Maple Leafs Fans Buzzing After First Big Move of Offseason
On Sunday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs fell 6-1 in Game 7 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Florida Panthers, marking another postseason disappointment for a franchise that hasn't won a Cup since 1967.
There was a sense this year might be different after Toronto won the Atlantic Division and reached the second round for just the second time since 2002.
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But that hope didn't last long, and now the offseason brings more questions than answers for a core that's had more than enough chances to get it done.
Of the so-called "Core Four" — Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares — Marner and Tavares are set to hit free agency this offseason. It feels like the perfect moment for a shakeup, and on Thursday, change officially began, starting in the front office.
Toronto Maple Leafs former team president Brendan Shanahan, GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Breube.© Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment announced that the "contract for team President & Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan would not be renewed this off-season."
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Shanahan has been the team president since 2014 and has played a key role in the Leafs making the playoffs for nine straight seasons.
Immediately following the news, Maple Leafs fans shared their reactions on social media.
"Should have been gone 5 years ago," one fan wrote.
"WE ARE FREE!!!!!!," another wrote.
"Biggest W since 1967," another wrote.
"OMG FINALLYYYYY," a fan wrote.
"HALLELUJAH. WOOOOOOO," another wrote.
"HANK GOODNESS! this is just step one," added a fan.
Shanahan himself released a statement, sharing his gratitude.
Following a meeting today, I was informed that I was no longer going to remain as President and Alternate Governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I want to thank the Board of MLSE for the tremendous support they have shown me over my tenure.
Toronto is where I was born and raised, where my family still lives, and being a part of this historic franchise will always be one of the greatest honours of my life. I want to thank the entire Maple Leafs' staff for their commitment and hard work over the years - they are second to none in the National Hockey League. I want to thank the Alumni for all of their support and the tremendous work they do at our games and within the community. Many of them were my heroes growing up and it has been a pleasure to get to know them on a personal level. I want to thank the fans for their passion and loyalty. Your love for the team inspired me every day. While I am proud of the rebuild we embarked on starting in 2014, ultimately, I came here to help win the Stanley Cup, and we did not. There is nothing more I wanted to deliver to our fans, and my biggest regret is that we could not finish the job.
I greatly enjoyed working with Brad and Craig, and I firmly believe they are excellent in their roles and have done a great job in their time with the team. Also, I want to thank the players, they are committed and passionate about delivering a championship to this city and will do everything within their power to accomplish that goal. I wish them all the very best.
Thank you,
Brendan
Related: Justin Bieber Sends Two-Word Message to Auston Matthews After Maple Leafs' Game 7 Loss
Related: Mitch Marner Linked to Stanley Cup Contender Ahead of Free Agency
Maple Leafs Fans Buzzing After First Big Move of Offseason first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
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