from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

The first crisis of the Brendan Shanahan era has arrived with the futures of general manager Dave Nonis and coach Randy Carlyle clearly in doubt.

Exactly how Shanahan will respond — or if he will respond in any meaningful way — will say much about the managerial style going forward of the first-year Maple Leafs president.

Carlyle could be fired. Nonis could be fired. Both could be fired. Or nothing can happen. Or Shanahan may prove himself to be unemotional after horrendous back-to-back drubbings against two of the lowest-scoring teams in the National Hockey League.

The next day or three will be more tense than usual around the Leafs — with no one certain as to what direction the team is heading in.

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