Brian Burke Reveals What Brad Treliving Has To Do To Succeed In Toronto

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S. Harper
May 31, 2023 (9:00 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a commendable decision today, appointing Brad Treliving as the 18th General Manager in the team's history.

Treliving, with his previous experience in a Canadian market during his tenure in Calgary, understands the pressures that come with it. However, the challenges in Toronto are expected to intensify, adding immense pressure on Treliving to deliver success.

Burke's Advice To Treliving

Brian Burke, who has firsthand experience with the rigours of Toronto, provided his insights on what Treliving needs to do to thrive in Leafs Nation.

"Well, it's a bit of both," Burke said, referring to the mix of performance and public relations that the role requires. "Some people were better at this than I was. Signing an unrestricted free agent, for example, could earn you popularity points. There might be something Treliving can do quickly to gain some favour. But it's not just about PR. Being able to generate good PR while making smart decisions is an inexpensive and straightforward way to start."

According to Burke, Treliving also has to deal with important decisions.

"First, he needs to talk to Auston Matthews right away. The coach, Sheldon Keefe, can wait. Keefe has done a good job, he may return, he may not. But Treliving can certainly tell Sheldon to wait until after the draft."

Another critical decision Treliving needs to handle is Nylander, who is entering a limited no-trade clause. Burke suggested that Nylander would have to be a solid candidate to endure this change.

The moves that Treliving makes, particularly concerning the 'core four', will be of great interest to fans and analysts alike. Regardless of the decisions made, the upcoming season promises to be an exciting one for the Toronto Maple Leafs.