If there’s an art to staying gainfully employed as a big-dollar sports executive, one proven strategy involves remaining as murky as possible on timelines. Witness the success of Brendan Shanahan. More than half a decade into his reign as Maple Leafs president, he recently wrangled a six-year contract extension, all without presiding over a single playoff series victory, all without providing even a ballpark ETA on actual success.
The Maple Leafs might be better next season. They might be worse. Either way, Shanahan has parlayed the old five-year plan that changes every day into an 11-year salary guarantee.