Canadians are feeling mixed emotions in response to Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe being fired, nearly a week after the team was kicked out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
On Thursday, the team’s General Manager Brad Treliving announced that Keefe “has been relieved of his role as head coach.” The search for a new head coach will begin immediately and “ decisions regarding the remainder of the coaching staff will follow,” the team said in a statement online.
“Today’s decision was difficult. 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,” Treliving said in a statement.
Keefe, who is from Brampton Ont., replaced the fired Mike Babcock as the head coach back in Nov. 2019.
Keefe coached the Leafs to a 212-97-40 record in 349 regular season games. The team also recorded three straight 100-point seasons under him, including a team-record 115-point season in 2021-22.
He also coached the Toronto Marlies (AHL) for five seasons, where the team won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL’s top regular season team on two occasions and the franchise’s first Calder Cup Championship in 2018, the team said in its statement.
Canadians and NHL fans are reacting with mixed emotions to the news online.
“Thank you for the memories Sheldon, go be a great head coach for another franchise that needs you,” one person on X said.
“Shame. Sheldon Keefe is/was not the problem with the @MapleLeafs,” another person said.
“100% on board with replacing Sheldon Keefe knowing full well it’s the players first and foremost who have let Toronto down over the past several years,” one person added.
“Sheldon Keefe did a lot of things really well, like not being Mike Babcock. But that is not enough and I am happy to see change. Go leafs go,” another said.
On Saturday, the Leafs lost 2-1 against the Boston Bruins during overtime in Game 7, eliminating them from the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The last time the franchise won the Cup was 57 years ago.
