Rogers made final call on Shanahan's exit from Toronto Maple Leafs

Within days of the Toronto Maple Leafs suffering their biggest on-ice loss of the season, a major off-ice move came the following week.

Last Thursday, the Leafs announced the departure of president Brendan Shanahan after 11 seasons with the team, following one of the most tumultuous eras in team history.

Though Shanahan and his various executive teams had constructed the Leafs into the NHL's most consistent playoff team, making the postseason a league-high nine times in a row, the team advanced past the first round just twice in those years.

But according to a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the move to not renew Shanahan's contract had more to do with MLSE majority owner Rogers not wanting too many cooks in the kitchen.

"This was not a referendum on Brendan Shanahan's job performance. This was about too many people doing the same job and how Rogers doesn't like that," Friedman said Monday on the 32 Thoughts podcast.

"That's what this was about. Rogers won't feel you need [MLSE CEO Keith] Pelley, Shanahan, and [Leafs general manager Brad] Treliving, and that's what this was about first and foremost. [Rogers is thinking] Pelley, who's been a sports executive before… he can do it. That's what Rogers looks at."

Rogers had purchased Bell's 37.5 per cent stake in MLSE last September, making it the majority owner of the Leafs, as well as the Raptors, Toronto FC, and the Argonauts. Independently, Rogers, helmed by executive chairman Edward Rogers, is also the sole owner of the Toronto Blue Jays, independent of MLSE involvement.

"Anything major, [Treliving is] gonna run it up the flagpole [to Pelley and Rogers]. That's the way it works. We all have bosses," Friedman added.

Notably, it is interesting to see Friedman reporting on internal Rogers business dealings, given that Rogers also employs him and all Sportsnet employees.

With Treliving now back in Toronto after attending a family graduation, it seems the news around the team will heat back up this week.

"I think this week you're gonna see the Maple Leafs start to look at some of their summer business," Friedman added. "We're gonna start to see the Maple Leafs look at what their offseason could look like."

On pending free agent Mitch Marner, Friedman said that he expects the Leafs to ask his agent for "clarity" on his future in the coming days.

One of the biggest pieces of intrigue this summer is the future of John Tavares, who is now finished with a seven-year, US$77 million deal he signed in the summer of 2018.

"Tavares, there was a lot of talk about how he wants to stay, and they want him to stay. You have to believe a deal gets done… There is something here that I think both sides can be happy with, it's just a matter of getting there," Friedman shared.

Friedman also touched on the possibility of an offer sheet for Leafs forward Matthew Knies, who is a restricted free agent.

"I think the Maple Leafs are well aware of the possibility of an offer sheet. I don't think they'll let it get there… when Matthew Knies says first and foremost he wants to be a Maple Leaf, I think he's telling the truth and I think the Maple Leafs believe that," Friedman said.