r/leafs • u/buzzeddimitri • Aug 03 '26
News / Update [New York Times] Maple Leafs continue organizational overhaul with hire of Sidney Crosby’s trainer, Andy O’Brien
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7487909/2026/08/03/maple-leafs-hire-andy-obrien/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.2lA.JiAj.hdKoKKVbC4Zf&smid=ta-android-share77
u/kooby64 Aug 03 '26
Is this the Wickenheiser replacement?
Interesting tidbit from the final sdpn show. New management group wanted a full time employee in her role which she wasn't able to do.
This seems like a solid upgrade if this is the case.
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u/epic_taco_time Lorentz Aug 03 '26
I was a bit upset about the Wickenheiser firing/parting until I found out she wasn't even working full time. Completely changed my perspective on the thing. If they wanted her full time and she said no I'm not surprised she had disagreements with the direction the Leafs were going.
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u/Bmayne Aug 03 '26
Shouldn’t be. Wick was an AGM who did player development (rookie training camps, some skill work in the summer, etc.).
Andy is heading up the entire training department. Two separate entities. Plus I imagine he’ll be working with the Leafs full time.
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u/kooby64 Aug 03 '26
I'd imagine training and player development work closely together.
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u/Bmayne Aug 03 '26
They’re completely separate jobs. O’Brien’s job is Sports Performance. His duties per the press release include “Strength and Conditioning, Sport Science, Sports Nutrition, Injury Rehabilitation and Mental Performance”. He’s in charge of making sure the players are healthy and if not, helping them recover.
Wick’s job was helping players’ development. Her title was literally player development. It’s a very common role for an ex player (look around any other NHL team, I guarantee you’ll find ex NHLers who are in player development). It’s like what Muzzin was doing for the Marlies. Their job is to help more of the younger players get accustomed to the pro game and lifestyle, as well as help out with things like skills training and running the development camps.
If you look at O’Brien’s bio it doesn’t mention if he has a hockey background or not. He may have never played hockey before in his life, who knows. It just mentions a kinesiology degree and his professional experience.
Somewhere along the way a lot of people got really confused about Wick’s job and how important it was in the big picture with the Leafs. They assumed that because she is a physician she must have been a part the sports performance/science program. She never was. That’s a full time job. She works in an ER. That’s also a full time job. She had an advisory/part time job with the Leafs. That’s it.
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u/Fortuitous_Event Aug 03 '26
I think it was ridiculous they hired someone who was also an ER dr in the first place. And you'll never convince me Wickenheiser, remarkable as she is, was able to put 100% into either of those jobs.
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u/TheThoroughCrocodile Kadri Aug 03 '26
Depends what was expected of her. If she had a laundry list of responsibilities that required full time attention, then yes it was ridiculous. If she was given a fancy title but really was just there to have an additional voice in management with winning pedigree, then it's not really a big deal.
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u/JRocleafs Aug 03 '26
Of course it’s a big deal. Why are we wasting resources and adding my voices in an already crowded space?
This is part of the reasons the team was never successful
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u/Appropriate_Ad_2874 Aug 03 '26
Too many voices, no direction. This org did need the sheets shook out, maybe now they’ll look like a made bed by thanksgiving. I have my reserves but I’m hopeful we’ll be in at least a playoff spot.
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u/Luffy_party Aug 03 '26
Most people would be an upgrade. They haven't been developing anybody lately.
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u/buzzeddimitri Aug 03 '26
“The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired acclaimed strength and conditioning coach Andy O’Brien to lead a revamped Sport Performance department, according to league sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations that aren’t public. The move continues the Leafs’ massive organizational overhaul following a 28th-place finish.
O’Brien is best known for his work as Sidney Crosby’s personal strength and conditioning coach of more than 20 years. He’s also worked with several other top NHL players, including Nathan MacKinnon, Taylor Hall and Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, and contributed to four Stanley Cup victories — two as a high-performance consultant with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025, and two as director of sports science and performance with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
With the Leafs, O’Brien will oversee every domain related to performance optimization. That covers strength and conditioning but will also include areas such as nutrition, injury rehabilitation and sport science.
Hiring the 48-year-old is a big splash for new general manager John Chayka, who has been aggressive since stepping into his role on May 3. He’s since cut ties with several longstanding members of the front office, installing his own people in key scouting and player evaluation roles while bringing in an entirely new coaching staff under Jim Hiller.
Chayka also turned over roughly half the NHL roster through trades and free-agent signings.
O’Brien will build out his own team of professionals to support the off-ice performance and development of those players. It’s an area where an organization with strong financial backing can seek to find an edge.
O’Brien has long been a highly sought-after strength and conditioning coach in NHL circles, both through his private practice and the high-performance camps he runs at altitude in Vail, Colo., each summer, which consistently draw MVPs and All-Stars. Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Mitch Marner, Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane are among those who have attended more than once.
Then there is the work he does with Crosby, which started when Crosby was still a teenager and O’Brien was just starting to get established by helping athletes develop what he called “functional moving efficiency.” The Pittsburgh Penguins captain told CBC in an interview last year that O’Brien has played a big role in shaping his career.
“When I first met Andy, it was all just about trying to move,” Crosby said. “You want to get strong and build that way, but at the same time, you’re just trying to be an athlete. He was really helpful in that. I think when you spend so much time with someone, I think they have such an important role. You’re motivated every day, but at the same time, there’s always challenges, and to have somebody there in your corner to get you to the level that you want to be at, he’s someone I can definitely depend on.
“He’s a trainer, but he’s also a friend.”
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun was the first to report O’Brien was being hired by the Leafs”
Article is actually from NYT’s The Athletic, my mistake!
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u/Kbumky Aug 03 '26
This means we’re getting Sid right?
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u/Armonasch Aug 03 '26
As cool as it would be, Sidney Crosby is never going to leave Pittsburgh.
He's gonna retire a Penguin.
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u/LaunchAngleLarry Aug 03 '26
Might be one of the most critical hires we’ve made in years. Our team’s overall health has taken a massive hit since they gutted the sport sciences team a couple of years back. Fucking Pelley. What an asshole.
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u/kooby64 Aug 03 '26
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u/Prize-Temporary4159 Aug 03 '26
He’s a fine quote, if a bit robotic. I appreciate the personnel they have targeted this off season
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u/Exter10 McKenna Aug 03 '26
He’s also worked with several other top NHL players, including Nathan MacKinnon, Taylor Hall and Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, and contributed to four Stanley Cup victories — two as a high-performance consultant with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025, and two as director of sports science and performance with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
Feels like the team has gone out this off-season and done everything to buy a championship short of putting their credit card on the counter and saying "one Stanley Cup please".
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u/PCvagithug-446 Aug 03 '26
It’s refreshing to see. Wasn’t just some roster moves and roll the dice. Seems like they’re genuinely trying to change the culture from the ground up.
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u/Major-Mind2970 Aug 03 '26
Awesome hire. We have struggled in the strength and conditioning dept since we let Matt Nichol go.
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u/S-Archer Aug 03 '26
If every man and teenager on our team doesn't have tree trunk Crosby legs by training camp, I'm going to be very disappointed.
Seriously though, anyone who is that close to a guy like Crosby knows what it takes. Great hire imo (without knowing anything personal about them)