The possible hiring of Hall of Famer and NHL Department of Player Safety head Brendan Shanahan by the Toronto Maple Leafs should not be perceived as undermining the authority of GM Dave Nonis, but MLSE Chairman Tim Leiweke following his plan to add an additional management level between ownership and the GM.
According to Toronto Sun columnist Steve Simmons, Leiweke made his intention to hire a Team President clear to Nonis last July, before he signed a five-year contract extension. Rumors percolated during the season of Wayne Gretzky having interest in filling that position, which were quickly squelched by the Hall of Famer.
The hiring of a Team President or President of Hockey Operations would have likely occurred if the Leafs season had been perceived successful or not, but it could be misconstrued as discontent by Leiweke and ownership in the wake of Toronto’s dramatic decline from being playoff-bound to being mathematically eliminated in the span of three weeks.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, who broke the story of Leiweke’s interest in adding the 45-year-old Mimico, ON native to the Leafs management structure, indicated Wednesday morning that Shanahan wants to move on from his position with the NHL and has interest in joining his hometown team, after spurning interest from the Calgary Flames earlier in the season.
“It’s the only job he(Shanahan) wants.… Kypreos said on FAN 590’s Brady and Walker show.
A decision by Shanahan is not imminent, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger, but could get done in quick fashion based on the mutual interest of both sides. Any announcement would likely occur in the week following the completion of the regular season, when the addition of Shanahan could be sold to the Leafs discontented fan base as MLSE being proactive in improving the organization after missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons.
It also would buy time for Nonis and Leiweke to do have exit interviews with the players and coaching staff and decide on whether to retain or dismiss head coach Randy Carlyle, as well as formulating a strategy for the NHL Draft and free agency .
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The Maple Leafs announced the signing of prospect forward Ryan Rupert to a three-year entry level contract on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Rupert was selected 157th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and has 21 goals, 52 assists and 54 PIM’s in 68 games for the OHL’s London Knights in 2013-14 and has been a part of back-to-back OHL Championship in London the last two seasons.
Toronto was in a slightly vulnerable position regarding Rupert, as he would have re-entered the NHL Draft this June had he not agreed to an entry level deal. The Leafs have 2012 top pick Morgan Rielly under contract, as well as second rounder Matt Finn and OHL scoring leader Connor Brown.
The rights to fifth round pick Dominic Toninato and seventh rounder Viktor Loov remain with the Leafs in spite of not being signed. Toninato is in his first year at Minnesota-Duluth and does not have to be signed until he leaves college or completes his four year NCAA stint. Loov is playing his first season for Modo in the Swedish Hockey League.
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Toronto completes the Florida leg of their final road trip of the season against the Panthers in Sunrise, FL on Thursday.
The club did not participate in a morning skate at the BB&T Center, but it is expected that center Dave Bolland will not play due to pain in his surgically repaired ankle. Defensemen Cody Franson and Paul Ranger will both sit with undisclosed injuries and the Leafs have emergency recalled blueliner Petter Granberg from the AHL Toronto Marlies.
30-year-old Drew MacIntyre may get his first career NHL start in goal for Toronto. MacIntyre has made five NHL appearances with Vancouver, Buffalo and the Leafs in his 11 year professional career.
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