For years, fans in Toronto rolled their eyes at the idea of a grand “Shanaplan.” It became a punchline whenever the Toronto Maple Leafs stumbled in the first round or stayed quiet at the trade deadline. But given the Olympic break and the team’s predicament, I thought it should be time to sit with the history—the hires, the drafts, the trades, the stubborn commitments—and see whether a pattern emerges.
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I believe there was a philosophy and a pattern, and not just chaos. However, it was a long game that tested patience and ultimately brought about its downfall. That said, for a while, it made sense. Why it didn’t produce the wanted results is a question for another post, but for now, I want to look at what I believe made the Shanaplan a coherent and workable philosophy.
Step One: Shanahan Wanted a Clear Organizational Identity
When Brendan Shanahan was hired as president, he didn’t chase shiny objects. He talked about culture, identity, and sustainability. The plan was to build a fast, skilled, modern team — not a bruiser squad, not a quick rebuild that burned out in two years.
That’s why holding onto Auston Matthews, committing to William Nylander, and making Morgan Rielly the bedrock weren’t random—they were part of a coherent blueprint. Every draft pick and trade was meant to reinforce that identity, not disrupt it.
Step Two: Shanahan Believed in Evaluating Players Beyond the Box Score
Shanahan’s front office looked beyond points. Leadership, character, durability, contract terms — even how a player handled the Toronto spotlight — all factored into decisions. Some moves looked minor at the time but made sense in hindsight.
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Take Jason Spezza: a low-cost signing who ended up contributing far more than expected, both on the ice and in the locker room for three seasons. Joe Thornton brought calm creativity for a season, fitting the team’s skilled style. Nick Foligno, though immediately sidelined by injury, was intended as a stabilizing presence, and his later success with the Chicago Blackhawks working with Connor Bedard shows the idea had merit — just unlucky timing.
(Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Maple Leafs were building around a skilled core with smart, steady players — every draft pick, signing, and trade reinforced the identity rather than changed it. For a while, it worked.
Step Three: Patience as a Weapon — Until It Went Sideways
Patience was Shanahan’s secret sauce. Contracts were negotiated carefully, prospects developed at their own pace, and no-trade clauses were respected. The team rarely panicked after a slump — timing was deliberate, not reactive.
But patience only works if everyone buys in. After years of early playoff exits despite consistent regular-season success, doubt seeped in — from ownership, the front office, and even fans. What had once been a disciplined blueprint became harder to defend, and pressure mounted to make moves that didn’t align with the original vision.
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The first sideways move came when general manager Kyle Dubas was fired. His replacement, Brad Treliving, brought a new philosophy: bigger, more physical, a return to old-school “hockey DNA.” It wasn’t a tweak — it was a pivot. Players who had been drafted for speed and skill were suddenly asked to grind. The team slowed, its identity blurred, and years of carefully layered planning started to unravel.
The next sideways move was firing head coach Sheldon Keefe. Coaching continuity had been part of the plan — systems, style, and tempo mattered — but impatience forced a change. New head coach Craig Berube’s approach worked for a season, but layered onto the new Maple Leafs DNA, the results were uneven.
Meanwhile, players who were drafted to fit the original Shanahan mould — Fraser Minten, Alex Steeves, Pontus Holmberg — were traded or allowed to leave. The speed, skill, and character that had defined the roster gradually faded, leaving a team that was still talented but lacked the clear identity that had once guided every move.
The Bottom Line for the Shanaplan and the Maple Leafs
The Shanaplan never truly failed. It was abandoned. Patience, timing, and coherence — the pillars that built a fast, skilled identity — were upended. The Maple Leafs aren’t doomed, but the lesson is clear: a blueprint only works if people stick with it. Deviate too far, and even a plan that once made sense can leave the team slower, confused, and searching for a direction it once had.
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The Maple Leafs’ future hinges on whether they can rediscover that identity or continue chasing philosophies that contradict the foundation Shanahan spent years building. Either way, the echoes of the Shanaplan still resonate — even if the map seems lost.
