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 Keith Pelley sat less than 15 feet away, inside the building, discussing another early playoff exit for his hockey club.

"Good simply isn't good enough," Pelley said, "and that's the case here."

After Toronto was bounced out of the second round by the Florida Panthers for the second time in three years, the MLSE board met to chew over the fate of the Maple Leafs organization. With Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan's contract up after this year, Pelley and the MLSE board decided it was right to part ways with the man who'd been at the helm since 2014.

Almost one year earlier, MLSE let go of Toronto FC and Argonauts president Bill Manning. Since then, the company hasn't added another president to the two teams. It appears, for now, the Maple Leafs will be in the same boat.

"I'm not looking to replace Brendan. I'm looking to work closer with Brad (Treliving) and work closer with Craig (Berube)," the MLSE CEO said.

"We will, just like in any other business, evaluate all facets of the organization in terms of how we utilize resources. We have all the resources here to be a championship team, but it's using the resources in the right way, and how we structure those utilization of resources could make the difference."

Brendan Shanahan Out: Why the Maple Leafs Are Moving On From Their Longtime President The Toronto Maple Leafs and Brendan Shanahan are parting ways.

Pelley further expressed his belief in Treliving and Berube, saying, "I'm confident in the resources that we have. But I do believe that we, as the custodians of the biggest hockey brand in the world, have a responsibility to our fans, and that responsibility is winning championships.

"And we will do everything we possibly can and will not stop until we reach that goal."

In the aftermath of Shanahan's dismissal, one of the greatest questions was whether the former president would still have a job if the Maple Leafs won Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

'It Hurts Right Now': Craig Berube Urges Maple Leafs to Remember Playoff Disappointment, Pins Game 7 Loss on Structure Craig Berube didn't mince any words about why he felt his team struggled in Game 7 and other points in the Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round playoff loss to the Florida Panthers.

Pelley, sitting in front of a Maple Leafs logo on Friday, wasn't interested in discussing hypothetical situations. He said this was his decision, noting he received support from ownership to let Shanahan walk.

"We made the decision. I talked to Brendan at 3 p.m. Eastern yesterday. He, as expected, acted like a true professional. The Hall of Famer that he is understood and wanted to move very, very quickly. But outside of that, I don't speculate on hypothetical situations. We didn't win the Cup."

When an alteration of this magnitude occurs, a team's staff profile can change. Could Treliving, entering his third season with the organization, receive a more diverse job title this summer?

"We're really on day one, so anything is possible," Pelley said.

"Whether he takes on a larger role is something that will be determined down the road. But the reality is we're a different organization because we have multiple teams. So as a result, when you have multiple teams, you have centers of excellence."

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Pelley adds that he's going to be nothing more than a sounding board for the hockey decisions and culture of the Maple Leafs organization. Although he's going to be linked more closely with Treliving and Berube, the 61-year-old isn't getting involved with franchise-altering player choices.

"My role is to try to create a culture and the chemistry within that organization that builds a culture of winning championships. And so that's the way I look at it," Pelley said. "But I'm not going to be deciding who we draft and what free agents we're going to sign. That will be the decision by the hockey operations group."

 In Pelley's press release on Thursday afternoon, the MLSE CEO declared that a "new voice was required to take the team to the next level in the years ahead." A new voice can mean many things, including bringing another person in at the helm of the Maple Leafs.

However, to Pelley, a new voice means a new beginning.

Report: Maple Leafs Grant Islanders Permission To Speak With President Brendan Shanahan Ahead Of MLSE Board Review 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.

"I don't think there is any specific, like you're going to bring one person in that's going to be the voice," Pelley said. "It's just a change that we felt that was needed at this time."

A new beginning is ahead for the Maple Leafs, but more changes are coming. Will John Tavares remain? Will Mitch Marner return after yet another heartbreaking playoff exit? Everything remains in the balance, but Toronto's end goal of winning the Stanley Cup will stay in focus.

"I think we have to be on the pathway to win the Stanley Cup. I think the city has told us that. The media has told us that," said Pelley.

"Our next step is to take it to the next level, and we felt that this move would help us get to the next level. But make no mistake about it, making the playoffs and winning rounds is not our aspirational goal. Our goal is to win the Stanley Cup."

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