TORONTO — Sheldon Keefe will be fired and resign as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday following another early exit from the NHL playoffs.
The move was expected after Toronto lost to rival Boston in Game 7 last weekend, marking the fourth time in Keefe’s five years that the team lost in the first round.
Since Keefe took over as head coach in November 2019, the Maple Leafs have won just one playoff series.
“Today’s decision was a difficult one to make,” general manager Brad Treliving said in a statement. “Sheldon is an excellent coach and a great guy. But we decided that if the team was to move forward in achieving its ultimate goals, we needed a new voice.”
The team announced that the search for Keefe’s replacement will begin immediately, marking the league’s 18th coaching change since the end of the 2022-23 season.
Treliving and other executives are scheduled to speak to reporters Friday about coaching changes and other season-ending topics.
Keefe, 43, joined the organization in 2015 as coach of the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies, thanks in large part to his junior hockey connections with then-assistant general manager Kyle Dubas. He was promoted and served as GM for five seasons before being fired last year.
Keefe replaced Mike Babcock when Dubas fired him a few weeks into the 2019-20 season.
What followed was a great regular season and trip to the playoffs, but nothing else that stood out.
Coached by Keefe and featuring Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly and John Tavares, the Leafs went 16-21 in the postseason.
Earlier this week, Keefe said he accepted responsibility for the unmet expectations but said his confidence in the group and himself’s ability to succeed was at an all-time high.
“I believe in myself and my team now more than ever,” Keefe said. “I will win and our team will win too.”
A win in Toronto would mean a win under a different manager. Some of the more experienced options include 2019 Stanley Cup winner Craig Berube, former Minnesota coach Dean Evason and former Los Angeles coach Todd McClellan.
