The Toronto Maple Leafs part with Sheldon Keefe after parts of five seasons with him behind the bench.
The Toronto Maple Leafs relieved Sheldon Keefe of his coaching duties on Thursday.
The decision comes five days after the Maple Leafs lost their first-round series against the Boston Bruins in seven games.
“Today’s decision was difficult,” Leafs GM Brad Treliving said in a press release. “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.”
The search for Keefe's replacement begins immediately.
Keefe was promoted to head coach in November 2019 following Mike Babcock's firing. Since then, he's had a 212-97-40 record across parts of five seasons. The 43-year-old from Brampton, Ont., also has a 16-21 record in the playoffs.
The Maple Leafs had home-ice advantage in the first round in three of five post-seasons under Keefe, finishing second in the Atlantic Division twice while finishing first in the North Division in the 2020-21 COVID-19 season.
But although the Leafs have made the playoffs in eight straight years, they only have one series win in that span. That came last season, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. The relief among Leafs fans was short-lived when the Florida Panthers eliminated the team in five games.
"We're in the results business here, and we didn't get results, and we haven't met expectations – and as a head coach, I take responsibility for that," Keefe told the media at Monday's season-ending news conference.
"I accept responsibility for not meeting results," Keefe added. "I believe in myself greatly. I love coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now more than ever, I believe in myself and our team and that I will win and our team will win."
As the team searches for its next coach, decisions on the rest of the coaching staff will follow.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley, team president Brendan Shanahan and Treliving are expected to speak to the media on Friday.
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