Report: Shanahan may shock us all with impending crucial decision

The Toronto Maple Leafs are primed to make the playoffs this season, despite a difficult stretch since December. A weak Atlantic division has kept them in a pretty comfortable playoff position, but will they be able to make anything of their eventual playoff run?

That's a question for another day. But has an impact on the subject of this article.

The main thing we want to talk about right now is the status of Lou Lamoriello. It's been talked about over the last month or 2 - the Leafs' general manager is on an expiring contract, and we could see a new leader for this organization as soon as this summer.

It seems like a strange thing to do given the positive moves he's made in his short tenure here, turning this team from nothing into something special. But you know how the old saying goes - out with the old, and in with the new.

The new in this case, is a more analytics-based approach, one heralded by Kyle Dubas, an assistant manager for the team. Dubas has a year left on his contract beyond this season, and he will be in high demand should the Leafs not make the decision to promote him to top dog.

Do they give Lamoriello one more year and promote Dubas after that? It would be a risky proposition, and one that may see one of their bright young minds leave for a bigger role elsewhere.

That doesn't leave Toronto with a whole lot of choice. They may replace Lamoriello this summer with someone completely different. It's hard to say.

The Athletic's James Mirtle addressed the issue in a recent mailbag.

"(The) Leafs have to make a change by 2019 or lose Kyle Dubas to another team for sure," Mirtle begins.

"It's going to be fascinating to see how Brendan Shanahan makes this decision, as when it happens, it will mean big changes throughout the organization. Analytics are only a sliver of how decisions get made right now; that sliver would become much more of a factor under new management.

"And how would a new GM impact how powerful Babcock and Mark Hunter are in the front office?

"With several key decisions coming this summer — William Nylander needing a new contract for example — the Leafs should probably change GMs after the playoffs. It's possible that happens.

"It's possible Shanahan shocks us all."

Mirtle guesses that Lamoriello will be extended after this season, but he expresses doubt on the matter, as you can see in the above passage. The part about key decisions coming this summer is telling.

William Nylander must be re-signed. Auston Matthews will likely be signed to a mega deal in July. Mitch Marner's deal has to be considered as well. Then you have all the free agents possibly leaving in Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk, Leo Komarov and more. Does Shanahan give Lamoriello the reigns here and let him continue to leave his mark on this team?

Or does he hand over the franchise to Dubas - or someone else?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.