The Islanders received permission to speak with Brendan Shanahan for their ongoing front office search, according to Sportsnet.
Shanahan, the longtime NHL star, is at the end of his contract with the Maple Leafs as the team’s president and has become a hot name on the market after Toronto was ousted from the second round of the playoffs on Sunday.
If he is indeed the Islanders’ guy — he has a preexisting relationship with CEO John Collins — it would mark the second time he took over a front office from Lou Lamoriello after having done so in Toronto nine years ago.
In that time, Shanahan has guided the Maple Leafs to the playoffs in nine straight season, the longest active streak in the league, but his teams have failed to get past the second round.
The Islanders announced Lamoriello would not return to his role as Islanders GM and president on Apr. 22, leaving a seismic opening for the franchise.
The team already has a list list of candidates to take over GM duties.
Marc Bergevin, Mathieu Darche and Jarmo Kekalainen have all interviewed, with Bergen and Darche reportedly slated for second go-rounds with with team.
Shanahan, enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player in 2013, suited up for the Red Wings, Devils, Blues and Whalers during his career, notching 656 goals and 1,354 points in 1,524 games over 20 NHL seasons. The Mimico, Ontario native ranks 28th in all-time scoring.
He won three Stanley Cups, was a three-time All-Star and was named to the NHL’s 100th anniversary team.
