Shanaplan kicks Lou to the curb

nicely, I’m told, into a hockey man.

Shanahanhasputtogether a terrific, varied front office of which Lamoriello was the centrepiece. Even at the age of 75, he showed no signs of slowing down. If the baton is passed to Dubas, we know he’s young, we know he’s bright. What we don’t know: Can he do the job? In sports, you don’t find that out until it’s decision time.

Onceuponatime,alawyer named John Ferguson was given the Leafs keys to the car. Only he couldn’t see and he couldn’t drive and no one knew that until he took the large office. We know who Lamoriello is, what he can do, how he conducts himself.

Lamoriello came to Toronto three years ago from the New Jersey Devils with his reputation, like that hockey team, slightly in tatters. He was yesterday’s news until he reinvented himself strictly by being himself. And the Leafs went from last place to playoff surprise to possible playoff contender. And who knows what’s next?

The deal Lamoriello signed in Toronto was for him to be GM for three years and after that to become the senior adviser of the franchise for the next four years. That was the deal he agreed to. So Lamoriello knew what might be coming even as he went to work Monday morning figuring he was still GM of the Leafs and he was going to continue in that role until someone told him differently.

In their meeting, Shanahan told him differently. They shook hands. They’ve known each other forever. They grew up in the NHL together. And now maybe they’re together, but more likely that Lamoriello says goodbye. However it ends, it doesn’t mean it doesn’thurt.Itdoesn’tmean it was easy for Shanahan to make the move or for Lamoriello to accept.

In explaining the move, Shanahan paid tribute to Lamoriello. He called his contributions to the Leafs vital. He talked about building the cultural foundation with the Leafs and the mentorship he provided for the front office.

“I thought he was the perfect fit,” said Shanahan.

Then he made the decision he originally projected three years ago: He took Lamoriello’s title away.

And with it the famous Lou’s Rules are likely to be pushed aside — some of them team building, some of them archaic — all of them put in place because of his deep belief of establishing a uniquecultureanddeepbelief in organizational discipline.

In his time running the Leafs, Lamoriello did more than his job. He may not have been millennial friendly or player-agent friendly — some Leafs felt strangled by their surroundings and the lack of personality tolerated — but over three years he exceeded whatever the job description and the expectations may have been.

Lou Lamoriello has reason to be upset. He did his job well. He hasn’t lost a step. There was no need, Shanaplanaside,toreplace him now.