To PoHo or not to PoHo, that is the Maple Leafs' question

"Brad Treliving, whether or not it was specifically of his own doing, had to move on from the "Shanaplan" and the "Core Four" era and set a new course for the team without a President of Hockey Operations and of course, without Mitch Marner. Treliving brought in new players but it doesn't seem like a clear direction for the 2025-26 Maple Leafs was ever established beyond "let's see if this works any better.""

"The idea of a President of Hockey Operations is one that has only been around for the past decade or so. The Avalanche wanted moved Joe Sakic up to loftier title and slide a General Manager underneath him to handle the more transactional aspects of hockey operations leadership, other clubs viewed the role as an additional title for whomever was the owner's alternate for Board of Governors meetings."

"The President of Hockey Operations role has the potential to mitigate some of the risk of going it alone with just a General Manager. Potentially, the President is the final word on Hockey Operations decisions and prevents decisions from going to the MLSE board, one of the pitfalls that apparently existed under Brendan Shanahan."

The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2025-26 season appears directionless following the departure from the Core Four era and Mitch Marner. Brad Treliving brought in new players without establishing a coherent strategic vision beyond experimentation. The President of Hockey Operations role, popularized over the past decade by teams like the Avalanche, could provide necessary direction and oversight. Treliving previously thrived under such leadership in Calgary under Brian Burke and in Toronto under Brendan Shanahan. This role potentially prevents decisions from escalating to ownership boards and provides strategic clarity. The Maple Leafs must either appoint a President of Hockey Operations to guide Treliving or consider replacing him as General Manager.

Read at TheLeafsNation