As the window “begins closing on the Core Four era of the Maple Leafs, the first person officially defenestrated” is President Brendan Shanahan, according to Lance Hornby of the TORONTO SUN. President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Keith Pelley “could not justify a new deal as Shanahan’s contract was up for renewal after a ninth straight playoff appearance did not get past the second round.” Shanahan “improved relations” with past Leafs, in particular the “self-exile” of Hockey HOFer Dave Keon. Yet regular season results, including four straight 100-point seasons, “never translated in spring” despite the presence of C Auston Matthews, RW Mitch Marner, RW William Nylander and C John Tavares (TORONTO SUN, 5/22).
BIG TASKS: SPORTSNET.ca’s Luke Fox wrote Shanahan’s 11-year run began with a “scorched-earth rebuild” in 2014. He was successful in winning the Mike Babcock sweepstakes in the summer of 2015. Shanahan was in the building when, after “strategically bottoming out,” the Maple Leafs won the 2016 draft lottery and the right to draft Matthews. He took a chance on rookie GM Kyle Dubas and was “instrumental in securing” Tavares in 2018. Shanahan also “updated the logo, unveiled Legends Row, oversaw the Leafs’ centennial celebrations, and established -- repaired, in some cases -- strong connections with the team’s alumni.” What he “did not do was deliver an on-ice product” that “reached greatness.” The sum of the team “never equalled the president’s assembled parts.” Shanahan failed to “adjust his strategy in the face of mounting evidence.” He “helped create a culture of comfort, not Cups” (SPORTSNET.ca, 5/22).
LOYAL TO A FAULT? GLOBE & MAIL’s Cathal Kelly wrote “if you’re going to reduce the last 11 years to one sentence, it’s this -- Shanahan was brought in as a change agent, and things changed.” It is helpful to “recall what the Leafs were like when he showed up -- a complete mess.” Shanahan “walked into the midst of things,” there to “provide adult supervision.” Shanahan’s “belief in continuity extended to everything.” He “couldn’t let anyone go, and when he did it was already too late.” He wrote there is a “different version of this story that ended with Shanahan as the oracle who saw greatness in a few young players and built a dynasty by hitching their wagon to his.” Instead, “the thing people will remember about him is his stubbornness” (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/22). In Toronto, Steve Simmons wrote Shanahan “gave everything to his Maple Leafs players.” He changed coaches and GMs and marginal players. Shanahan “built everything but a champion with a champion’s payroll, a champion’s budget and the largest, most equipped support staff in hockey history.” Simmons: “The organization protected the players under Shanahan and stood by as they grew more robotic over time and without personality, accepting losing far too easily, losing without putting up enough battle when it mattered most” (TORONTO SUN, 5/22).
DID TOO MUCH? In Toronto, Bruce Arthur noted when Shanahan came to Toronto, he “seemed like the right man for the impossible job.” There “was success.” The Leafs have reached the playoffs nine consecutive years, something they had not done since their last Cup in 1967. When Shanahan was hired in 2014, the Leafs had reached the playoffs once since 2004. Arthur noted the Leafs “have never been more methodical, more organizationally ambitious, and somehow, more disappointing” because Shanahan group had a “long runway, real talent, and a chance to finally, finally, do something for the tortured fans in this cursed town” (TORONTO STAR, 5/22).
ON TO THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY? In N.Y., Christian Arnold noted Shanahan’s Leafs departure further opens the door for the “respected hockey executive to potentially land a similar role” with the Islanders. The Islanders were “granted permission to speak with him” for their vacant front office positions on Wednesday after the Isles parted ways with former President and GM Lou Lamoriello earlier this offseason. The now-former Leafs President has “plenty of Islanders connections,” having a pre-existing relationship with Isles Operating Partner John Collins from their time working at the NHL. Arnold noted Thursday’s news “created a clearer path for him” to N.Y. and would “provide more clarity on the organization’s front office situation as they inch closer to the NHL draft next month” (N.Y. POST, 5/22). On Long Island, Andrew Gross noted the Islanders “were also expected to talk to him on Thursday.” From there, “it may be a quick jump” to the Islanders introducing Shanahan as their next boss. The Islanders have already held two rounds of interviews with Kings Senior Advisor Marc Bergevin and Lightning Assistant GM Mathieu Darche. Collins has been conducting the search (NEWSDAY, 5/22).
