Ex-Maple Leafs Exec Brendan Shanahan Linked To Yet Another Eastern Conf. Team

Deposed Toronto Maple Leafs team president Brendan Shanahan is looking for work after it was revealed earlier this week that he did not have his contract renewed. And while we had heard earlier that the NY Islanders had interest in him, they've since hired Mathieu Darche as their executive vice president and general manager. "There won't be a fit there" for Shanahan, reports Pierre LeBrun.

But we're hearing that another Eastern Conference team may have interest in Shanahan, as Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News has proposed that the Sabres would be a nice fit.

The Sabres have needed more legit NHL experience in their front office from the day Kevyn Adams was hired as GM in 2020... If the Sabres are seeking a new voice, Brendan Shanahan would be a good call.

Several hockey insiders noted earlier this month that Buffalo is, indeed, looking for a senior advisor to work with Adams.

The Sabres' beleaguered GM had a rough year, as the team disappointed yet again this season. The 2024-25 campaign was riddled by trade rumors, unrest, and a very unfortunate press conference held by Adams back in December. The GM said at that time that signing free agents and keeping them isn't so easy for the Sabres because “We don’t have palm trees, we have taxes in New York.”

Buffalo was left out in the cold once again this spring, with their league-record 14th straight season out of the playoffs. Bringing in an executive who helped guide the Maple Leafs to nine consecutive playoff appearances (albeit without much success towards actually winning while in the postseason). You'd think, at this point, Sabres fans would be quite happy with a run of nine straight trips to the playoffs.

With just a short trip down the QEW highway, Shanahan wouldn't have to veer far from home if Buffalo came calling.