The Toronto Maple Leafs are continuing to reshape their organization under new general manager John Chayka, with another longtime member of the franchise reportedly departing after years of service.
According to a report from longtime Leafs insider Steve Simmons, Toronto has parted ways with team physician Dr. Noah Forman after approximately 20 years with the organization. The move represents another significant change behind the scenes as Chayka continues to put his stamp on the franchise.
Forman’s departure is particularly notable because of the length of his tenure. Spending two decades in a medical role with an NHL organization means he worked with multiple generations of Maple Leafs players and through several different management and coaching regimes.
The report also indicates that the Maple Leafs may already have a replacement in place. Dr. David Lawrence is now listed as the club’s Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician, suggesting that Toronto has moved quickly to ensure continuity within its medical department.
The latest change comes during one of the most significant organizational resets Toronto has undergone in years. Chayka was hired as general manager after the Maple Leafs dismissed Brad Treliving on March 30, and the new GM has since made sweeping changes across the organization.
Those changes have not been limited to the medical staff. Toronto has also revamped its coaching structure and made several changes to its front office. One of the most prominent departures was assistant general manager Hayley Wickenheiser, who had spent eight seasons with the organization after initially joining the Leafs in player development.
Chayka previously described the organizational changes as part of an ongoing evaluation. While acknowledging that the decisions were difficult, the organization expressed appreciation for the contributions of those who were leaving.
The latest departure therefore appears to be part of a broader effort to establish a new structure rather than an isolated personnel decision. Still, losing someone who had been associated with the club for two decades is bound to attract attention from Maple Leafs supporters.
The timing is also significant. Toronto is entering a new era following a disappointing season in which the club missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in a decade. The organization has responded with changes both on and off the ice, including the addition of several new players and the selection of Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
With the 2026-27 season approaching, Chayka’s decisions will increasingly be judged by the team’s performance. For now, however, his message appears clear: the Maple Leafs are undergoing a substantial transformation, and even longtime members of the organization are not necessarily guaranteed a place in the new structure.
Dr. Forman’s departure adds another chapter to that transformation and gives Leafs fans yet another reason to watch closely as Chayka continues rebuilding the organization from the inside out.
