Jan 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson (4) passes in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild win 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Scorched Earth Approved
In late January, he took his “scorched earth plan” to the board of directors at Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment. Two weeks later, on February 12, that plan was approved. Shanahan, along with assistants Kyle Dubas and Mark Hunter, were about to blow it all up.
More from Editor In Leaf
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
- Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
- Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament
It didn’t take long to set the plan into effect. Just three days later, the Leafs’ three headed management team sent defenseman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli to the Nashville Predators. In return, the Leafs received 20-year old forward Brandon Leipsic, 36-year old forward Olli Jokinen, and the Predators’ 1st-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Less than three weeks later, they shipped Jokinen to the St. Louis Blues for what turned out to be a 6th-round pick in 2016.
They followed that up just two weeks later, sending forward Daniel Winnik to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2nd-round pick.
The Leafs fared no better after the “scorched earth” announcement winning just 7 times in their last 28 games virtually giving Shanahan and the gang no reason to change their minds. If anything, it only strengthened management’s thought that this core had to go.
If anything good became of the horrible finish to the season, it was that the Leafs managed to fall all the way to 27th overall in the standings giving them a decent shot at getting a good player what was said to be one of the deepest drafts in NHL history.
Next: Shanahan's Maple Leafs Massacre