Why Did The Maple Leafs Have To Move on From Keefe? | SDP

Steve Dangle, Adam Wylde and Jesse Blake discuss the reason they believe the Toronto Maple Leafs had to move on from Sheldon Keefe. Where do they go from here?
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[@ddmath]

Steve, imagine it is 1993, and your "Toronto Dad" is watching that game, you know the game, the one with LA. He is just as passionate as you are, just as hopeful. Now imagine it is 30 years later! Think about the fatigue, it isn't that "Toronto Dad" doesn't hurt any less than you do, it is that his scars are thicker, deeper, and have been there a lot longer. Speaking as a "Leafs Dad", trust me, I know the feeling.

[@philllllllll]

One thing that Toronto has excelled at the last couple years was shot location. A vast, VAST majority of their shots came from the slot, which is excellent and translated to amazing regular season success. But SOMETHING changed in the playoffs every year.

[@sebastiencarrieres8825]

It's the amount of Sherwood distribution per square inch.

[@chrisgoodings4450]

In the playoffs everyone collapses, clogs the slot and blocks shots. You have to be able to shoot through traffic from the point and get tips and garbage goals. Teams seem to shoot less in the playoffs when they don't get a certain look. Stop trying to be pretty and shoot more and hope for tips and rebounds.

[@ratedRblazin420]

Yeah, teams adjust to their opponents' strengths/weaknesses, but the Laughs stayed the same.

[@Tribuneoftheplebs]

​@@chrisgoodings4450 good comment. Ekholm and Bouchard have been key for the Oilers by providing a 2-headed threat from the back

[@starkiller34]

..that's the problem, teams close the slot hard in the playoffs, and remember, you are facing the same team potentially 7 games in a row, not a new adversary every game. It's insanely easy for other teams to notice this tendency, close up the slot with no fear of any big body being a problem, because the Leafs dont go there.

[@CritCommanda]

I thought it was weird when they fired Kyle Dubas but not Sheldon Keefe a year ago. It always seemed like Sheldon Keefe coached based on his ego, to prove his ideas could work even when they didn't, not observationally by what worked or didn't work on the ice. That mentality might be a result of how many management personnel there are in the leafs and they're all concerned for their own status within the organization. Personally I think the organization has too many chiefs, the players don't feel any individual responsibility/ownership of the team unlike the unbloated teams that are cup contenders.

[@WadeStOnge-tr7cw]

But hasn’t Dubas always built a team based on his ego, to prove his ideas could work even when they didn't, not observationally by what worked or didn't work on the ice?

[@crbrearley]

That's a pretty insane take on the Dubas era, when they probably spent too much time looking at data. And given the way Keefe juggled lines, I think saying he was "dogmatic" just seems wrong.

[@user-fc2tj8lf2m]

There's hiring the best coach available, then there's hiring the right coach. The Leafs don't understand this distinction.

[@DDWyss]

Sort of the same way the NY Rangers approach free agent signings.

[@joeyhoser]

I watched every Leaf game from the age of like 16-35 years old. I haven't watched a game since they lost to Columbus in the playoffs. Good to know I haven't missed anything.

[@chrisragona3945]

The Columbus round was actually to qualify for playoffs.

[@derps8690]

you absolutely have watched a game since they lost to columbus, and that's evident by the fact that you've got a laundry list of comments on both the nhl official channel and the sportsnet highlights from almost every leaf game played from that play-in round to now. why even try to lie about something like that?

[@UrbanMatts]

@@derps8690 probably means in person or in entirety genius

[@joeyhoser]

@@derps8690 Huh? No I haven't. Why are YOU lying about my posting history? Did you click the wrong name or something? wtf?

[@mst3k54]

I definitely quit watching regular season Leafs hockey. Stopped buying their gear.

[@TheYoutubeExpert]

They fired Keefe cause that's all they can do ATM.. It'll be hard for them to trade anyone and for sure the guys up top aren't gonna step down.. For 7 years these players have not got it done and to me the coach won't make a difference.

[@MisterMister5893]

A stud goalie will not solve their woes. No way by watching these playoffs you can say it was solely Samsonov's fault. Pundits even said they played better with Woll in net but then lost their composure when Sammy was in net? Get ready for another year of disappointment regardless of who's behind the bench.

[@gimusk5667]

The leafs are a good regular season team when stakes are low. Always crumble in the playoffs.

[@Spoonman83]

It's funny how on previous podcasts, you lambasted teams and the league in general for constantly hiring "re-treads" and not bringing in new, fresh coaching blood. But, now that the Leafs need a coach, only "established" coaches will do. Interesting...

