I'm hoping for drama in Toronto, if it doesn't exist the Toronto media will do its best to create it. This story about a meeting between Babcock and Matthews to clear the air may be just one in a long line of Steve Simmons fabrications. According to others Babcock is on a family vacation in Arizona, a very popular and normal vacation destination and there's no meeting with Matthews.
If there is drama in Toronto Shanahan will have nobody to blame other than himself for it. When you bring in Lou Lamoriello, even though it's on a 3 year basis and Lou said he was fine with it, you had to know that if things went well and Lou remained in good health that he would want to continue on as the GM and replacing the don of NHL GM's with a very young analytics minded prodigy would not go over well with the old school as they come Mike Babcock. Then there's the Mark Hunter issue, he's the guy the Leafs can least afford to lose, he's why they are deep in prospects, he's the guy who supposedly fought hard for Marner when the rest of the Leafs management/coaches wanted Hanifin. The word is that the minute Dubas is named GM Hunter is on the road down the 401 back to London. Again this is what Steve Simmons and other Toronto media are saying but most likely they are only speculating since nobody from that management team is saying anything to the press. Hunter knew like everybody else that Dubas was the heir apparent. Shanahan put himself into this box, with the success they've had under Lou they should have just rolling with him on a year to year basis but that probably would mean Dubas leaves. Losing Dubas shouldn't be a big deal, Shanahan made it into one. He may turn into a mediocre GM for all they know.
I do think there will be legit drama with them, Babcock is a pain to play and work with, as long as the team is winning as it did in Detroit things simmered but didn't boil over. Nylander will be the first sent packing, he's been Babcock's whipping boy. Then it will come down to Matthews vs Babcock at some point. Marner is the ultimate good hockey kid, Babcock rode him hard, harder than Eichel or Reinhart have ever been ridden here, and all he does is work harder and get better.