me in researching his time with the Flames was that – at the end of his tenure – when it was clear he could not get along with head coach Darryl Sutter, he resigned rather than force any showdown. Interestingly, Sutter was removed from his job not long after.
Treliving Fills a Leadership Position on the Same Page as Shanahan
With Kyle Dubas departing as the team’s GM, Treliving fills a key leadership role in the Maple Leafs’ front office. It’s also interesting in light of his experience in Calgary that he sees his own values complementing those of team president Brendan Shanahan. That situation will allow him some comfort in managing both the hockey and business aspects of an organization.
In that role, Treliving brings a well-rounded perspective to the team. He should help ensure that the Maple Leafs have a strong leadership structure in place to guide the team toward sustained success.
Treliving Brings In Complementary Skills and Perspectives
Hiring Treliving also suggests that the Maple Leafs are seeking fresh ideas and diverse perspectives to complement their existing management team. By bringing in an executive with a different background and experience, the team can benefit from new insights and approaches. Treliving brings different expertise in areas such as player evaluation, contract negotiations, and organizational strategy. If the team works together well, it should provide value to the Maple Leafs.
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Treliving Brings in a Commitment to Team Continuity
Treliving’s hiring brings a new face to the team’s front office. He also demonstrates the team’s commitment to continuity in their overall approach. The organization has a solid foundation – at least one that wins during the regular season. Treliving’s role will be to build upon that existing framework toward postseason success.
Fans should not look for him to implement a complete overhaul. Although many believe the team’s structure should be completely remoulded, that’s unlikely to happen with Treliving. Instead, he likely signals to fans that the Maple Leafs will keep their core and work to maintain their competitive edge by making strategic (but small) adjustments to improve overall team performance.
The Bottom Line
Hiring Treliving carries significant implications for the team and its fans. He represents a shared commitment (with Shanahan) to fostering more accountability that also brings in fresh perspectives.
Who knows how things will work out? However, on the face of it, Maple Leafs’ fans should be optimistic that Treliving’s wealth of experience, strategic ability, and skills will complement the team’s leadership that is already in place.
With Treliving in their front office, the hope is that he will be able to contribute to the team’s chase down of Lord Stanley’s Cup. How good that would be for Toronto and their fans – a championship might be within reach.
But, we’ve said that before.