Any way you slice it, the clock is ticking on Brendan Shanahan’s tenure as president and alternate governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It’s now or never.
Needless to say, MLSE parting ways with Bill Manning, who was the president of both Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts, on Thursday caught the attention of Leafs Nation.
The clock ticks on Brendan Shanahan.. https://t.co/vmoVt7UH44
— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) July 11, 2024
The reasoning behind the move, which sort of came out of nowhere, was that a “new direction” was required. Well, considering the Leafs have won one measly playoff series in 10 years under Shanahan, it’s fair to question how the board truly feels about the status of its most prized franchise. Remember when Keith Pelley famously quipped, “we’re not here to sell jerseys” when addressing the media after the season? Yeah, well, if that’s the case, it’s time for the MLSE CEO to put his money where his mouth is.
Regardless of perspective or opinion, Shanahan’s job will definitively be on the line in 2024-25. If the Leafs don’t make it deep – and even if they do – it could be curtains for the Mimico native. Furthermore, although the Leafs have been very mum on his contractual status, it sounds like he has one year left on his deal, so a hand will be forced —either way.
For all intents and purposes, effectively, the Hall of Famer is choosing to live and die by the Core Four —with the latter the likeliest scenario to play out. Following yet another first round exit and preaching that everything will be on the table this summer in the end-of-season presser, it appears that Toronto’s committed to running it back. Yet Again.
Before you play the blame game, be careful who you point the finger at.
Indisputably, yes, it’s the definition of insanity, but for anyone who’s documented Shanahan’s every move on the job, it’s the least bit surprising. From the onset, he’s been adamant on keeping things to same, and it would be foolish to suggest he’s ever really been serious about doing the contrary. Hell, all things being equal, that’s a big reason why Kyle Dubas is now in Pittsburgh. The much-maligned former general manager was ready to be bold, and at the end of the day, there was minimal interest at the top to deviate from what hasn’t worked for years now.
Believe it or not, even Dubas, who was strong-willed in his own ways, realized it was time for change. To this point, obviously Shanahan’s stubbornness has persisted. After all, it’s important to stress that he has the final say. It’s always been that way. Yes, the power struggle was real.
And so, we shall see how everything plays out. The proof will be in the pudding. Either the Leafs will finally pull through under Craig Berube, or we’ll see MLSE ‘part ways’ with another top-end executive.
