Toronto Maple Leafs: Brendan Shanahan Speaks to Media

Shanahan stated that he watched the year end press conference with Dubas which had a change in his mindset about the future for the Toronto Maple Leafs:

• Shanahan stated there was a shift in his thinking due to Dubas stating that he might not want to be the general manager;
• Shanahan understood the pressure that both Dubas and his family had; but also started thinking there was a possibility that he may need to find a new person for the job;
• Over the next few days Shanahan did not get anymore clarity on whether Dubas wanted to be back;
• Wednesday night Shanahan started the realistic thought process that the team may need a new general manager;
• Thursday Shanahan received a new financial package from the agent and did not hear until that evening from Dubas through email, at which point he stated that he did still want to be the general manager;
• At the time of the email, due to how the week had transpired, Shanahan had come to the conclusion that the team needed a new general manager;
• Shanahan slept on his new thought process and then met with Dubas on Friday morning  and informing him that he would no longer be the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager; and
• Shanahan’s next step after speaking with the media would be moving forward looking for a new general manager.

Shanahan’s comments leads the listener to believe that the mindset changed because Dubas was verbally going through his thought process and working things out.

The looming decision from Dubas is potentially life altering was struggling and you can understand a person debating about it.  However, this may have caused Shanahan not to think logically and long term for the Leafs.  As such, the Leafs may have lost one of the top young hockey minds.