Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said waiting to find out if he was returning as the team's bench boss was uncomfortable but respected the process.

NASHVILLE — Sheldon Keefe was well aware that his immediate future wasn't clear when he took the podium during the Toronto Maple Leafs' season-ending media availability in May.

But after his GM, Kyle Dubas, was dismissed just days later and Brad Treliving was installed a couple of weeks later, the new general manager was going to take his time.

In the end, Treliving confirmed that Keefe will return as coach this season.

"Thrilled when I got the call that we were going to work together and it's been terrific," Keefe said in his first public comments since confirmation of his return.

Keefe is looking at this opportunity differently than his previous years as Toronto's bench boss. There are some changes in philosophy from Treliving. Keefe wouldn't go into those specifics but said outside of those changes there is a mutual belief in how his team has evolved defensively.

"I do look at it like there is some newness to the position," he admitted.

And that's also acknowledging that Keefe doesn't have a lot of experience at the professional level without reporting to Dubas. He did cite working under Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds GM Kyle Raftis in the Ontario Hockey League after Dubas left to join the Leafs in 2014. There was also over a season when Keefe reported to Toronto Marlies GM Lawrence Gilman oversaw Keefe after Dubas was promoted to Leafs GM in 2018.

Keefe will lean into those experiences. But outside of the personnel, things seem aligned between head coach and GM in this situation.

Treliving was thorough in his process with the team, and that included meeting with Keefe for several hours over the course of a lot of days. Toronto's GM hasn't met with any of the other coaching staff. There's also the ongoing search to find a new assistant that will replace Spencer Carbery, who became the head coach of the Washington Capitals.

In the end, the biggest visible change in philosophy won't come from Keefe, but rather the players that Treliving puts in front of him. 

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