Frank Seravalli

I mean, that's really kind of what it felt like.

It was awkward.

It was uncomfortable.

It was the talk of the league, to be honest, in private circles, like the messages that I was getting from other GMs who made this appointment television to watch.

I mean, one guy said to me that he had to actually get up and walk around his office because he was so uncomfortable watching it.

He was sweating for John Chayka watching all that, which is crazy to think about.

So what do I think of the hire?

I think it's a stretch in so many ways.

I'm a big believer in second chances and that if you've listened to me over the years, I've remained incredibly consistent that nothing is ever...

really a death sentence that, you know, there's certain things of course that should be, but you know, someone somewhere is going to find their way to another opportunity if they put their head down and work.

And I think the thing that I struggle with, and I think the thing that has been the overarching feel throughout the league has been, this is someone who has no track record for success, was handed the job at an impossibly young age,

was flaunting the rules and had draft picks forfeited, then had a dereliction of duty while going around his owner's back and was suspended for an entire calendar year, then doesn't work in the league for five years.

And it's not just like you get a second chance.

You were handed the keys to the kingdom of one of the crown jewels of the sport.

And that's the part that I think everyone's struggling with.

Had you come back and decided to pay your dues as the assistant GM somewhere or an advisor or worked through for a number of different teams to say, you know what, I'm trying to do this differently.

I want to get another shot and I want to use every tool at my disposal available to get there.

And instead it's like, no, I just went to work for my family business and ran a

successful business operations and franchises like Wendy's and Tim Hortons.

Why does that qualify you to then become the next general manager and shot caller of the Toronto Maple Leafs?