Video: Reporter Blasts Maple Leafs For Hiring of GM John Chayka—'Con Artist', 'Liar'

Wow. After weeks of "due diligence" to come up with their new general manager, MLSE President Keith Pelley probably didn't expect a question like this at the big news conference to introduce John Chayka (and Mats Sundin). 

Reporter Steve Simmons stood up at the media event and told Pelley, with Chayka seated beside him, that 19 of 20 prominent NHL people Simmons talked to called the hiring "a sham" and referred to Chayka as a "con artist", a "liar" and "salesman."

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Pelley's response to Simmons' charges was, "I must have talked to different people... We've conducted deep due diligence, it was a thorough process, and I'm quite happy with where we've landed."

"The hockey world today is astounded by this announcement," reiterated Simmons.

Also seated next to Pelley was the other half of the new hockey operations department executive duo, Leafs legend Mats Sundin. 

Chayka, 36, was the youngest GM in the history of the league, at 26, when he was hired by the Arizona Coyotes in 2016. He left under a dark cloud in 2020, and in 2021, was suspended for a year by the NHL for “engaging in conduct detrimental to the league.” Chayka was found to have run illegal scouting practices, among other things. 

Now 36, he's back in the league, tasked with returning the Maple Leafs franchise to relevance. And it's a quick indoctrination into Leafs Nation for Chayka. He's quickly finding out about the infamous glaring Toronto media storm.