The Toronto Maple Leafs recently fired head coach Sheldon Keefe after a disappointing showing in the playoffs.
The club announced the decision in a statement on Thursday morning and said it would begin the search for a new manager immediately.
“Decisions on the rest of the coaching staff will be made later,” he said.
The Leafs were eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs last Saturday after losing Game 7 in overtime to the Boston Bruins.
“Today’s decision was difficult. Sheldon is a great coach and a great person. But we decided we needed a new voice to help the team achieve its ultimate goals,” said Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving.
“We appreciate Sheldon’s hard work and dedication to the organization over the past nine years and wish him and his family the best of luck.”
Keefe coached the Leafs to a 212-97-40 record in 349 regular season games, the organization noted. However, in the postseason, he went only 16-21, including a 1-5 series record.
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Under Keefe, the club has had three consecutive 100-point seasons, including a team-record 115-point season in 2021-22.
Despite finally getting the organization over a painful playoff hump last spring when the Leafs advanced to the second round for the first time in nearly two decades, Keefe couldn’t keep the momentum going.
Toronto bowed out in a lukewarm five games to the Florida Panthers in the second round of 2023, and less than two weeks later, Kyle Dubas was fired as general manager.
The dismissal following a rollercoaster extension raised questions about Keefe’s future, but new GM Brad Treliving was determined to keep Dubas loyal after taking the reins, signing the Brampton, Ont., product to a contract extension until 2025-26. .
— With files from The Canadian Press
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