The Maple Leafs parted ways with Shanahan on May 23, and this isn’t about filing a case that was the wrong decision, but Keith Pelley’s decision to keep the position vacant was.
The move of Mitch Marner and how to replace him was a major decision where Brad Treliving could have used a sounding board. Not having anyone justify why Dakota Joshua, Matias Maccelli, and Nicolas Roy would all have rebound seasons could be part of the reason why the Leafs are in this current predicament.
The lack of a vision for Brad Treliving to adhere to has resulted in a number of short-sighted decisions. Considering that Brad Treliving has gone from highly experienced Calgary bosses like Brian Burke and Murray Edwards to a new CEO trying to learn the ropes of a new organization that includes three other franchises and an overall entertainment brand to manage, Brad Treliving is on his own and limited by the time and knowledge that Keith Pelley can bring to the table.
For the 2025-2026 season, the Maple Leafs will likely take into account what they have and whether it’s Treliving or someone else, that GM is likely flying solo when it comes to what comes next. The determination there is that the Leafs will be less likely to be involved in actions that require a commitment about the direction of the franchise beyond this season.
By summer, a POHO seems like an absolute, even if it is a dual role between POHO and GM. The statement that the incumbent role has been identified by MLSE as someone they believe has the ability to set direction and execute it is slightly better than a GM reporting directly to the CEO. (Don’t get me wrong: having two separate executives seems like the way to go.)
NHL veterans like David Poile, Doug Wilson, Dean Lombardi, etc. are all examples of experienced hockey managers who have something they can bring to that role, as are potentially some GMs who had a vision but were decidedly less successful in executing their role (Kevyn Adams, Joe Nieuwendyk, Ron Francis, etc.). The Maple Leafs have no shortage of options, and the deep pockets of MLSE, the prestige of the Maple Leafs brand and the opportunity to have Auston Matthews as the cornerstone of the franchise should attract the best of the best to the opportunity.
If MLSE has not yet begun the search for Shanahan’s replacement, this should be the priority. It is likely that they will want to have someone in place by the end of the season as they may already have to make some big decisions, not only in terms of the roster, but also in the Hockey Operations department. It seems like committing to a management and coaching staff prior to hiring a president would leave them concerned about what the most impactful part of their role should be and the Maple Leafs need to do things right and quickly.
#Maple #Leafs #President #Hockey #Operations