2024-25 Is the Last Stand for the Toronto Maple Leafs "Shanaplan"
Brendan Shanahan and the Shanaplan are facing their last stand this upcoming season unless the Toronto Maple Leafs finally break through in the postseason.
When Brendan Shanahan was introduced as the Toronto Maple Leafs president in 2014, a glimmer of hope emerged on the horizon.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had finished the 2013-14 campaign with a 38-36-8 mark, which was good for 6th in Atlantic Division.
That season was part of a stretch of disappointing campaigns that underscored the club's lack of direction for the club. But when Shanahan took over, the so-called “Shanaplan” gave the club direction. The plan was simple but yielded hope.
The first part was the complete teardown of the club’s poor construction. Then came the tanking. That was the infamous 2015-2016 season in which the Leafs nabbed the first-overall pick. In hindsight, it was a miracle the Toronto Maple Leafs got that first-overall selection.
From there, the Shanaplan bore fruit. An unexpected playoff appearance in Auston Matthews’ first season encouraged Leafs Nation. But as regular-season success became more and more common, the lack of playoff success has made Leafs Nation increasingly uneasy.
So, as the Shanaplan enters its 11th season, the lack of playoff wins has pushed it to the brink of extinction.
Why This Upcoming Season Is the Last Stand for the Shanaplan
While the Shanaplan called for “pain” early on, it promised success in the long haul. Yes, there have been some very good regular seasons. But none have yielded the expected results in the postseason. So, this situation begs the question: Why is this season the last stand for the Shanaplan?
The short answer is simple: If the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t make a deep postseason run then Shanahan and his team will most likely go.
However, a broader answer is more complex as it involves more moving parts. First of all, the Leafs are wasting precious productive years for Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner. As such, the Leafs need to win now.
Sooner rather than later, the Leafs will need to win. Otherwise, an even more painful rebuild will follow.
Also, the Leafs are a business. Like any other business, the Leafs depend on their fanbase. While there is no question the Leafs fanbase is loyal, winning is extremely profitable.
If the Leafs fail to get past the first round this year again, fans may turn their backs on the team. That prospect does not bode well when the club has a highly marketable superstar like Matthews.
Lastly, another first-round exit will prove, once and for all, that the Core Four was a bad idea from the start. At that point, the axe will fall on Shanahan as the Core Four idea happened on his watch.
Personally, I want to see the Shanaplan finally work. I want to think that the Leafs are on the path Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals were on when they won the Cup in 2018.
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Unfortunately, I’m less than optimistic. I know that plenty of Leafs fans out there feel the same way. Unless we see the Cup land in Toronto, next offseason would arguably be the Leafs most difficult one in team history.