Toronto Maple Leafs steal draft guru away from another NHL team

The Toronto Maple Leafs have filled a vacancy in their front office by landing one of the NHL's most sought-after executives.

On Monday, the Maple Leafs announced the hiring of Judd Brackett as the team's newest assistant general manager after he was reportedly pursued by other NHL teams.

"We are thrilled to welcome Judd to our organization," Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said in a press release. "He has established one of the strongest amateur scouting and drafting track records in the NHL and has consistently demonstrated an ability to adapt and evolve his approach as the game changes."

We have appointed Judd Brackett as Assistant General Manager, Player Evaluation, and Freddie Hamilton as Chief of Staff. pic.twitter.com/3HwXpi0toG

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 1, 2026

Brackett has built an impressive hockey resume over the last decade with two NHL teams. He has previously served as director of amateur scouting for both the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks, and worked with Team USA at the last three IIHF World Junior Championships.

Some of his most notable picks in Vancouver include Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson. In Minnesota, Brackett was instrumental in landing standout prospects such as Zeev Buium and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt.

According to Chayka, Brackett will play a significant role in blending traditional scouting methods with video analysis and data-driven evaluation as the Maple Leafs continue modernizing their decision-making process.

The timing of the hire couldn't be better for the Maple Leafs, as Toronto holds eight picks in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft, including the first overall pick. This year's draft will be extremely important for Toronto, with the team having no first or second-round pick in the 2027 draft.

Brackett wasn't the only addition announced by the Maple Leafs on Monday.

The organization also named former NHL forward Freddie Hamilton as its new chief of staff.

Hamilton, a Toronto native, will support strategic planning and cross-functional initiatives across the hockey operations department while working closely with the club's leadership group.

The 34-year-old appeared in 75 NHL games with the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes before retiring from professional hockey in 2018.

Since leaving the game, Hamilton has earned an MBA from Yale University and worked in venture capital. Those experiences, according to Chayka, make him a valuable addition as the Maple Leafs look to strengthen collaboration and alignment throughout their hockey operations department.