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Toronto Maple Leafs: Is Sheldon Keefe the Right Coach for This Team?

By Michael Alexander

LAVAL, QC - MARCH 08: Head coach of the Toronto Marlies Sheldon Keefe looks on as he walks on the ice against the Laval Rocket during the AHL game at Place Bell on March 8, 2019 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Marlies defeated the Laval Rocket 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - MARCH 08: Head coach of the Toronto Marlies Sheldon Keefe looks on as he walks on the ice against the Laval Rocket during the AHL game at Place Bell on March 8, 2019 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Marlies defeated the Laval Rocket 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Sheldon Keefe and the Toronto Maple Leafs can’t seem to find their playoff-footing.

The supposed perfect fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs has enjoyed much success in the regular-season but is still searching to put it all together for a post-season run.

But after two straight playoff losses that should never have happened, the Leafs may need to reconsider things going forward.  The end of the season press conference said the Leafs were bringing back the same management team and core of players.

Makes me think: Is Keefe still the right guy to coach this team?

Toronto Maple Leafs Coaching Situation

Mike  Babcock

Back when Shanahan hand-picked Babcock himself, he did so knowing exactly what a team needs to be successful. He saw qualities befitting a young team on the rise:

  • Structure
  • Discipline
  • Hard work
  • Attention to detail

More importantly, Babs would inspire with all he had accomplished:

  • 1997 World Junior Championship
  • 2004 World Championship
  • 2008 Stanley Cup
  • 2010, 2014 Olympic Gold Medal
  • 2016 World Cup (eventual)

As a demanding taskmaster, the players seemingly responded in kind; Nazem Kadri in particular. But then, the wheels came off, as quickly as they came on.

Far from perfect, Babs had a knack for sticking to his guns; and after a few seasons with the Buds, his refusal to adapt to a new way of doing things and his inability to strike the right chord with the youth would ultimately lead to his demise.

Thankfully, he left a lot in place for structure, hard work, discipline, and attention to detail.

Babs to Sheldon Keefe

Then-Leafs Assistant Coach D.J. Smith – now Ottawa Senators Head Coach – had already begun plying his trade alongside mentor Mike Babcock by the time Kyle Dubas hired Sheldon Keefe in June 2016 to coach the Marlies. Two chosen ones – but the writing was on the wall.

It was not just a changing of the guard; it reflected a passing of the torch marking a generational shift in coaching and playing philosophies.

There’s a new wave in town, and old-school beliefs are suddenly less-desirable. No longer are teams trying to hammer a square peg into a round circle. Keefe was always the perfect fit for the suddenly new-school Toronto Maple Leafs.

Keefe is a big on experimenting and creativity:

  • Playing Marner and Matthews together was a revelation, as Babcock preferred to spread out the scoring. Same with teaming up Marner, Matthews, and Tavares at times.
  • Playing a system that encourages players to hang onto the puck as much as possible.

However, after knocking on the door twice, Keefe is left waiting with his hands in his pockets wondering how to get in.

Let’s Be Honest

Looking back on the Leafs latest collapse I think it’s time to reconsider a lot of things, including the head coach’s roles and expectations.

Can Sheldon Keefe motivate the players to bust down the door? This is a question Leafs Management must answer.

Old-school may be outdated and may not have as big a place as before, but hard work, discipline, and accountability will always be high in demand.

Next. Leafs Top 10 Prospects. dark

Moving forward, perhaps the biggest challenge will be being honest about Keefe and what he brings to the table.

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