Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan’s future with the team hangs in the balance after a second-round series loss to the Florida Panthers. The Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment board of directors will meet Thursday as part of the organization’s end-of-season review, and sources indicate that ownership is concerned about progress made this season. A key benchmark for the team was an appearance in the Eastern Conference final, which Toronto fell short of.
Shanahan has completed his 11th season with the team, but his contract expires at the end of June. Internally, the bar is set high for him to deliver a better result next season. The ownership recognizes the need for a methodical approach when evaluating Shanahan’s future and the team’s hockey operations structure.
The situation comes as internal change takes place at MLSE, with Rogers Communications Inc. acquiring a controlling 75% stake in the company. The board meeting may not result in an immediate decision on Shanahan’s future, but if the organization decides to move forward without him, it would likely be a temporary measure until a new team president is hired.
Shanahan has drawn interest from the New York Islanders, who have been granted permission to speak with him about their top hockey job. This marks the first opportunity for MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley to make his mark on the team’s management structure since taking over in April 2024.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6372760/2025/05/21/brendan-shanahan-maple-leafs-future