Apr 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan talks to the press during a press conference at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Shanny Goes Silent
Shanahan continued with his relatively quiet demeanor right into the 2014-15 season as he watched his team get off to a quick start. The club was rolling, even getting within a few points of the division-leading Montreal Canadiens and firmly entrenched in a playoff spot through the first six weeks of the season.
Still, the team’s efforts were inconsistent and sometimes even seemed non-existent. The Leafs were truly the “Jekyll and Hyde” of the National Hockey League but Shanahan said nothing. He continued to watched the group and it’s core choosing to save his words for the proper time.
More from Editorials
- Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: A Psychic Predicts Matthews Goal Total in 2023-24
- Toronto Maple Leafs New Assistant Coaches Could Provide Spark
- Assessing the Toronto Maple Leafs Leadership in 2023-24
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The Team to Look Out For in the West
In mid-November he watched his 9-6-2 Leafs go into Buffalo and get pasted 6-2 by the lowly Sabres. They followed that up by getting blown out 9-2 on home ice by the Nashville Predators. The fans were not happy and responded to the team’s performance with a loud chorus of boos. Some even went as far as throwing their jerseys onto the ice in disgust. Shanahan was beginning to suspect that the team was lacking leadership.
His suspicions were confirmed in an incident that would go down in history as the infamous “Salutegate!” That night he watched as his team, victorious over the eventual Stanley Cup finalist Tampa Bay Lightning, abandon their traditional salute to the fans in which they raise their sticks to the sky in appreciation.
This decision was seemingly a response to the way the fans had shown their disapproval following the embarassing loss against the Predators. Worse than that, it was quite evident that the decision to ignore the fans was made by the two highest paid players on his roster; team captain Dion Phaneuf and all-star winger Phil Kessel.
I believe that it was on that particular night that the new prez made his decision. Changes were needed and he was going to make them. With that being said, Shanahan never said anything but he continued to watch.
Next: Shanny Breaks His Silence