Three-time Stanley Cup champion Brendan Shanahan is drawing on his experience during nine years with the Detroit Red Wings to handle criticism about the unconventional ways he's trying to end the Toronto Maple Leafs' 53-year championship drought.
As president of the Maple Leafs for the past six years, Shanahan and general manager Kyle Dubas have spent almost half of the team's 81.5-million salary cap on four high-scoring forwards: Auston Matthews ($11.6 million), John Tavares ($11M), Mitch Marner ($10.9M) and William Nylander ($6.9M).
The foursome combined for 266 points last year but Toronto hasn't won a playoff series during Shanahan's tenure and they're off to a 1-1 start this year after Friday's 5-3 loss against the Ottawa Senators.