Brendan Shanahan needs a new plan. The same goes for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs said Thursday it would not renew Shanahan’s contract as president and alternate governor after more than a decade on the job and just two post-season series victories despite an embarrassment of high-priced offensive talent.
The 56-year-old was let go following the Original Six franchise’s elimination in the second round of this spring’s playoffs by the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in an Atlantic Division matchup that included consecutive 6-1 home losses to seal Toronto’s fate.
The Leafs had plenty of regular-season success with an arsenal of stars — the so-called “Core Four” of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander — under Shanahan, but went just 2-9 in playoff series with a top-heavy salary structure.
“I want to thank the board of MLSE [Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment] for the tremendous support they have shown me over my tenure,” Shanahan said in statement released by the team. “Toronto is where I was born and raised, where my family still lives, and being a part of this historic franchise will always be one of the greatest honours of my life.
“I want to thank the entire Maple Leafs’ staff for their commitment and hard work over the years — they are second to none in the National Hockey League. I want to thank the Alumni for all of their support and the tremendous work they do at our games and within the community. Many of them were my heroes growing up and it has been a pleasure to get to know them on a personal level.
“I want to thank the fans for their passion and loyalty. Your love for the team inspired me every day,” Shanahan continued. “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. There is nothing more I wanted to deliver to our fans, and my biggest regret is that we could not finish the job.”
Toronto also lost seven straight winner-take-all contests under Shanahan, scoring a solitary goal in five straight Game 7s.
The Leafs’ title drought stretched to 58 years by the end of a tenure that spanned 11 seasons.
Shanahan also praised Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube.
“I firmly believe they … have done a great job in their time with the team. Also, I want to thank the players. They are committed and passionate about delivering a championship to this city and will do everything within their power to accomplish that goal. I wish them all the very best.”
Shanahan took over in April 2014 after being poached from the NHL offices, where he was a senior vice-president, by then-Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Tim Leiweke.
On Wednesday, multiple media outets reported the Leafs had granted the New York Islanders to speak with Shanahan about an opening in their front office.
