Michael Da Ponte
November 2019, when the Maple Leafs fired Mike Babcock, seems like an eternity ago. In terms of NHL games, it has been just over 60 games with Sheldon Keefe behind the Toronto Maple Leafs bench. I was in the “fire Babcock” party before the 2019-2020 season began because I wanted to see what Sheldon Keefe could do with this young talented team.
So far, I have not been disappointed with the results. This season, though only 10 games in, has shown the true potential of this Toronto Maple Leafs team. They are playing more structured, deliberate hockey than we have ever seen, and that is a direct result of Sheldon Keefe’s impact.
His system takes a lot of credit for the transformation, but it is also his utilization of his players that have made the biggest difference. On a team that is constructed as the Leafs are, it can be difficult to get contributions from depth positions. Keefe has brilliantly created in the team competition with his bottom pairing defenceman and his fourth line players. Keefe has been rotating seven players in and out of the Leafs’ fourth line, which I believe has created a fourth line that seems to be disruptive almost every game.
Despite dealing with injuries amongst their forward group the fourth line rotation has remained strong. Keefe recently told Kristen Shilton that the fourth line combination of Joey Anderson, Travis Boyd, and Jason Spezza is currently the standard he expects of his fourth line. In saying this Keefe is sending a message to the rest of the players rotating in that they need to elevate their game.
Sheldon Keefe understands how to motivate his roster and get the most out of every one of his players. He has clearly identified how important depth scoring is in this league, especially during the playoffs. Maple Leafs fans know that this team will be judged solely on their playoff performance and the bottom of the lineup will have to contribute in order for them to have success.