After another disappointing playoff exit, the Toronto Maple Leafs are making a leadership change.
The organization announced on Thursday that president and alternate governor Brendan Shanahan will not have his contract renewed after 11 seasons, according to ESPN’s Kristen Shilton. The decision ends months of speculation on his future with the team.
The Maple Leafs amassed some talented rosters during Shanahan’s tenure, but they were never able to advance past the second round of the playoffs. This year, they led 2-0 in their second-round series with the Panthers but lost four of the last five games, including blowout losses at home in Games 5 and 7.
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Toronto recorded seven straight losses in winner-take-all games with Shanahan running the team, and its Stanley Cup drought is now at 58 years.
Here’s what to know about Shanahan’s dismissal.
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Why Maple Leafs aren’t renewing Brendan Shanahan’s contract
After 11 seasons as team president and governor, Brendan Shanahan’s contract with the Maple Leafs will not be renewed. The team made the playoffs nine times in his tenure but never advanced past the second round.
Brendan Shanahan is out as Maple Leafs president, ending the Hall of Famer’s tenure after 11 years and 9 playoff appearances. https://t.co/X3rKUintb2
— ESPN (@espn) May 22, 2025
“Over the past 11 seasons, Brendan Shanahan has made countless contributions to the Toronto Maple Leafs on the ice, off the ice and in the community,” Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president/CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement. “… Our responsibility and driving motivation, however, is to add a new chapter to the Maple Leafs’ championship history, and it was determined that a new voice was required to take the team to the next level in the years ahead.”
While bowing out to the Panthers didn’t help his case, Shanahan’s dismissal appeared to be on the horizon. Prior to Thursday’s announcement, the Maple Leafs had granted permission to the New York Islanders to speak with Shanahan about a position in their front office.
Maple Leafs record with Brendan Shanahan
During Shanahan’s tenure, the Maple Leafs had a 467-300-97 regular-season record and a 31-27-12 postseason record. There were four coaches, four GMs and three MLSE CEOs in 11 seasons.
Shanahan is a native of Toronto and joined a rebuilding Maple Leafs team in 2014. He was able to draft center Auston Matthews with the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, which reignited the franchise and helped it become playoff-caliber. However, regular season success never translated to the postseason.
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