Brendan Shanahan is back in the NHL.<\/p>\n
After spending the past 11 years as president and alternate governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Shanahan has accepted a role with the NHL\u2019s hockey operations department.<\/p>\n
Shanahan\u2019s new role was first reported by TSN\u2019s Darren Dreger<\/a>. Details on the role have yet to be announced.<\/p>\n Before he joined the Maple Leafs, Shanahan worked in the NHL\u2019s hockey operations department, holding multiple roles, including the title of NHL senior vice president.<\/p>\n Dreger proceeded to report that he wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Shanahan pivots to work with another NHL club, should the opportunity present itself.<\/p>\n I will have more on this in Insider Trading @SportsCentre<\/a>. Brendan Shanahan is joining the NHL\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u2014 Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a> about their managerial opening. Shanahan received the request following the dismissal of Lou Lamoriello, who was the Etobicoke native\u2019s first hand-picked GM as president of the Leafs.<\/p>\n The Islanders decided not to hire Shanahan, instead giving the GM and president job to Mathieu Darche.<\/p>\n The Maple Leafs announced back on May 22 that they wouldn\u2019t be renewing Shanahan\u2019s contract, which expired at the end of June.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m confident in Brad, I\u2019m confident in Craig, I\u2019m confident in the resources that we have,\u201d Pelley told reporters<\/a> one day after the Shanahan announcement.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, actual playoff success never transpired under the \u201cShanaplan.\u201d The Leafs have made the postseason in nine straight years, but they\u2019ve only advanced past the first round on two occasions.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n You might also like:Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors change game times to avoid World Series clash<\/a>Toronto Maple Leafs coach Berube challenges top line to play better<\/a>
\n