“Pelley says he’s NOT looking to replace Shanahan but rather will look to work closer with Brad Treliving, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported from Pelley's press conference. “So the Leafs GM reporting directly to Pelley.”

Brendan Shanahan will not return as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 56-year-old was in the final season of a six-year contract he had signed May 14, 2019, when it was announced Thursday that his contract would not be renewed.

The Leafs' current situation was by no means inevitable. How could various checkpoints in recent team history have played out differently?