[@Nsdus5676]

I always enjoy listening to you guys and have never said so. Don’t always agree but do respect your opinions and genuinely enjoy your show.

[@bradleyvision7315]

leafs cant score on the power play with 60 million on the ice so lets blame keefe and not the special teams coach, thats crazy 😂

[@polarisoutdoors3105]

TOR - G Jordan Binington - D Tory Krug STL - F Mitch Marner - TOR 2027 2nd rd pick

[@jessehodgson2326]

This is not a good trade for the Leafs

[@polarisoutdoors3105]

@@jessehodgson2326 leafs dont have leverage here. Marner is UFA next year. Your not going to get a sign and trade deal like Timo Meier got without him signing. Leafs get a cup winning goal tender and a puck moving defensemen

[@michaelb4590]

It’s hilarious reading leafs fantasy trades. The return on Marner will be so much smaller if there’s any. I totally expect no changes to core 4 due to no interest in those 2 without retention

[@Taranaki66]

​@@michaelb4590 Chicago can take JT without retention. JT just saw Bedard score his fourth goal at the Worlds. What does Toronto have to give Chicago for the cap space?

[@Plutoboy85]

Would be interesting to see a study on "Playoffs style goals", cause I'm not buying it. Every night you're seeing skill goals, and goals with traffic infront. Same as we see in the regular season. Lots of high scoring games. This focus on playoff style goals is probably just helping to psych the players out making them overthink things.

[@johnhoward8668]

I don’t think they started listening, but they changed the makeup of the team. Keefe is a good coach, but we needed a change. I wish all the best to Keefe.

[@fyimediaworld]

The aggression that the Leafs are missing is not body checking. The aggression the Leafs are missing is puck aggression. They don't attack for the puck. They don't attack with the puck. They don't attack at the puck. They don't have offensive puck aggression. The team needs shooting defensemen and both Matthews and Nylander need to be paired with strong power forwards to be effective.

[@krob5375]

Yep. They've shown they can be physical, and that's good. But they need to be more north-south, not perimeter guys. Knies is a good example. They also really need a good point shot D man too, which creates rebounds and net front havoc. That helps the net front guys like Bertuzzi.

[@disinformationworld9378]

Why is this even a question? Team didn’t even show up in some playoff games. They always looked like the second best team. PP stunk and so did the offense… hmm. People aren’t pointing the coach for some reason here. Isn’t it his job to get the players to beat the opposition coaches strategy? Oh that’s right, he said that the Leafs played right into the opposing coach’s strategy. Did the players underperform every postseason? It’s on the coach to get the best out of the roster. He lost every game 7, blew a 3-1 series lead and only series they won required 3 lucky OT wins with comebacks… Even in regular season the team often underachieved and played down to opponents. Is that not a coaching issue if it never got addressed or fixed? Yes! Is it a reason they also didn’t show up for games in the playoffs? Yes! This team was capable of earning better playoff seeding every year but didn’t. Poor goaltending every year was the X factor they lost every year but poor coaching was a major factor with a top offense getting shut down by opponent coach every postseason. How did Keefe handle players that played badly? As far as I saw he just kept running them out. Did we see any improvement from struggling players? Not really. Again, on the coach.

[@Malt454]

The team can play in the regular season, when it really doesn't matter, so why wasn't Keefe a "disaster" then? Keefe's a scapegoat because, as always, replacing the coach is the easiest cosmetic "fix" so the franchise can say it's "committed to improvement". People who think that coaching is going to make a big difference in a franchise culture that doesn't HAVE to equate financial success with on-ice success are once again fooling themselves, as they somehow managed to do for over 5 decades.

[@zascorpusa]

When they fired Dubas that was time they should have also fired Keefe. Team needs a hard nosed, no nonsense coach who will push these soft divas to success

[@fornowok]

You mean those same "soft divas" that couldn't handle Mike Babcock. Really, I'm not trying to dump on you here, so forgive me. But I do think some of the players have to go. We gave this experiment the old college try, time to move on. I worry about throwing the baby out with the bathwater here. I heard that Keefe's regular season points percentage was .720. Only 4 teams have beat that in the same time period and 3 of them are in the leaf's division. Detroit, Ottawa and Buffalo are also improving. You can't miss the playoffs and win the cup too. If I had to choose between Keefe and Shanny, sorry Shanny. I just think there is a fine line between improving a team and ruining a team. I remember some of those Leaf teams in the 80's and 90's. No thanks to those good ol' days. What goes around comes around and no one has won more cups then Montreal. Look what happened there. It's always easier to see a line once you've crossed it. Losing all that regular season success may very well cross the proverbial line we can't see right now.

