“I’ve heard that Gary Roberts, who’s done terrific work around the National Hockey League and major junior, ” he said during an appearance on First Up on Monday. “His development of the sports science platform, the continuation of training some of these top-level NHL stars. I mean, why wouldn’t you have a conversation with a local guy like Gary Roberts?”

Dreger didn’t specify which role the Leafs may have envisioned when speaking with Roberts, but it is safe to assume that it would involve their sports performance department. This is due to the extensive work he has done since retiring from the NHL in conditioning and nutrition to help maximize the performance of players through Gary Roberts Performance in Maple, Ontario.

Roberts’ programs have drawn acclaim from NHL superstars and junior prospects alike, focusing on biomechanics, functional movement, mobility, injury prevention, elite-level recovery, and targeted sports nutrition. He can be intense and demand excellence, but it’s because he was able to make a dramatic comeback during his playing days, after overcoming a significant neck injury and subsequent nerve damage that nearly ended his NHL career in 1996 through an intense rehab and therapy.

It’s worth noting that on the website for Gary Roberts Performance, the first thing you see is a photo of what appears to be Chris Tanev doing a workout at the facility. Roberts has spoken fondly of the veteran defenceman who is currently recovering from core muscle surgery.

“He’s what a true professional hockey player should be. The way he carries himself. He’s a true pro and warrior. He’s an old-school warrior,” Roberts said of Tanev during an appearance on The JD Bunkis Podcast on March 20, 2025. “The way he lives his life and the way he approaches his profession, his fitness and commitment in the off-season is one of the greatest I’ve seen.”

Roberts marks the latest former Leaf to be interviewed for a potential front office position after Mats Sundin went to Toronto on Friday to speak with MLSE CEO Keith Pelley. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the former captain’s role would be either an advisory role or a VP of hockey operations, though the exact title remains unclear. Bringing in two former players who are well respected among their peers and current-day athletes would certainly go a long way towards transforming the culture of the franchise after a season of turmoil.

Combine this with Friedman’s other report that the Leafs are progressing in their talks with candidates to lead the hockey operations, headlined by Mike Gillis, and it seems that the new look front office is slowly beginning to take shape.

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