At the end of the 2017-18 season, Lamoriello left the organization for the New York Islanders and assistant GM Kyle Dubas, Shanahan's first major hire back when he first arrived, was promoted to replace him. Another major acquisition occurred in free agency in 2018, as star centre John Tavares joined his hometown Leafs on a 7-year contract. Shanahan also approved Dubas's decision to fire Babcock in November 2019, amidst a poor start to the 2019-20 season, and the hiring of Sheldon Keefe to replace him.