Shane Doan, Maple Leafs part ways

Shane Doan’s options are wide open. On Monday, TSN’s Pierre Lebrun reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs parted ways with the former Arizona Coyotes superstar, who had served as a special advisor to the general manager under former GM Brad Treliving.

A former star forward with the Arizona Coyotes, he previously worked in the Coyotes’ front office, where he crossed paths with new Maple Leafs GM John Chayka. Yet, the new GM appears not to have wanted to continue that working relationship, as the two parted ways less than two weeks after Chayka took his first NHL role since leaving the Coyotes. 

Doan’s contract was set to expire on  June 30, and his departure became the first decision under the new Chayka-Mats Sundin leadership team. 

Now 49 years old, Doan has been at the forefront of several other potential positions in the NHL, most notably interviewing for the GM position with the Vancouver Canucks, who could also be looking to fill a void at the president of hockey operations role, with longtime executive Jim Rutherford set to step aside after the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. 

While a role in Vancouver is no foregone conclusion, the Canucks have yet to name a GM, with the latest reports suggesting that Abbotsford Canucks AHL GM Ryan Johson and the Boston Bruins executive Evan Gold. 

Prior to becoming an executive, Doan spent 21 years in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets and later relocated Coyotes, netting 402 goals and 570 assists in 1,540 regular-season games, while adding 15 goals and 13 assists in 55 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs,  before retiring from his playing career following the 2016-17 season. 

The Maple Leafs hold the top spot in the NHL Draft, with the decision on whether to select Penn State forward Gavin McKenna standing as Chayka and Sundin’s first major move on June 26.