Maple Leafs Give Go-Ahead for New York Islanders to Talk to Brendan Shanahan
About 11 years ago, three days following his appointment as the president of the Maple Leafs, Brendan Shanahan refrained from thrusting out his chest and issuing a daring promise.
I’m not here today to deliver grand speeches, lofty words, or major declarations,” Shanahan stated during his inaugural press conference on April 14, 2014. “All of those things are irrelevant. It all comes down to wins.
The victories never occurred in Toronto. Specifically, just 31 in the playoffs during Shanahan’s tenure.
This is stated in the past tense because not only has the New York Islanders sought permission from MLSE to speak with Shanahan regarding a front-office position, but they’ve also received approval for this request.
The agreement Shanahan signed as an extension in 2019 comes to an end by the conclusion of June.
The Islanders aren’t looking to interview Shanahan just to explore options. They believe he has what it takes to lead their hockey operations.
Concerning those 31 postseason victories with the Maple Leafs, if you’re just awakening from a ten-year nap and find that figure not surprising, consider this: achieving 16 wins during a single playoff run is necessary to secure the Stanley Cup.
The discussion between the Islanders and the Leafs ought to put an end to the speculations surrounding Shanahan’s future with the team. If the organization were truly committed to retaining him, they would not have granted permission to the Isles.
Regarding Shanahan’s rule in Toronto, the Leafs have not come close to achieving the level of success he anticipated when he took charge.
Moreover, depending on individual perspectives, there hasn’t been the level of consistency one would anticipate from someone with Shanahan’s background leading the team over 11 years. During this period, five head coaches have taken the helm, although Peter Horacheck served in an interim capacity in 2015. Additionally, there have been four different general managers.
Shanahan deserves acclaim for acknowledging the franchise’s history and enhancing its connections to the past. He should be celebrated for this.
This point is frequently raised—that since there’s no salary cap constraining MLSE’s spending in other organizational aspects, they take full advantage of this situation. Shanahan has utilized this freedom notably within the management team and hockey operations. For instance, the Maple Leafs boast five assistant general managers along with an abundance of consultants across different sectors.
A substantial development team collaborates with both the Leafs and the Toronto Marlies every day. Each athlete from the National Hockey League club as well as the American Hockey League affiliate has all they require at their disposal to maximize their potential for success.
Still, Shanahan — who likely won’t have to address this issue anymore — would have needed to clarify for the MLSE board why the Maple Leafs managed to progress beyond the first round only twice in 11 years, even with all their apparent advantages.
More to come …
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