Team president Brendan Shanahan was spared his job, but time is running out to convince his bosses with the Toronto Maple Leafs he can build a championship contender.
Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO Keith Pulley made it clear in a Friday news conference that winning popularity contests and competing for the Stanley Cup are not the same.
“In the last three to four weeks, I’ve gotten a full glimpse of the power of Leaf Nation,” Pulley said, comparing the atmosphere in Toronto’s home playoff games against the Boston Bruins to attending his first Liverpool match.
“The fans here not only deserve, but demand a championship. There’s no complacency. We’re not here to sell jerseys. We’re here to win. And we’re going to do everything we possibly can to do that.”
Shanahan fired head coach Sheldon Keefe following a seven-game playoff series defeat at the hands of the Bruins. General manager Brad Treliving, seated next to Shanahan on Friday, said he felt a coaching change was necessary as the first step in what could be a dramatic facelift this offseason.
While Treliving said there is no urgency to find a replacement on the bench, Shanahan cautioned a methodical review of all aspects of the franchise and roster was underway.
Pelley plans to be involved in decisions effective immediately.
“No decision will be made without a detailed analysis that provides us the best chance to win,” Pelley said. “We need to win, nothing else matters. I’m 1,000 percent committed to it.”
NHL goals leader Auston Matthews’ availability was an obstacle against Boston. Treliving clarified the sequence of events that led to uncertainty around when — and if — Matthews could play in the series after he left Game 3.
Treliving said Matthews became ill during Game 2. He was able to play through it in Game 3 but a hit in Game 4 became the bigger challenge. Matthews suffered a head injury and was not medically cleared until the day of Game 7.
Breaking up Matthews and the so-called “Core Four” has become a hot topic in Toronto. What once seemed unlikely became central to the discussion Friday at the news conference when Shanahan said “everything is on the table.”
Matthews and William Nylander signed contract extensions but Mitch Marner and captain John Tavares are entering the final year of their existing deals.
“I still believe there are times when patience is the suitable call,” Shanahan said. “However, when you see patterns persist and the results don’t change, you have to adjust the way you think about things.
“We will look at everything this summer, and we will consider everything this summer. All with the intention of the one thing we’re here for, which is to make the Maple Leafs better and to win.”
–Field Level Media