Brendan Shanahan Reportedly in Line for New Role With Another NHL Team

Shanahan, who's contract ends at the conclusion of this season, is set to face his bosses at Major League Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) later today, with it looking very possible that Shanahan may not have his contract renewed as the Leafs President.

Recent reports have linked Shanahan for a potential job with the New York Islanders, with the Islanders having been granted permission to interview Shanahan, a move rare for a team planning to keep their executive.

TSN's Bruce Garrioch says that the Islanders want Shanahan for both the position of General Manager and President of Hockey Operations.

The two roles were previously held by Lou Lamiorello, formerly the Leafs GM from 2015-18 under Shanahan. Lamiorello did not have his contract renewed by the Islanders.

The past few days have done little to imply that it's the end of Brendan Shanahan's tenure in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Reports from NHL insiders have suggested the Islanders pursuit of Shanahan, the Leafs allowance, is a sign the two sides are headed towards an exit.

Shanahan's Leafs have had strong regular season success, but have failed to progress past the second round of the NHL playoffs in his tenure.

Once again, the Leafs failed to progress forward after losing in seven games in the second round against the Florida Panthers, in which Toronto got handicapped by the loss of starting netminder Anthony Stolarz in Game 1 of the series due to injury.

The Leafs are also in the midst of a potential cultural shift as two members of the core-four, Mitch Marner & John Tavares, face upcoming free agency with no guaranteed certainty either will be back.

The Islanders did not make the playoffs this season, but gained a major reward in moving up to gain the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Brendan Shanahan in charge of the New York Islanders could be at the helm of a potential rebuild led by whoever the team chooses to take with the top pick.

The Islanders have been rebuilding what was once one of the weakest prospect pools in the NHL by drafting Cole Eiserman, arguably the top pure goalscorer in last year's NHL draft, and acquiring prospect Calum Ritchie from the Colorado Avalanche for longtime Islander Brock Nelson.

The Islanders have also been rumored to potentially part with another longtime player in defenseman Noah Dobson, who has throughout the season been in trade rumors, and is a pending RFA.

The Islanders are very evidently building a new identity, and it could coincide with a new look Toronto Maple Leafs that may lead to Shanahan joining a new franchise to bring his vision to fruition.