NHL Rumors: One Team Emerging For Brendan Shanahan's Next NHL Job
Why Buffalo Stands Out Over Chicago and Nashville
The Sabres check a lot of boxes Shanahan apparently looks for in teams: a committed owner in Terry Pegula, a ready-to-win core featuring Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Alex Tuch, and market hunger to end the playoff drought.
Contrast that with the Blackhawks, who are still firmly in a build around Connor Bedard and would likely use Shanahan as a long-arc stabilizer rather than someone who could help their team win right now.
Nashville offers experienced leadership with Barry Trotz already in place, which could limit the scope of Shanahan’s influence.
Nick Kypreos: Re Brendan Shanahan: "The most obvious team that may be interested in him is the Buffalo Sabres,"; "It sounds like Shanahan would consider taking a job there"; "If not Buffalo, what about Chicago?" "The Nashville Predators are another team" - Sportsnet (11/4)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) November 5, 2025
Timing, Autonomy, and Next Steps in Buffalo
This season’s results will decide the temperature. It’s the final year of Lindy Ruff’s contract, and the organization could reshuffle roles if the playoff push stalls.
If Pegula wants a bolder, more aggressive posture (bigger trades, targeted free agents, and a faster transition from “promising” to “proven”), Shanahan is the logical upgrade path.
Brendan Shanahan is joining the NHL's Hockey Operations department, per @DarrenDreger pic.twitter.com/up6xqqAlt1
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 23, 2025
His Toronto blueprint (long run of playoff berths, headline acquisitions, and a clear executive lane) suggests Buffalo could move from hopeful to formidable with the right mandate.
If the Sabres fade, expect the Shanahan conversation to accelerate. If they surge, he may still be the voice to keep them climbing.
Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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