James Myrtle

You know, he did serve his suspension out in 2021.

So it's been four years since, since that happened, but

it's going to be interesting because, you know, you guys talk about the, there's the tampering allegation, which Frank said is unsubstantiated, but you know, there's a, there's a lot of people in the league and,

with other teams that are skeptical of this decision and of working with Chayka.

So he's going to have to rebuild some bridges here, I think, in this new position.

Well, I mean...

He's definitely an outsider, and the fact that he's been away from the league and not involved for six years now was when he left the Coyotes.

That's just made him more of an outsider.

I think that when it comes to the newer school people and the analytics people, the ones that I've talked to, I think there's just some skepticism about the substance that's there and what he brings to the table.

I've spent the last couple weeks looking pretty closely at his record in Arizona.

it's not amazing, but you know, there's also been some of the retread GMs that have gotten jobs again and again, who I think have bigger mistakes on their record.

So, um, yeah, I mean, like I said, there's going to be definite headwinds against him coming into this job and having to rebuild some bridges, because as you said, it just, everyone you talk to, even the people that have worked with him before and have time for John Chayka, they're skeptical that he's going to be able to handle this role.

So,

I think there's a world maybe where it would have worked if he had a president above him who was really experienced.

There was talk about potentially going the Mike Gillis route.

I could see that potentially being a fit, but he's not going to have any safety net here.

It'll be interesting to see who he retains from the Leafs staff and who he brings in underneath him.

I think they're going to try and get someone experienced to come in and work with him.

It'll be interesting to see who that is and who's willing to take that job.

Again, like we haven't heard from Sundin.