The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the departure of team president Brendan Shanahan after another disappointing playoff exit. This decision comes in the wake of the team’s mix of regular-season success and playoff struggles, culminating in a statement from MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley, who emphasized the need for “a new voice” to lead the franchise in its quest for success.
Pelley is expected to address the media at Scotiabank Arena at 1 p.m. on Friday, where he will discuss Shanahan's departure and outline the team's future direction. Meanwhile, general manager Brad Treliving will retain his position within the organization, indicating a potential continuation of the current management structure moving forward.
Brendan Shanahan, who served as team president for 11 seasons, took office in April 2014 after being hired by then-MLSE chief Tim Leiweke. After a year, Shanahan undertook a significant overhaul of the team, stripping the roster down to build a competitive squad. Under his leadership, the Maple Leafs assembled a formidable lineup featuring their so-called "Core Four": Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander. Despite securing playoff berths in multiple seasons, the team struggled in the postseason, with a record of merely 2-9 in playoff series during Shanahan's tenure.
Shanahan was instrumental in bringing in head coach Mike Babcock in 2015, which helped the Leafs bottom out for a chance to select Matthews first overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. Later, he hired Lou Lamoriello as general manager before transitioning to Kyle Dubas, who had been his original choice as Babcock’s successor. Shanahan’s ambitious plan, often referred to as the “Shanaplan,” was designed to resurrect a franchise that had long suffered from mismanagement. During this period, the franchise finally managed to break a nearly two-decade playoff drought by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023, marking their first series win since 2004, although they were soon eliminated by the Florida Panthers.
This past season proved challenging yet again, as the Leafs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Bruins in a seven-game series. Following this loss, Shanahan dismissed Dubas, which stemmed from a peculiar power struggle within the organization. Shanahan then appointed Treliving as the team's third full-time general manager. Although the team had a strong showing, finishing third in the Atlantic division and securing over 100 points for the fifth consecutive season, their playoff performances continued to disappoint.
After enduring five seasons as head coach, Sheldon Keefe was also fired, leading to the appointment of Craig Berube, who won the Stanley Cup in 2019 while coaching the St. Louis Blues. Under Berube’s leadership, the Leafs continued to perform well during the regular season, achieving another 100-point campaign and securing their first division title in an 82-game season since 1999-00.
The Leafs entered the 2025 playoffs with renewed hope, managing to defeat the Ottawa Senators in the first round and winning the first two games of their second-round series against Florida. Yet, they squandered a 3-1 series lead, ultimately losing three consecutive games, including an alarming 6-1 defeat in Game 5. The team managed to stave off elimination with a hard-fought 2-0 win to force a Game 7 at home; however, their playoff struggles manifested once again as they succumbed to a disheartening 6-1 defeat at Scotiabank Arena, prompting disappointment and frustration among the fan base.
In his farewell statement, Shanahan expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Maple Leafs and acknowledged the unwavering support of the fans throughout his tenure. Reflecting on his time with the organization, he remarked, “While I am proud of the rebuild we embarked on starting in 2014, ultimately, I came here to help win the Stanley Cup, and we did not.” Shanahan admitted that his biggest regret was failing to deliver a championship to the loyal fanbase.
As the Maple Leafs move forward, they have already allowed the New York Islanders permission to interview Shanahan for a front office position, marking the beginning of a new chapter for both Shanahan and the Maple Leafs organization.
