General manager Brad Treliving is now fully in charge of the Maple Leafs.
That’s a key takeaway Friday after Keith Pelley, the chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, met the media to explain why聽Brendan Shanahan‘s contract as Leafs president was not renewed after 11 seasons with the team.
鈥淢y plan right now is not to replace Brendan, and Brad will be our GM,鈥 said Pelley. 鈥淲hether he takes on a larger role is something that will be determined down the road.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley doesn't plan on hiring someone to replace Brendan Shanahan after it was announced the Hockey Hall of Famer's contract won't be renewed. Pelley said he has the utmost confidence in general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube, adding the team has all the resources it needs to win championships. (May 23, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
鈥淚 have聽incredible confidence in Brad. We made some strides in Brad’s second season. We certainly made some strides under Chief (coach Craig Berube).鈥
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Pelley said he’d meet with Treliving on Sunday. The Leafs general manager was in Calgary for his daughter’s graduation.
Pelley also said he’d leave the hockey decisions for the hockey department, and that he would be a 鈥渟ounding board鈥 but more focused on the business side, including the culture of the organization and its relationship with fans.
He also said he聽would 鈥渆valuate all facets of the organization in terms of how we utilize resources. We have all the resources here to be a championship team. But it’s using the resources in the right way, and how we structure the utilization of resources could make the difference.鈥
As for parting ways with Shanahan on Thursday, Pelley said it was a difficult day.
鈥淏rendan Shanahan is an integral part of Leafs history,” he said. “He accomplished so many incredible things. And I really, thoroughly enjoyed working with Brendan over the last year. He’s a quality individual. He’s a legend in the hockey world. And as I said to him yesterday, wherever he goes, I know he will be successful and I wish him and his family the very best.鈥
Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow
him on Bluesky聽@kevinmcgran
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