The New York Islanders have been granted permission by the Toronto Maple Leafs to interview Brendan Shanahan for a front-office role, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.
The 56-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer has spent the last 11 years with the Leafs, where he has served as their president and alternate governor. His contract is set to expire next month.
He was hired by Tim Leiweke, who at the time was president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. The same Tim Leiweke who currently serves as president of Oak View Group, the developers who oversaw the construction of the Islanders’ home at UBS Arena, and who own half of the arena.
Just one year into Shanahan’s role with Toronto, he helped sign Hall-of-Fame executive Lou Lamoriello as general manager—the same Lou Lamoriello who spent the last seven years with the Islanders and is expected to stay as an advisor despite New York opting not to renew his contract, which expires on March 30.
With vacancies at both the president and general manager positions, it is unclear what Shanahan’s potential role with the Islanders would be, but he would be tasked with overseeing a significant re-tool. New York has missed the playoffs in two of the last four seasons after making back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup semifinals in 2020 and 2021.
Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Marc Bergevin, Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Mathieu Darche, and former Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen have been linked to New York’s vacant front office in recent weeks.
New leadership will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the franchise. Not only can they hire a new head coach, which would remove Patrick Roy from the perch he has held for the last 16 months, but the Islanders have the No. 1 overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27.
