According to multiple reports, Toronto Maple Leaf personnel are raising interest from around the NHL. Over the past few weeks, there have been speculation that team president Brendan Shanahan is on the radar of New York Islanders. This speculation was confirmed today. There is also news about Lane Lambert, who may be running for another NHL head coach.
Islanders allow conversation with Shanahan
Elliotte Friedman confirmed that Maple Leaf has allowed islanders to talk to Brendan Shanahan to play a role in their front desk. Shanahan has been joining the organization since 2014, when he was hired for major overhauls and brought the team back on track. Eleven years later, the Leafs won only three playoff series to show, and now it looks like his time in Toronto is about to end. His contract is due on June 30, and today’s news shows he won’t return.
Chris Johnston reported earlier today that Maple Leaf has already made plans if Shanahan leaves. “If the organization decides to move forward, then the team may move forward without a team chair for the foreseeable future,” he said. He wrote sports (“I heard about the future of Brendan Shanahan and Maple Leafs”, May 21, 2025). If that’s their direction, General Manager Brad Treliving will take on more responsibilities next season.
Kraken allows conversation with Lambert
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that associate coach Lane Lanbert also received permission to speak with Kraken, Seattle. Kraken is currently in the market for the new head coach and has a connection with some big guys like Rick Tocchet, but with his signing with the Philadelphia pilot – it now seems Lambert is solidly blending together.
Related: Key Points of Maple Leaf Media Availability at the End of Season
Lambert was formerly the Islanders’ head coach from 2022 to 2024, and was then replaced by Patrick Roy. He joined the Maple Leafs as an associate coach in the past offseason, hoping to help the team take a step forward. Although Leaf hasn’t reached its final goal yet, Lambert impressed and now has another shot in the head coach role. Dreger also mentioned Washington Capitals Assistant Mitch Love and Pittsburgh Penguin Assistant David Quinn are other potential candidates for Kraken’s job.
As the team showed interest in Shanahan and Lambert, while the Leafs allowed them to talk, it might be an early sign that most expectations would change a little more after Toronto’s Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers.
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