How Brendan Shanahan hacked the system to make the Leafs winners

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY SportsThe Leafs brass told everyone there was going to be pain this year. So why are Leaf fans so happy?

Brendan Shanahan and his crew hacked the system to make the Leafs into winners. Before this season even began, they redefined success, and made it about executing a system, not just winning the game.

The goal for the players became personal growth and commitment, not just pucks in nets. P.-A. Parenteau is the poster boy here, but so is Colin Greening or Ben Smith, guys who'd been written off and consigned to the AHL, maybe for good, who suddenly seem valuable.

For Morgan Rielly, it was learning the PK and how to be a consistent player in a top pairing role. For…