The Toronto Maple Leafs are maintaining Brendan Shanahan on board for the long-term. The Maple Leaf’s President and Alternate Governor was signed to a six-year contract extension that lasts by means of the 2024-25 season and can work to proceed rising the crew as he has since becoming a member of them in 2014.
Brendan Shanahan. (Joshua Riehl/The Russian 5)
Larry Tanenbaum, the Chairman of the Board for MLSE, launched the next assertion on Shanahan’s extension:
On behalf of the MLSE Board of Administrators, and positively our firm and followers as nicely, we’re very happy to see Brendan proceed in his function as President of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brendan’s constructive affect on this crew has not solely been felt on the ice, the place the crew is on a formidable path, however all through the league, with the Leafs alumni, and locally. We look ahead to continued success for the Maple Leafs beneath Brendan’s management over the following six years.
In an analogous message, Michael Friisdahl, the President and CEO of MLSE additionally made a press release on the extension:
One of many issues we’re most happy with at MLSE is our crew leaders’ affect on every of our crew’s successes and our firm’s tradition, and Brendan is an ideal instance of that. He brings a championship angle to the crew and the whole group.
With Shanahan on board, the Maple Leafs have transitioned from a crew that missed the playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons between 2005-06 and 2015-16 into top-of-the-line groups within the NHL, qualifying for the playoffs in every of the final three seasons. Whereas the Maple Leafs have constantly confirmed that they’re among the many NHL’s finest in every of the final three common seasons, they’d lose within the first-round every season, failing to construct on their success.
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Regardless of this, Shanahan has no need of leaving the Maple Leafs and plans on persevering with what he began in Toronto. He would make that clear when initially discussing this new deal.
“When MLSE approached me a number of months in the past to debate an extension, I informed them this might be fairly easy as I’ve had no need to go away what we’ve began right here with the Maple Leafs,” mentioned Shanahan. “I’m grateful to the Board of Administrators, our coaches, trainers, administration and workplace employees, and particularly our gamers for the professionalism and dedication they show on daily basis.”
Shanahan would additionally ensure to thank the followers of the Maple Leafs.
“I’d additionally wish to thank our extremely loyal fanbase. The belief and keenness they’ve proven is really inspiring and drives us to by no means give up till we attain our final aim.”
Maple Leafs Have Fascinating Offseason Forward
The Maple Leafs could have an fascinating offseason with contract negotiations for Mitch Marner on the forefront of the crew’s plans. The Maple Leafs will even need to account for brand spanking new offers to Auston Matthews ($11.634 million per season as of 2019-20, William Nylander ($6.962 million per season) and John Tavares ($11 million per season).
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 11: Toronto Maple Leafs proper wing Mitchell Marner (16) reacts to his penalty shot aim throughout Recreation 1 of the First Spherical between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 2019, at TD Backyard in Boston, Massachusetts. (Picture by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos)
Past Marner, the Maple Leafs will even need to make selections on restricted free brokers Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson in addition to unrestricted free agent defender Jake Gardiner.
It received’t be a straightforward offseason to navigate as Shanahan and Kyle Dubas method probably the most tough offseason they’ve needed to take care of throughout their time in Toronto.
