Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan speaks to the media during a press conference in Toronto on Friday, May 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Brendan Shanahan is following his passion back to the world of professional hockey.

Shanahan was named Kilmer Sports Ventures' new strategic adviser on the Professional Women's Hockey League on Thursday. Kilmer is owned by Larry Tanenbaum, the former co-owner of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment where Shanahan was president and alternate governor of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs for 11 years.

Kilmer became a strategic capital partner in the PWHL in June, adding to a sports portfolio that includes the WNBA's Toronto Tempo.

Shanahan said he was eager to reunite with Tanenbaum and reconnect with PWHL executive vice president Jayna Hefford, who had a partnership with the Leafs when she was leading the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association.

"To see (Hefford) now taking on the PWHL and to see its growth, and to be approached by Larry to partner with him and serve as a an adviser, if and when I'm needed, made a lot of sense," said Shanahan. "It's certainly the individuals involved, but just also women's sport and women's hockey is certainly a passion.

"Hockey in general is a passion of mine, and so anything I can do to help, if needed."

Kilmer is the first and only Canadian investor in the PWHL since the league was established in 2023. Originally a six-team league, it expanded to eight last season and has added four more for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.

"Hockey is in our DNA as Canadians, and few people embody that more than Brendan Shanahan," said Tanenbaum in a statement. "I'm thrilled to have him join us in building world-class women's sports organizations that inspire the next generation of athletes, fans, and leaders.

"Brendan is a superstar both on and off the ice, and to have someone of his stature support our efforts to grow the PWHL is an extraordinary plus for women’s hockey."

Shanahan played 21 seasons in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers. He won the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2002 with Detroit.

The Toronto native represented Canada internationally, winning the 1991 Canada Cup, the 1994 world championship, and Olympic gold in 2002.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

After retiring as a player in 2009, Shanahan became a sports executive, working for the NHL as vice-president of hockey and business development, later becoming the league's senior vice president.

Shanahan became the Maple Leafs' president in April 2014, a post he held until May 2025 when the team announced that his contract would not be renewed.

"You can't be someone who grew up in the city and not think back and reflect on the impact (the Maple Leafs had on his life)," said Shanahan. "It was an incredibly positive one.

"It was a great honour, and I had an amazing experience."

Shanahan has worked with the NHL as a hockey operations consultant the past two seasons, and joined Hockey Canada in January for a nine-month review of men's junior hockey in Ontario.

He will not be involved in the PWHL's day-to-day operations as he will continue to consult with the NHL and other hockey-related opportunities.

"One of the things that was important to me, but also important to Larry, was I continued to do my work with the NHL and other projects, like I just finished with Hockey Canada," said Shanahan in a phone interview. "The attraction for me is to be involved in the game in any way I can help, and Larry felt the same way.

"I'm taking advantage of a little bit more family time that I probably never really took from the moment I retired. I went to work probably I think two weeks after (I retired from playing)."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2026