The Toronto Raptors will have a different look in their executive office than the Toronto Maple Leafs after parting ways with team president Masai Ujiri on Friday.
MLSE president Keith Pelley, whose organization owns both teams, said the Raptors will hire a new team president at a news conference following the Ujiri announcement.
The Maple Leafs are not planning to hire a president after the team cut ties with Brendan Shanahan following the team’s playoff run. General manager Brad Treliving is now the lead executive for the NHL club.
“With the evolution of where the Raptors are in the middle of a rebuild, we felt we needed to bring in a president. As a result, we will start that search immediately,” Pelley said.
“Obviously whoever comes into that position has massive shoes to fill. It will need to be a prominent successful business leader.”
Raptors general manager Bobby Webster, whose contract was extended Friday, will be interviewed for the president’s role, Pelley said.
The Raptors have missed the playoffs the past three years. The Leafs lost in Game 7 of the second round this year against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
Ujiri turned around the Raptors after being hired in 2013, leading the team to an NBA title in 2019.
Pelley said he started having discussions with Ujiri, who had one year left on his contract, over the past two to three months. He said a decision was made to go in a different direction earlier this month.
Ujiri asked for any change to be made after the NBA Draft, which was completed Thursday. Pelley agreed, and the move was announced Friday.
“Today is not an easy day, but change is never easy,” Pelley said. “Masai Ujiri has had a monumental impact on the Raptors and our community … His legacy will be indelibly etched in our city in perpetuity.”
Pelley was asked why the change was made this year.
“Thirteen seasons is an extremely long time in a sports leadership role. Change is inevitable,” Pelley said. “What we really thought is with current status of team and the foundation Masai has built, this was the time to make the change.”
