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Sheldon Keefe
Photo credit: Maple Leafs

Report: Sheldon Keefe may actually retain his job in Toronto

Published May 8, 2024 at 11:04
BY RYAN SMITHERAM
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TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston revealed on Tuesday afternoon that the Toronto Maple Leafs may keep head coach Sheldon Keefe for one specific reason.

While speculation runs rampant over Sheldon Keefe's future with the Leafs, TSN's Chris Johnston reported on ‘The CJ Show' yesterday that Keefe may in fact retain his job due to the fact that the Leafs don't see many (or any) clear upgrades available.

»I think the feeling seems to be that there isn't a clear upgrade on him out there... I think that's what's making it difficult.

There is an internal view that Sheldon Keefe had a good season. They played a meaningful amount of games with their third goaltender this season. They were missing significant chunks of their blueline. Even in the playoffs they played 3 games without William Nylander, two games without Auston Matthews plus 3 games where we was dealing with illness or injury.


I think there is a case to be made he had maybe his best season as a head coach.»

As Johnston noted, the Leafs are struggling with determining if there truly is an upgrade available over Keefe and although they have been linked to Craig Berube continuously, he may not be as significant of an upgrade as the fans believe he may be. There are also a number of other coaches available such as Gerrard Gallant, Todd McLellan and Joel Quenneville, if the NHL reinstates him, that could provide the Leafs a new voice, but not necessarily an upgrade as they would view it.

With the Leafs' management team not speaking with the media until Friday, Keefe and fans may not know more about his future for a couple of days yet.

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May 8   |   756 answers
Report: Sheldon Keefe may actually retain his job in Toronto

Is Sheldon Keefe the best option available for the Leafs this summer?

Yes17222.8 %
No58477.2 %
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