Leafs president Shanahan won't have contract renewed after team's 2nd-round playoff exit

The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 22, 2025 4:29 PM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

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.

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 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.