Sheldon Keefe’s Stint as Toronto Maple Leafs’ Coach: A Tale of Resilience

Sheldon Keefe, known for his tenure as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019 to 2024, has experienced firsthand the pressure that comes with such a high-profile role. The Leafs were under constant scrutiny from the media and the fans, with high expectations often met with disappointment due to the team’s perennial playoff drought.

As Keefe puts it, “It wasn’t exactly a ‘hardening’ experience, but it was certainly a unique one.” Despite the Leafs’ unfulfilled potential under his guidance, Keefe remains grateful for the experience.

Keefe’s Downfall and Lessons Learned

Keefe’s coaching tenure saw the Leafs achieve significant regular-season success, boasting a .665 point percentage. Yet, an inevitable playoff failure led to his dismissal after the Boston Bruins ousted Toronto in the first round.

Reflecting on this period, Keefe said, “It was undoubtedly a challenging environment, as many fellow coaches have reminded me. It’s disappointing that I couldn’t lead the team past the line, but the experience has made me a better coach and person.”

Keefe’s New Endeavor: New Jersey Devils

After his departure from the Leafs, Keefe took on a new challenge as head coach of the New Jersey Devils. His appointment was welcomed by Tom Fitzgerald, the general manager of the Devils, who praised Keefe’s excellent communication skills and collaboration, expecting him to draw from his past experiences to make the Devils a Stanley Cup contender.

Reviving the New Jersey Devils

Two seasons ago, the Devils looked like Stanley Cup contenders, finishing with a franchise-best 112 points. However, they experienced a significant downfall last season, dropping 31 points and finishing seventh in the Metro Division.

Keefe, who observed the Devils’ struggles from a distance, identified the lack of resilience as a significant issue. He believes the key to overcoming adversity lies in a solid foundation – a lesson he learned during his time in Toronto.

Building a Resilient Team: Keefe’s Strategy

Keefe’s strategy for building resilience is to ensure the team can sustain itself during challenging times. This approach was effective during his time in Toronto, where the team managed to sustain their performance even when key players were injured.

Managing a Young Core: Lessons from Toronto

When Keefe took over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team had a young core of players. His experience in managing young talent, such as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, will be beneficial to the Devils, who also have a young core featuring players like Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemec.

Accountability and Discipline

Keefe believes in holding players accountable for their performance. During his last season with the Leafs, he adopted a more aggressive approach to discipline, benching top players and sending clear messages about acceptable behavior and performance to the rest of the roster.

Keefe’s Future with the New Jersey Devils

The expectations and pressures that come with coaching the Devils are different from those in Toronto. Although the media scrutiny is less intense, the expectations are just as high. Hockey experts have predicted a significant improvement for the Devils this season.

Keefe, however, is cautious about these expectations. He learned from his time in Toronto that high expectations do not guarantee success. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, noting that while the Devils have excellent players and opportunities, they still need to prove themselves on the ice.