The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly expected to clarify their coaching situation for next season before staff head to Nashville for the 2023 NHL Draft.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly expected to clarify their coaching situation for next season before staff head to Nashville for the 2023 NHL Draft.
It looks like we’re nearing the finishing line on some clarity with Sheldon Keefe and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
According to Postmedia’s Steve Simmons, the club is likely to announce Keefe’s return as head coach of the club before the team heads out to Nashville next week for the 2023 NHL Draft.
There have been questions surrounding Keefe's status as head coach since the end of the team's season that saw the Leafs bow out of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs in the second round at the hands of the Florida Panthers.
Kyle Dubas, who originally hired Keefe both as head coach of the Toronto Marlies in 2015 and Maple Leafs in 2019, was relieved of his duties as general manager of the club in May. Brad Treliving was named as Dubas' replacement less than two weeks later.
In his introductory news conference, Treliving was complimentary of Keefe as head coach and made figuring out the dynamic going forward part of the new GM’s to-do list.
The only thing left to figure out is if Keefe just plays out the final year of his existing contract or if he is given a contract extension.
Last week, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that both Treliving and Keefe were interviewing candidates for a new assistant coach to replace Spencer Carbery, who took a head coaching position with the Washington Capitals.
Keefe's involvement in the process further signaled his return for next season.
Keefe has a 166-71-30 (.678) record in four seasons as bench boss of the Leafs, but has just one playoff series win during his tenure.
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