REPORT: Isles Granted Permission to Speak with Shanahan

The most obvious fit for the next President of Hockey Operations could suddenly be very available. Brendan Shanahan’s Toronto Maple Leafs fell flat once again. With his contract expiring and an MLSE (Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment) board meeting to draw up his potential termination tomorrow, the New York Islanders requested permission to speak with Shanahan about their current vacancy for President of Hockey Operations.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet confirms the Islanders have now been granted that permission.

Shanahan’s run the Maple Leafs since 2014. He built their core and hockey department, mended broken relationships with alumni, and turned the franchise around. Ultimately, he clung to the core of his team far too long, leading to habitual failure in the Spring.

Shanahan hired Lou Lamoriello as his first General Manager in Toronto. Shanahan also played for Lamoriello’s Devils at the end of his career. Half of the Islanders’ current coaching staff coached that Devils team. More than half of the current Islanders Hockey Ops department worked for or around both Shanahan and Lamoriello.

Shanahan’s fit and familiarity with this staff are too good to pass up. Yes, the Islanders are moving away from Lamoriello. That said, a transition becomes significantly easier when someone knows the people involved.

How This Affects the GM Search:

The search for a new general manager continues regardless of this. As of today, Marc Bergevin remains the favorite and expected hire. Mathieu Darche is firmly in the mix.

The organization strongly likes both candidates, so much so that the idea of a dual-GM role came up on Elliotte Friedman’s podcast this morning.

The Islanders made it clear with their actions from day one, experience is paramount. That’s why Bergevin is the organization’s current top choice. It’s known that Shanahan interviewed Bergevin for the Toronto Maple Leafs GM vacancy in 2023, and it went well. Ultimately, Shanahan chose Brad Treliving.

Now with the Islanders, Bergevin is the leader in the clubhouse. Perhaps Shanahan’s potential arrival would make the Islanders stomach a new GM like Darche better, but as of right now, Bergevin remains the expected hire at GM.