BREAKING: Leafs Fire GM Brad Treliving 

The daily main story at Hockey Hot Stove is powered by Watrhouse Brands, dedicated to quality, consumer education, and awareness: Benevolent Bakery, SoSHEL beverages, and Smokiez vegan fruit chews. Today:  Toronto fires Treliving.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Monday evening that they have fired GM Brad Treliving just short of three seasons with the club.

“Throughout the course of this season, there has been deep analysis into both the current state of the Maple Leafs organization and the direction needed to achieve the ultimate goal of delivering a Stanley Cup championship to the city,” said MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley. “Brad Treliving is a man that we all have deep respect and appreciation for, both as a hockey executive and as a person, but it was determined that the club must chart a new course under different leadership. The organization is grateful for all that Brad has contributed in his nearly three years with the Maple Leafs and we wish him and his family the very best.”

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The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their four-game road trip with the start of their swing through California against the Anaheim Ducks. The game that everyone circled on their schedule after Ducks captain Radko Gudas took out Leafs captain Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit. Toronto is expected to attempt to get revenge on Gudas, who is returning to the lineup after missing Saturday’s game against Edmonton with a lower-body injury, to the point that NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros will be in attendance. 

Any chicanery that occurs at the Honda Center should be filed in the “too little, too late” category. The time for coming to Matthews’ defense was late in the second period on March 12th, not the next period, not the next game, and not the next time you face Gudas. It had to be at that moment, and it not happening has tarnished this Toronto squad. 

Anything that happens on Monday will not repair Matthews’ injured knee, or the damage that has been caused to the organization. The issues with the Leafs go beyond just the lack of response to the hit on Matthews, but that provides a window into what appears to be a dysfunctional group of players. There continue to be hints of an upcoming upheaval in Toronto that will likely cost head coach Craig Berube his job and may also include the firing of GM Brad Treliving, but we will not find out their fate for another three weeks. 

Toronto once again put on an embarrassing effort in a 5-1 loss to the Blues in St. Louis on Saturday, managing only 13 shots on goal and allowing Joseph Woll to be peppered with nearly 40 shots. Benoit-Olivier Groulx was recalled by the club on an emergency basis on Monday, and centered the second line with Matthew Knies and Matias Maccelli at the morning skate. Anthony Stolarz is expected to get the start. 

On the tank watch, the Leafs currently stand ninth from the bottom with 75 points, but are only two points out of a potential top-five draft slot, with Florida, St. Louis, San Jose, and Winnipeg closely trailing them. The Blues and Sharks face each other on Monday night, both of whom are four points out of the final Western Conference wildcard spot.