Ex-Rangers Star has officially been granted permission to talk with Metropolitan Division team
Photo credit: CP/Arlyn McAdorey
It wasn't too long ago when the New York Islanders decided to part ways with GM Lou Lamoriello. Now, it appears they're poised to bring in someone to succeed him. That could be former Ranger Brendan Shanahan.
Toronto Maple Leafs director of Hockey Operations, Brendan Shanahan, is still dealing with the pangs of loss, after the team failed to eliminate the Florida Panthers in the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Now, the former Hall of Famer will have a shot at a new job on Long Island, as MLSE has given him permission to seek work elsewhere.
Shanahan played two seasons as a Ranger, and after his playing career, he has found himself as an alternate governor with the Maple Leafs since 2014.
Ironically, he hired GM Lou Lamoriello first as Maple Leafs GM in 2015, and in 2018 left to join the New York Islanders organization.
He's served as their top executive since 2014 - and hired Lamoriello as GM a year later. Lamoriello left in May 2018 to go to the Islanders after the Maple Leafs wanted to move him from GM to senior adviser.
The Maple Leafs have made nine consistent trips the playoffs but have been unable to push beyond the 1st or 2nd round in the postseason.
The team has failed to reach a conference final since 2002, and hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1967.
But the team has created plenty of punchlines under Shanahan's leadership, including the loss to a Zamboni driver.
«Make no mistake, over the course of 10 years, this has been Brendan Shanahan's team,» the former Rangers forward said. «He's the one that hired (ex-GM) Kyle Dubas. He's the one at the end of the day who changed coaches all of it fell on the watch of Brendan Shanahan. I think there was a level of respect for Brendan over his playing career, to give him an opportunity.
If Shanahan is at risk of losing his job in the MLSE organization, it's better that he has something waiting for him if it comes to that.
This would be the first time we've seen anyone in an NHL front office suffer major consequences for their failure, as the Boston Bruins seem to reward it.
Shanahan is on a long list of names that the team is interested in, as they've reportedly interviewed Jarmo Keklainen, Marc Bergevin, and Matthieu Darche.
Previously on NY Rangers Insider
| POLL | ||
MAI 21 | 890 ANSWERS Ex-Rangers Star has officially been granted permission to talk with Metropolitan Division team Will the New York Islanders hire President and Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 573 | 64.4 % |
| No | 317 | 35.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
