Before embarking on a new season, some old business to clear up, via Brendan Shanahan.
The deposed president of the Maple Leafs didn’t think his “Shanaplan” was the expensive failure that two playoff series wins in nine years might indicate, reminding Prime Video’s Faceoff: Inside the NHL series that he left the Bay Street house a lot more stable than he found it in 2014.
“I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to finish the job, but I think we’ve rebuilt the Leafs,” he said in a piece shot soon after his spring firing. “Sure, you’re going to have decisions that you’d like to have back (Mike Babcock? Kyle Dubas? Mitch Marner? He wasn’t pressed on that), but I think what we’ve built, I’m confident that they can still get the job done.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be around to see it finished, but it would give me a lot of joy to see them finish it.”
Unlike a presidential predecessor, such as Richard Peddie, who worked into his 2011 retirement package he’d get a Stanley Cup ring if Toronto won within three years of his leaving, Shanahan must be content having just his fingerprints traced to any title the Auston Matthews era team might net.
Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares, already among the highest scorers in franchise history, are indeed a noted legacy. Shanahan can also point to his positive organizational changes, bearing a league-best, nine-year playoff streak, a highly sought destination for free agents and his efforts to reconnect the Leafs and fans to their storied past.
But there was ample time to infuse the team with his own passion as a Cup warrior. Instead, under his watch, Matthews, Nylander and the departed Marner got too comfortable and coddled. They’ve been unable, at least until now, to raise their collective game when it counts and learn from bitter elimination games.
General manager Gerry McNamara to his last breath, insisted his high 1980 draft picks had been misused by coach John Brophy, Cliff Fletcher never quit believing in his Holy Trinity with Pat Burns and Doug Gilmour, while that one 2013 playoff tease kept Dave Nonis stuck on Phil Kessel and others fronting his rebuild.
All those execs ran out of time in Toronto and now Shanahan waits to see if his faith yields an I-told-you-so statement —though it would be heard from the spectators’ side of the Cup parade barricade.
MANIC MONDAY
It’s the final hours for this GM, Brad Treliving, to submit his 23-man, cap-compliant roster by 5 p.m., ahead of Wednesday’s season opener here against the Montreal Canadiens.
While the players took Sunday off, Treliving, assistant Brandon Pridham and coach Craig Berube spent the time finessing their list, which looked more cut and dried 10 days into camp, now complicated by fourth line, seventh defenceman and back-up goaltending concerns.
Centre Scott Laughton will almost certainly start on injured reserve as he’s week-to-week with a shot-block foot injury. That gave second life to David Kampf, except he’s already passed through waivers and could become a paper transaction down to the AHL Marlies list.
Room is needed to fit Nick Robertson as the Leafs have no wish to expose the winger to waivers after a strong camp, which he completed Saturday night in Detroit, thriving in all situations.
While rookie Easton Cowan showed he still has much to learn and Laughton’s injury disrupted their camp success on a line with Steven Lorentz, coach Berube gave another glowing report after Cowan’s team-high fifth pre-season game Saturday. If Cowan proves he doesn’t need a stint on the farm to assimilate as a pro, it could make Robertson an eventual trade chip.
The staff is also trying to make room in the bottom six forwards for Calle Jarnkrok, despite there not being a clear spot open for his US$2.1 million contract. Often the wear and tear on defencemen leads teams to keeping at least two on the extended roster; one would be Philippe Myers, with perhaps Dakota Mermis, depending on which forwards are crammed among the first 23 spots.
To be determined is whether Treliving eventually signs 37-year-old goalie James Reimer to a regular contract after nine days in camp on a PTO. Treliving usually makes long-term commitments to such invites, but it’s unclear how Joseph Woll’s roster status will be defined Monday and when he is coming back from a personal leave, while Dennis Hildeby looks ready to leave the farm and back-up Anthony Stolarz.
FINAL CAMP COMMENTS
Few will recall what the Leafs did in exhibition games three months from now, fewer will care about the games when cut to four friendlies next year and the regular season increases to 84 games. But what was going on with the Leafs’ A roster failing to win all three home games, while the scrubs earned five of a possible six road points?
Meanwhile, the big pre-camp debate about who will replace Marner on the first line’s right wing is not settled. Max Domi was hurt early, played one game there and is now back at centre with the Laughton injury. Matias Maccelli had a look and might come back, but his calling might be elsewhere.
And there was too small a sample size to judge Morgan Rielly as the No. 1 power play unit’s answer as point man and how the Marner short-handed minutes will be re-allocated. Not to worry, 11 games in the first 22 days should be revealing.
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