Toxic Toronto Maple Leafs Fans Need a Reality Check

Highest Win Percentage Ever Isn’t Enough

It’s always easy to blast the coach when the overall strategy fails to result in success. After all, it is their job to effectively deploy the talent pool and Toronto is certainly not shallow in that respect.

However, Sheldon Keefe provided ample opportunity for his stars to perform. Those who should have been out on the ice the most were. There’s only so much he can do, following the shoulder tap that sends Toronto’s best into action.

Now, with that said, there are obviously lessons for Keefe to learn. He could have leaned heavier on the players who were producing and adjusted his lines to more effectively engage in the game that Montreal was playing in that regard.

There is no doubt in my mind that Keefe will come back stronger and more strategic. He’s proven to be a dynamic presence, willing to adapt and make the decisions necessary to set his team up for success.

Need an example? Deciding that Jack Campbell, who hadn’t seen any playoff action since being drafted in 2010, was going to be Toronto’s starter the whole way through was his call to make. Frederik Andersen was healthy, so it’s not as though this was the no-brainer you may be thinking it had to be. Keefe had options and chose accordingly.

Campbell went on to earn a 1.81 goals against average, a .934 save percentage, and a shutout. He was undeniably the best Maple Leaf this past postseason. You can thank Keefe for giving him that chance.

In his first full season, Keefe helped navigate Toronto’s ship all the way to the top of the North Division’s standings. Yet, some still suggest he deserves to be the scapegoat to cover up his athletes’ shortcomings? I don’t think so.

Their record of 35-14-7 through 2020-21 yielded a points percentage (PTS%) of .688. That’s the highest in franchise history and it appears as though Keefe has only just scratched the surface of what’s to come with him in this role.

Better Than Toronto’s Best Seasons

2020-21: .688 PTS%
1950-51: .679 PTS%
1934-35: .667 PTS%
1940-41: .646 PTS%
1960-61: .643 PTS%

It’s not unrealistic to foreshadow that Keefe could turn out to be the most successful coach in Maple Leafs’ history, as he’s already begun to etch his name in their record books.

Keefe also shot up to 17th all-time in regular season wins, after less than two years on the job, among the 40 coaches that have stood behind Toronto’s bench since 1917-18.

If a few more postseason failures follow, and Keefe has illustrated an unwillingness to evolve as his roster produces the same results, then it’s time to judge accordingly.

For now, he’s done enough to earn our trust as he works to pave a new path ahead.