How the Maple Leafs’ Shana Plan Derailed – The Hockey Writers Toronto Maple Leafs Latest News, Analysis and More

For years, fans in Toronto rolled their eyes at the idea of ​​a grand “Shana Plan.” It became a punch line whenever the Toronto maple leaves stumbled in the first round or stayed quiet at the trade deadline. But given the Olympic pause and the team’s dire situation, I thought it should be time to sit back and look at the history — the hires, the drafts, the trades, the lingering commitments — and see if a pattern emerges.

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I believe there was a philosophy and a pattern, not just chaos. However, it was a long game that tested patience and ultimately brought about its downfall. That said, it made sense for a while. Why it didn’t produce the desired results is a question for another article, but for now I want to look at what I think made the Shana Plan a coherent and workable philosophy.

Step one: Shanahan wanted a clear organizational identity

When Brendan Shanahan was hired as president, he wasn’t chasing shiny objects. He spoke about culture, identity and sustainability. The plan was to build a fast, skilled, modern team – not a powerhouse, not a quick rebuild that burned out in two years.

Therefore, sticking with Auston Matthews, staying true to William Nylander, and making Morgan Rielly the starter were not arbitrary; they were part of a coherent blueprint. Every draft pick-and-trade was intended to strengthen that identity, not disrupt it.

Step Two: Shanahan believed in evaluating players beyond the box score

Shanahan’s front office looked beyond points. Leadership, character, durability, contract terms – even how a player handled the spotlight in Toronto – all played a role in the decisions. Some of the moves seemed small at the time, but made sense in retrospect.

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Take Jason Spezza: a cheap acquisition who ultimately contributed much more than expected for three seasons, both on the ice and in the locker room. Joe Thornton brought a season of calm creativity to match the team’s skilled style. Nick Foligno, although immediately sidelined by injury, was intended to be a stabilizing presence, and his subsequent success with the Chicago Blackhawks working with Connor Bedard shows that the idea was worth it – just unfortunate timing.

The Maple Leafs built around a skilled core of smart, steady players; every draft pick, signing and trade reinforced the identity instead of changing it. It worked for a while.

Step three: patience as a weapon – until then Went sideways

Patience was Shanahan’s secret sauce. Contracts were carefully negotiated, prospects developed at their own pace, and trade bans were respected. The team rarely panicked after a slump; the timing was deliberate and not reactive.

But patience only works if everyone participates. After years of early playoff runs despite consistent regular-season success, doubt seeped in – from ownership, the front office and even the fans. What had once been a disciplined blueprint became more difficult to defend, and pressure increased to take steps inconsistent with the original vision.

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The first sideways The move came when general manager Kyle Dubas was fired. His replacement, Brad Treliving, brought with him a new philosophy: bigger, more physical, a return to the old-fashioned “hockey DNA.” It wasn’t an adjustment, it was a pivot. Players drafted for speed and skill were suddenly asked to grind. The team slowed down, its identity faded, and years of carefully layered planning began to unravel.

The next lateral move was firing the head coach Sheldon Keefe. Continuity of coaching had been part of the plan – systems, style and pace were important – but impatience forced a change. New head coach Craig Berube’s approach worked for a season, but coupled with the new Maple Leafs DNA, the results were uneven.

Meanwhile, players drafted to fit the original Shanahan mold – Fraser Minten, Alex Steeves, Pontus Holmberg – were traded or allowed to leave. The speed, skill and character that had defined the squad gradually faded, leaving a team that was still talented but lacked the clear identity that had once guided its every move.

The bottom line for the Shanaplan and the Maple Leafs

The Shana Plan never really failed. It was abandoned. Patience, timing and coherence – the pillars that built a fast, capable identity – were turned upside down. The Maple Leafs aren’t doomed, but the lesson is clear: A blueprint only works if people stick to it. Stray too far and even a plan that once made sense can leave the team slower, more confused, and searching for the direction it once had.

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The future of the Maple Leafs depends on whether they can rediscover that identity or continue to pursue philosophies that contradict the foundation Shanahan spent years building. Regardless, the echoes of the Shana Plan still resonate – even if the map seems lost.