Maple Leafs will face problems in pursuing No. 1 GM choice Doug Armstrong
The Toronto Maple Leafs fired general manager Brad Treliving after a sharp performance drop in the 2025-26 NHL season. The team was facing questions around their inconsistency before the Olympics , but what happened after it built unrelenting pressure on the franchise. First, they went through an eight-game losing skid, and then came the devastating news of their captain, Austin Matthews, being out for the season due to a knee injury.
This reduced their playoff chances for the first time in nearly a decade of consistent postseason appearances. So, they made the decision to fire Treliving, and the sudden decision has pushed the franchise into a critical search for new leadership. MORE: Craig Berube gets honest about his future after Maple Leafs fires GM During a Sportsnet segment, insider Elliotte Friedman pointed to one name leading the conversation, that is Doug Armstrong.
He said there is still uncertainty around Armstrong’s exact status and availability. “I think the person whose name looms large over this is Doug Armstrong…,” Friedman said. “I agree with this, “I think there’s a lot of confusion as to what his status really is.
” And I do think one of the things that Pelley’s been trying to do is determine… what exactly is available to them. ” So, landing Armstrong will not be simple. Analyst Chris Johnston explained that Armstrong remains under contract with the St.
Louis Blues . According to Johnston, Blues ownership has little interest in letting him leave. That alone creates a major hurdle for Toronto’s pursuit.