Social media buzzed with reactions from NHL fans as the Pittsburgh Penguins announced the hiring of Brandon Pridham, who was recently dismissed as the AGM of the Maple Leafs.
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is bringing in familiar faces, appointing Pridham as a hockey operations consultant. Pridham replaces Vukie Mpofu, who moved to the Nashville Predators.
The 52-year-old will handle contract negotiations, manage the salary cap, plan responsibilities, and mentor junior staff in the Penguins’ front office. Pridham had spent over a decade with the Maple Leafs.
Here’s how fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) responded to the hiring. One tweeted:
“Dubas trying to create Toronto lite.”
Another chimed in:
“Looks like Pittsburgh just swapped a cap guru for a cap‑tivating new brain. Good luck, Brandon, may your contracts be tighter than a Zamboni on ice.”
Here are some more top reactions on X:
“For people talking about Dubas surrounding himself with “his guys,” I’m not sure why this is a surprise. It’s literally done that way in every industry. Manager takes job, manager surrounds himself with people he trusts. Hockey is no different,” a third fan wrote.
“Pridham is a good addition for the Pens front office. By all accounts, he’s a highly respected cap guy. I do, however, find it funny how Kyle Dubas is building the Pens, top to bottom, the exact same way he built the Leafs, a build that failed in part due to his stubbornness,” one X user opined.
“Kyle Dubas loves picking up Toronto’s sloppy seconds,” another chimed in.
“Everyone in Toronto knew this was going to happen lol,” added another.
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka reacts to firing of 14 front office staff
Since John Chayka’s arrival as general manager, the Maple Leafs have adopted an aggressive strategy to quicken their organizational transformation.
The club recently implemented a significant front-office restructuring, resulting in the departure of 14 staff members, including AGM Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, an Olympic legend and Hockey Hall of Famer.
Commenting on the move, Chayka stated:
“As part of our ongoing evaluation of the organization, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with some valued colleagues. These decisions were not easy and are not a reflection of the commitment of the impacted people. We are sincerely grateful for everything they have contributed to this organization and wish them nothing but the very best in the future.”
The Maple Leafs are entering the new season with renewed optimism after finishing last in the Atlantic Division last season.
Edited by Abhishek Dilta
