The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a change following their opening-round playoff exit. The team has fired head coach Sheldon Keefe after five seasons, according to an announcement on Thursday.
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving stated that the franchise will immediately begin searching for a new head coach.
“Today’s decision was difficult,” the team said in a statement. “Sheldon is an excellent coach and a great man; however, we determined a new voice is needed to help the team push through to reach our ultimate goal. We thank Sheldon for his hard work and dedication to the organization over the last nine years, and wish him and his family all the very best.”
Keefe put together a 212-97-40 record in 349 regular-season games with Toronto. The Maple Leafs had recorded 100-point campaigns in each of the last three seasons, including registering a franchise record 115 points in 2021-22.
Prior to his arrival with the Maple Leafs, Keefe served as the head coach of the team’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, for five seasons. He led the Marlies to their first Calder Cup in team history back in 2018.
The Maple Leafs tallied a 46-26-10 record (102 points) during the 2023-24 regular season and finished in third place in the Atlantic Division behind the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins. Toronto was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the opening round this past weekend when the Bruins outlasted the Maple Leafs in seven games.
Toronto has registered just one series victory since the 2003-04 season, which came when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2023 postseason.
After five seasons at the helm of the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Sheldon Keefe has been dismissed by the organization. The decision comes after a disappointing season for the team, which saw them fail to make the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Keefe was hired by the Maple Leafs in 2019 after serving as head coach of the Toronto Marlies, the team’s AHL affiliate. He was brought in to help lead the team to success and build on the potential of their talented roster. However, despite high expectations, Keefe was unable to guide the team to playoff success.
Throughout his tenure, Keefe faced criticism for his coaching decisions and inability to get the most out of his players. Despite having one of the most talented rosters in the league, the Maple Leafs consistently underperformed and failed to live up to expectations.
The decision to part ways with Keefe comes as no surprise to many fans and analysts who have been calling for a change in leadership. The Maple Leafs are now tasked with finding a new head coach who can help turn the team’s fortunes around and lead them to success in the future.
Keefe’s dismissal serves as a reminder of the high expectations and pressure that come with coaching a team like the Maple Leafs. While he may have fallen short in his time with the team, Keefe will undoubtedly be remembered for his contributions and efforts to bring success to Toronto.
As the Maple Leafs begin their search for a new head coach, fans will be eagerly awaiting news of who will be tasked with leading the team back to playoff contention. Only time will tell if the decision to part ways with Keefe was the right one, but one thing is for certain – change is on the horizon for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
