For the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Centennial Classic was two things.

First, it was an exceptional, highly successful celebration of the last century of hockey and tradition in Toronto, which ended fittingly with wunderkind Auston Matthews scoring the first overtime winner of his career to defeat the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field, extending the club's win streak to five.

Second, it was another task scratched off The Shanaplan.

The all-encompassing rebuild

Since his hiring two-and-a-half years ago, Brendan Shanahan's purpose has been to mend the organization's estranged relationship with excellence. In his mind, achieving this required more than devising a plan to improve the on-ice product, and building a roster capable of ending the longest championship drought in the NHL.

His restoration plan meant doing right by the past. And he made it a priority to salvage strained relationships, depict the franchise's history without bias or disguise, and, perhaps most importantly, provide this generation with a standard to meet.

The weekend was the manifestation of that vision.

"The history of this team will never go unnoticed," Morgan Rielly told theScore after the 5-4 triumph under the lights. "I think the organization has done an outstanding job of honoring the players that have come before us.

"I don't think that's ever going to change."

For Rielly, it won't be Matthews' overtime winner, or the moment he and his teammates made the walk out to the makeshift rink to the cheers of 40,000 hockey fans packed into a soccer stadium that he'll remember most. It will be the time he spent in a locker room with three generations of Maple Leafs, sharing stories, taking pictures, and gaining inspiration.

Just as Shanahan drew it up.

Starstruck

The incredible detail in the planning and execution of this event was most evident when the Maple Leafs stepped off the ice after practice Saturday morning. When the players returned the their stalls, there was a legend on either side, lacing skates, taping sticks, and ready to chat.

While this was deliberate on the organization's part, the interactions were completely spontaneous.

There was Mitch Marner receiving advice on Sharpie selection, and then passing that information onto fellow rookie William Nylander, who began darting around the room himself, chasing down autographs. There was Tie Domi requesting Matthews for a photo, and Frederik Andersen picking the brain of Curtis Joseph, and Matt Martin exchanging notes with Tiger Williams.

The scenes were incredible. And that was just what the media was privy to.

"I think (the alumni) loved it," Rielly said. "And for us, we loved it more for sure."

Miles to go, but going fast

There’s still room on Legends Row, and redressing history will remain an ongoing process for the organization. But after a weekend of celebrating the past, the focus shifts solely toward moving forward.

And with Matthews and Marner leading the acceleration of the process, Shanahan's Maple Leafs are quickly correcting the hockey side, as well.

"We believe in each other in here," Connor Brown said. "And as a player, I get the sense that the fans believe. We're still a young team, but we're going to try to make strides in the right direction.

"Playing on that stage was a big one."

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