See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source New doesn’t always mean improved. While incoming general manager John Chayka and coach Jim Hiller have clean slates, scratching out a winning record in their first year comes with many challenges.

Especially in Toronto, as the pair are the sixth combination in Maple Leafs’ history to begin a season in their respective fresh positions. Since 1969-70, only one such duo made the playoffs out of the gate — Floyd Smith and Doug Carpenter in the forgiving Norris Division format, where their .500 record (38-38-4) only meant a quick first-round exit against St. Louis.

Jim Gregory and John McLellan (‘69-70), Gerry McNamara-Mike Nykoluk (‘81-82), Brian Burke-Ron Wilson (2008-09) and Lou Lamoriello-Mike Babcock (2015-16) all inherited too much baggage to pivot quickly, though the latter did lead to a nine-year playoff run. WHAT LED THE LEAFS TO CLEAN HOUSE?

In the decade since Lou and Babs, the Leafs landscape shifted significantly as a long post-season playoff run proved elusive. The four high draft picks leading that early revival have aged or, in Mitch Marner’s case, departed, and the regression last season cost Brad Treliving and Craig Berube their jobs.

Usually, teams in full rebuild mode cut their new execs some slack. But gargantuan sports empires such as MLSE rarely think small, with expectations of making the playoffs or getting close under Chayka-Hiller.

“Well, this is as clean a slate you can start with,” said former Leafs GM-turned-Sirius Radio Network host Gord Stellick. “Brad had become Public Enemy No. 1 and people wanted big changes.

“Now they have Chayka (a surprise selection given his checkered past in Arizona) and after interviewing Peter Laviolette, who everyone considered a safe choice, they went with more of an unknown in Hiller.” An incoming GM will often keep a previous coach around, either as part of assessing dressing room culture or as a convenient firing if things go south.

But Berube was booted. “The best model was probably Cliff Fletcher coming to Toronto (in 1991),” Stellick noted.

“He kept Tom Watt as coach and got a good handle on the situation before bringing in Pat Burns.” That contrasted to what unfolded in Buffalo last season, where GM Kevyn Adams was dismissed in December, but coach Lindy Ruff was retained under Jarko Kekelainen and the Sabres surged to the playoffs. Chayka, for all his off-season changes and the godsend draft lottery win of Gavin McKenna, still inherits half a roster rooted in two previous GM’s flawed visions.

Researcher Matthew DiBiase, author of Bench Bosses and The Art of The Dealers, which ranks all NHL coaches and GMs through a deep dive into stats, playoff and overall impact, is not impressed with either of the Leafs hires. He points out Chayka’s Coyotes teams missed the playoffs until he resigned just before they made it in the 2020 COVID bubble, while Hiller’s Los Angeles Kings were first-round casualties twice before he was got in last year after he was fired late last season and D.J.

Smith led them to playoffs. “I don’t see any extraordinary potential in this combo,” DiBiase said.

“It’s going to be a long season for the Leafs and Leafs Nation.” But Toronto brass can take heart that four teams this century with a new GM-coach formula attained 100 or more points, which includes another Lamoriello-managed team, when he left Toronto after Kyle Dubas’ promotion hooked up with Barry Trotz and injected life into the 2018-19 New York Islanders.

The best first-year duo, excluding expansion teams, was the 113 points attained by Mike Keenan and boss Bobby Clarke of the 1984-85 Philadelphia Flyers. Maple Leafs first season results with new GM and coach (since 1919-20) 1969-70: Jim Gregory/John McLellan, 71 points, Did Not Qualify 1981-82: Gerry McNamara/Mike Nykoluk, 56 DNQ 1989-90: Floyd Smith/Doug Carpenter, 80 Lost 1st round 2008-09: Brian Burke/Ron Wilson, 81 DNQ 2015-16: Lou Lamoriello/Mike Babcock, 69 DNQ Best NHL seasons with new GM and coach (excluding expansion, via NHLStats) 1984-85: Philadelphia Flyers, Bobby Clarke/Mike Keenan, 113 points.

1979-80: Buffalo Sabres, Scotty Bowman/Scotty Bowman, 110 points. 2018-19: New York Islanders, Lou Lamoriello/Barry Trotz, 103 points.

2010-11: Tampa Bay Lightning, Steve Yzerman/Guy Boucher, 103 points. 2014-15: Vancouver Canucks, Jim Benning/Willy Desjardins, 101 points.

2014-15: Washington Capitals, Brian MacLellan/Barry Trotz, 101 points. Lhornby@postmedia.com X: @sunhornby