[@alouie001]

When players can no longer be coached, they need to leave. No coach will be able to change that. It's all about attitude.

[@jefffreese947]

That point is the Leafs need to take advantage of the incredible luck of maxxing out on 3 early picks in a row.

[@dougmarshall4010]

Too much credit and blame is given to the coach. These are professional players making millions per year. Why do you have to motivate them? Also, hockey is not a game of strategy with set plays like in Football and Basketball. You move the puck, pass to your forward or wingers, stick handle and shoot. That’s basically it. The game is basically determined on the bounce of the puck. You shoot, the goalie stops it, it bounces to your player who scores. It bounces to their defence men and your drive is over.

[@arthurjamesaltmann729]

Another sorta "dad guy" here--what you're describing is we older folks being further along the grief stage. We're at the acceptance stage that this team cannot do "the thing." I got hardened early on and actually cried when they traded "my guy" Lanny. You did get right the fact that we really have no expectations, so aren't disappointed when they let us down. Even Charlie Brown must have got tired of the football trick by Lucy....

[@MisterMister5893]

Google says Bobby Hull once clocked a shot at 118MPH. This is before the engineered sticks. Is this refuted?

[@MSmith-cp1tz]

The cope with Steve is hilarious

[@Flynn380_]

If the Leafs don't get something done in the next 5 years the way that was talked about with the ups and downs of a hockey team (the cyclical stretches of good years and then the down years) they run the risk of becoming the same as the Sabres.

[@GP8201]

Look forward to Pelley and Treliving bringing in Craig Berube and Steve Ott. Marner won't last with that regime. Tavares paying on the 3rd/4th line with that salary is insanity, so I expect to also see him gone.

[@jimlangdon1947]

With this Core 4 and any coach 😀- come playoffs the Leafs did as well as possible without Core 4 upgrades.

[@matthewgrainger8285]

Is this the 4th video about the Keefe firing?

[@davidmollenhauer7580]

240th.

[@RippinRooster]

Why did they not park Ryan Reaves in front of the net on the PP just once?

[@mikesmith6543]

In my opinion they really should have used Reaves throughout the series. I agree he could have been parked in front of the net effectively.

[@Malt454]

They didn't "have to" do anything with Keefe, because he was never the problem compared to a franchise that simply doesn't HAVE to perform to be insanely profitable. The problem isn't the team anymore; it's the fans who simply don't care about the quality of the product.

[@outerfroggy1]

Fans don't care? What an asinine statement

[@Malt454]

@@outerfroggy1 - It's the fans who are asinine, because they'll blindly support this team at ANY dismal level of performance whatsoever. Until the revenue stream of this franchise is performance based instead of performance proof, fans can't expect improvement.

[@atarileaf]

Quinville. Full stop

[@keithck3720]

He's still blacklisted by the league. Literally can't be hired by any NHL team for any position until Betttman OKs it.

[@atarileaf]

@@keithck3720 I know that. He's still the best choice. Shanny should be on the phone with bettman about it

[@keithck3720]

@@atarileaf Quenneville just started his penance tour. His time in exile isn't even close to done yet. Also, Shammy and MLSE have pull with the league but they don't have THAT kind of pull.

[@JimmyFlorida337]

Jon Cooper's contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning ends after the 2024-2025 Season. Cooper has not hid how much he likes the players on Toronto. Every press conference he compliments how good Toronto is. So what if this happens. Steven Stamkos signs a free agency deal with Toronto July 1. Cooper and the Lightning are approached by Toronto for a deal to acquire Cooper. Draft picks. Mitch Marner. Whatever. Toronto gets Stamkos as a FA. And Cooper in a deal.

[@TheBalls2thewalls]

Habs fan here, while it sounds good, I firmly believe Stamkos is Bolt 4 life.

[@vipeholmskolan6052]

When Bettman steps down as comissioner, you can fire Shanny and replace him with Betts!

[@bellamydrake9343]

Leaf Nation will buy the merch no matter who is in charge of the team or where they are in the standings. I'm not insulting Leaf Nation, I'm saying they are the most loyal fan base in the NHL. A lot of teams have band wagon fans when things go good. Leaf Nation like my Canuck Nation are there no matter what.

[@jayvardy]

The Leafs need a coach that's won The Stanley Cup. Not a coach that's won the calder cup or the memorial cup or been to the conference final... They need a guy that's won it all. Berube is my second choice. Jon Cooper is my first choice if he does indeed resign from TB this summer.

