Keefe released a 90-second statement in his first post on X in exactly three years to thank fans of the Maple Leafs and members of the organization who gave him an opportunity.
Sheldon Keefe doesn't know what is next for him following his dismissal as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it's clear he is going to enjoy some time off.
In his first post on his X account in exactly three years, Keefe posted a 90-second message in front of a body of water where he thanked Leafs fans and the people who allowed him to become the coach of the club for five seasons. He also accepted his role in the club's failure to go on a deep playoff run during his tenure.
"I didn't get it done in the playoffs. I didn't help push our team over the line and deliver. I accept responsibility for that. No excuses. That's the job, I didn't get it done. It's the reality of the business, and I accept it.
Keefe was officially dismissed as head coach on Thursday just days after the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the first round on Saturday.
In five seasons with the club, Keefe posted a winning percentage of .665 during the regular season, which stands as the best among any Leafs coach in the team's history, but the club only won one playoff round during his tenure in 2023 when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
Keefe is under contract for the next two seasons, with an extension set to kick in in July, however, the coach is expected to garner some interest from other NHL head coaching vacancies that are remaining around the NHL.
Keefe's full statement via X:
Leafs Nation, time has come to say goodbye. Writing down a note and sending it out didn't seem like enough, and I do plan on taking a little break from media, so here I am. I'm forever grateful for the opportunity to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's a dream come true for a boy from Brampton. I wanna thank Kyle Dubas, Lou Lamoriello, Brad Treliving, Brandon Pridham, Brendan Shanahan, Larry Tannenbaum, and the MLSE board for giving me this opportunity to work with the Marlies and Leafs. I didn't get it done in the playoffs. I didn't help push our team over the line and deliver. I accept responsibility for that. No excuses. That's the job, I didn't get it done. It's the reality of the business, and I accept it. To the players, I appreciate all your efforts. Your talents and your work ethic made me look good on a lot of nights. Anyone who suited up for blue and white, I appreciate you. To the support staff of the Maple Leafs, you're tremendous people, and you're a lead at what you do. Players and support staff will drive the team to success. I believe it will win. Leafs Nation, you deserve your Stanley Cup. Your passion at home and on the road is unmatched. It's an incredible honor to coach the Maple Leafs, to try to deliver for you. To the media, that had to deal with you every single day, sometimes twice a day, three times a day, I appreciate your process. I've respected the fact that you're honest and fair and had a job to do. I hope you appreciated the fact that I helped you do it. I don't know what comes next, but I know we'll be ready for it. In the meantime, I'll enjoy giving my family the time that they deserve. Love you all, and be well."
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