Brendan Shanahan out as Maple Leafs president as Islanders noise grows

The Maple Leafs have officially parted ways with team president Brendan Shanahan, further opening the door for the respected hockey executive to potentially land a similar role on Long Island in the Islanders’ front office. The decision came on Thursday after a board meeting held by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment — the parent company of the Leafs — which ultimately resulted in the organization feeling that a “new voice was required” after Shanahan had served as team president for an 11-year run. “Brendan is one of the most respected leaders in the game and he has instilled many of the traits that were the signature of his Hall of Fame career throughout the organization, uniting this storied franchise in the ‘Honour, Pride and Courage’ that it was founded on,” MLSE 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.

The franchise will be forever grateful for Brendan’s contributions and wish him and his family every success and happiness in the future.”That future very well could take Shanahan to the Islanders, who were granted permission to speak with him for their vacant front office positions on Wednesday after the Isles parted ways with former president and general manager Lou Lamoriello earlier this offseason.Shanahan’s name has popped up in connection with the role of president of hockey operations for the Islanders amid the team’s roughly monthlong search for a new general manager following an ugly 2024-25 season. The now-former Leafs president has plenty of Islanders connections, having a pre-existing relationship with Isles executive John Collins from their time working at the NHL.Shanahan was also the one to hire Lamoriello as GM in Toronto in 2015. While Shanahan would bring a wealth of experi...