The Shackles Have Been Removed from Coach Sheldon Keefe
As mentioned, it appeared that Sheldon Keefe did not have free reign to do and say what he wanted, particular when it came to the “Big 4”. Kyle Dubas was perhaps too close to the team’s star players. It made Keefe seem like a lame duck at times.
Now that Keefe’s boss is an outsider with no previous loyalty to those stars, one would think that he will now be able to coach as he sees fit.
That likely means more accountability for poor play, and fewer instances where the Toronto Maple Leafs start the game like they just woke up from a long afternoon nap.
Overall, particularly in the regular season, Keefe has done a commendable job, especially if it’s true that he wasn’t always able to coach completely the way he desired.
He has guided the Leafs to a regular season points percentage of .678 over four seasons, which is not only the best result of any Toronto Maple Leafs coach, but also one of the top records in league history.
Although playoff success so far has been elusive (13-17), just like his players, Keefe is still learning. He had much success in the junior ranks with the Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL) and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) before taking over the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and leading them to the Calder Cup in 2018.
Keefe is a hard worker who generally builds good relationships with his players, and isn’t afraid to try different things in a search for better results. He’s found success at every level. There’s no reason to think he won’t eventually find the ultimate success with the Toronto Maple Leafs.