Brendan Shanahan is back in the NHL.

After spending the past 11 years as president and alternate governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Shanahan has accepted a role with the NHL’s hockey operations department.

Shanahan’s new role was first reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger. Details on the role have yet to be announced.

Before he joined the Maple Leafs, Shanahan worked in the NHL’s hockey operations department, holding multiple roles, including the title of NHL senior vice president.

Dreger proceeded to report that he wouldn’t be surprised if Shanahan pivots to work with another NHL club, should the opportunity present itself.

I will have more on this in Insider Trading @SportsCentre. Brendan Shanahan is joining the NHL’s Hockey Operations department. I would expect Shanahan would be a leading candidate if a team makes a significant change and an opportunity presents to lead another NHL club.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 23, 2025

Right before news broke about Shanahan not returning to the Leafs, a report surfaced that the team had given the 56-year-old permission to speak with the New York Islanders about their managerial opening. Shanahan received the request following the dismissal of Lou Lamoriello, who was the Etobicoke native’s first hand-picked GM as president of the Leafs.

The Islanders decided not to hire Shanahan, instead giving the GM and president job to Mathieu Darche.

The Maple Leafs announced back on May 22 that they wouldn’t be renewing Shanahan’s contract, which expired at the end of June.

No replacement was named. Instead, MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley said that he would work more closely with Leafs general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube.

“I’m confident in Brad, I’m confident in Craig, I’m confident in the resources that we have,” Pelley told reporters one day after the Shanahan announcement.

Shanahan was first hired by the Leafs in 2014. Within three seasons, he helped the franchise go from the bottom of the standings to a perennial playoff contender, with an exciting young core of players.

However, actual playoff success never transpired under the “Shanaplan.” The Leafs have made the postseason in nine straight years, but they’ve only advanced past the first round on two occasions.

The closest they ever got was last year, when they lost to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 on May 18, four days before Shanahan was let go.

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