The Toronto Maple Leafs’ trotted out general manager John Chayka and “senior executive adviser of hockey operations” Mats Sundin for all to see on Monday, as the team unveiled its new front-office leadership team.
But as the introductory press conference moved along, one particular question appeared to catch many onlookers and fans on social media off-guard.
During his turn on the mic, Toronto Sun sports columnist Steve Simmons asked MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley about the hiring process and decision to go with Chayka, the former GM of the Arizona Coyotes.
Simmons asked Pelley about the “due diligence” done while looking into Chayka, while citing numerous NHL insider sources who had less than stellar things to say about the new general manager.
What was the exchange between Simmons and Pelley?
Simmons stated that over the past few days he had been in contract with many “prominent people” in the NHL, before then dropping a bomb on Pelley
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“Of the 20 people I talked to, one was supportive of John’s hiring and the other 19 thought it was a sham,” Simmons said.
“How did you come to a different conclusion than what I was able to come to?”
After a brief pause, Pelley replied that he “must’ve talked to different people.”
Simmons, seemingly befuddled by Pelley’s response, asked, “That’s it?” before laying it down again.
“The hockey world today is astounded by this announcement,” Simmons said, to which Pelley replied, “OK.”
When asked for his final response, Pelley reiterated that the organization had done “deep due diligence” before hiring Chayka, and he then moved on.
Why is Chayka a controversial pick for GM?
Chayka left the Coyotes under controversial circumstances in July 2020 and was suspended for a year for “conduct detrimental to the league and game.”
The team also was docked two high draft picks after hosting a private scouting combine for prospects, which is forbidden by the NHL.
What is social media saying?
The clip from the press conference quickly went viral, with Simmons and Chayka becoming big trending topics online.
Many users on social media backed Simmons for posing a tough question in a scenario where such queries usually aren’t seen.
“Good for Simmons. I’m not a fan of his by any stretch of the imagination BUT he asked the question that 75% of this fan base was thinking. Why hire him when no one in this league respects Chayka,” one user posted on X.
“This was insane. Wow! Steve Simmons coming in with heatttt,” another user wrote.
“Steve Simmons from the top rope with the question he asked during the Leafs press conference introducing Mats Sundin and John Chayka,” a third user wrote on X.
One golf fan pointed out that in his sport, you would never hear the type of question that Simmons asked: “Steve Simmons just scorched Pelley for his hiring of new GM John Chayka. Name 1 person in golf media who would do this?”
Another user shared a story that Simmons recently reported a story he had been told about Chayka’s office in Arizona.
“He had six (computer) terminals on his desk, five of them didn’t work,” Simmons said during his appearance on Off The Roster.
John Gambadoro, a sports radio host in Arizona, backed Simmons’ statement about Chayka and called the GM “a total fraud.”
On Reddit, users generally backed Simmons’ question — a rarity given the columnist’s critique of the team over the years.
“I don’t like Steve, but this was needed. Pelley is an idiot, and other than Sundin being involved, I don’t know how this helps the team,” one user wrote.
Another joked they “will never forgive Pelley for creating a situation where I agree with Steve Simmons.”
Others were quick to note the seemingly forgotten third man up on the stage.
“Mats having war flashbacks after that lol,” one person joked.