One day after Keith Pelley informed Brendan Shanahan he would not be renewed as Toronto Maple Leafs president and alternate governor, the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO described his emotions of having to sit through two consecutive embarrassing 6-1 losses to the Florida Panthers in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"It was tough. Sports brings you on an emotional roller coaster, and team sports in particular. I hadn't really experienced that type of emotion in some time. Maybe ever," Pelley said.
Maple Leafs fans booed their team in those losses, with some throwing Leafs jerseys on the ice. Many fans left the building at the end of Game 7 when the club saluted the crowd, some cheering but many booing as well.
Pelley, who had been installed in his new position just one year ago and said he hadn't really had to cheer for anyone in most cases (having previously worked as the PGA European Tour CEO), was particularly disappointed. The energy level in the building for Game 7 may have been its best in a long time, only to see such a letdown.
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Fans stood alongside Legends Row before Scotiabank Arena, taking photos with the Toronto Maple Leafs' icons. At the same time, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment president and CEO <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzx3yMu-JNY">Keith Pelley sat less than 15 feet away</a>, inside the building, discussing another early playoff exit for his hockey club.
"This was at a different level. Listening to the fans and understanding and respecting it. And, you know, the electricity in the building. And I've heard this from so many people, I hadn't been there even over the last number of years and understanding I haven't been there the electricity prior to the game and during that first period was palpable and unmeasured before," Pelley said. "To go from that euphoric moment to the way that we felt in the third period was very difficult, and I was saddened by it and I feel that I need to take some responsibility for that."
In some ways, that may have made it easier for the team to move on from Brendan Shanahan as president. Despite saying it was time for the Leafs to have a "new voice" in his statement following the dismissal, Pelley doesn't plan to add anyone between himself and the team GM right now. This mirrors his approach with Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts, who did not name a replacement after dismissing president Bill Manning.
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As the Toronto Maple Leafs concluded <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-craig-berube-would-100-percent-like-to-retain-pending-unrestricted-free-agents-mitch-marner-john-tavares">their locker cleanouts</a> on Tuesday, their PR staff said they'd be in touch regarding future media availabilities.
Before Game 7 started, Pelley described his 22-year-old son asking if he was nervous about the game. While acknowledging his nervousness, Pelley noted that "pressure is a privilege," emphasizing that market pressure should not be a barrier to the club's ability to win a Stanley Cup.
It is clear Pelley wants to make the fan experience better. The Leafs have had a reputation for having a lot of empty seats in the platinum and gold sections to start periods. Pelley feels Game 7 gave them ideas on how to improve.
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It got ugly in a hurry.
"What happened in Game 7, showed us what this can be in terms of the magical atmosphere that was Game 7 was spectacular," Pelley said. "It's one that we will look to continue to get better on our game day. What a lot of it is you're talking about is getting people into their seats a little bit earlier. We did a really good job with the playoffs in places where we were turning lights off and things like that. Blowing whistles. But it makes a difference. It's great to have that atmosphere. It's great to have it for all three periods. And it's something to look at."
Maple Leafs Fans Toss Jerseys Onto The Ice During Game 5 Debacle Against Panthers At Scotiabank Arena
There was supposed to be a strong pushback on home ice from the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 after dropping two straight to the Florida Panthers, evening up the second-round series. Instead, it turned into one of the most humiliating playoff performances in the ‘Core Four’ era, and the frustration boiled over from the club’s fans accordingly.
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