[@scottdreger7137]

Tree could only handle 1 thing at a time , and let the players prove they needed a change. Tree knew the team would do his dirty work

[@dank8912]

Bunting was good in front of the goalie....maybe not in Toronto but with Pens was effective

[@jayscott6281]

How do you coach self priclaimed gods?

[@optare77]

If only they had a Zach Hyman type player

[@HearMeOutGuy]

Unless the players hate Keefe zero reason to fire him

[@kennethkirkland7589]

He had a winning record Jessi. Cut him sum slack he was a great coach and a winning coach at that.

[@elninoson5282]

Someone comment on this when they stop doing gambling ads please

[@jeffreyadams648]

He’s a scapegoat for the whole organisation

[@mamagne800]

Keefe is not he one who gave those crazy overpaid contract to seasonal players like Marner, Matthews and Nylander who are disappearing in the playoff. Firing the coaches have always been the easy solution for the GM to look good.

[@Norm_MacLeod]

Every failing business needs a scapegoat. And Keefe is it. Meanwhile guys at the top of the organization are STILL there. Just like the main problems the Leafs have had for DECADES.

[@user-vh9vw7un9b]

Leafs should go all out and sign Dillon and DeMelo for the next 3-4 years.

[@davidlaffin5747]

They never provided the coach with the personnel to score the hard goals.

[@user-vh9vw7un9b]

Babcock sussed out Marner. Babcock would not bend to Matthews demands for more ice time. Matthews gets roughed up and the entire Leaf bench looks on with no interest. Matthews et all stopped playing until Babcock was fired.

[@danshobbies13]

Devils fan here. I’ll take Keefe. Great win percentage and can make the playoffs.

[@johnwilkesboothslastleg1957]

Why did the MLH have to move on from the NHL?

[@sparkram2298]

These guys were asking for Keefe to be fired, and now their asking why did They fire keefe, or should they fire keefe. MAKE UP UR F*in mind dude

[@user-xg8ig6zx5r]

Because he was the scapegoat for Shanahan! Fire Shanahan and try as best you can to get Marner and Tavares and possibly Rielly to waive and build a realistic NHL team like we all have been saying since Shanahan got here!

[@user-xg8ig6zx5r]

90 to 95% of what we complained about Keefe was due to the TML players not willing to buy in and be a net front presence! Not enough sandpaper in the corners on both offense and defense . Rielly has become un playable in our own end, trade him or make him a forward! Tavares is the worst captain in the NHL stealing an 11M salary while refusing to waive and performing worse then 3M Domi! Marner was a COMPLETE no show in playoffs!

[@markcarew6724]

The players are lazy, the management are clueless, and the ownership doesn't care as long as the seats are full and merchandise is selling.

[@krob5375]

Keefe did a decent enough job. But he was too soft on the team. Besides scoring, or the lack of, this team likes to wait until they're up against it before they start putting in an actual effort. If they had played the first 4 games like they did the last 3, could have been a different series.

[@davidmollenhauer7580]

Now that Keefe’s been dispensed with, there is more room behind the bench for Shanahan and now Treliving to actually openly coach their overpaid Core Four for all their fans to see.

[@timw4369]

They didnt have to move on the coach is the easiest piece to move out.

[@dank8912]

Mike Vellucci is a great coach watched him in Charlotte when they won the Calder want him to take over the Pens head coaching position, he would be good candidate if they are willing to take a chance.

[@WW-sj7zk]

… so he could enjoy actual playoff performance.

[@user-vh9vw7un9b]

Leafs by now should have a stable defense corps and in goal. They have neither. Mostly because their forward group eats up most of the cap. Until the Leafs can start spending cap dollars on defense and in goal OR better yet brining up young talent from their organization this team is not going far in the playoffs.

[@hellinterface6721]

Morgan Rielly get him gone.

[@craigharrison5406]

So Shanahan could keep his own job.

[@jeffreyadams648]

It a question of motivating. He didn’t lead the team. Tavares is not a leader, Trevelong is not and the msle forget about it.

[@rosieone5670]

40 coaches since 1918, 24 coaches since 1967, I don’t believe coaching is the problem.

[@atarileaf]

How many players and gm's since 1967? What's your point? It's a top down philosophy issue

[@jeffsframe9927]

You’re still doing this bit ?! Is this a repeat ? Oh well….guess you guys got to drag it out and make a living. Real question is : how many more weeks after the firing and the end of season press conference can you keep doing this show ? I figure 2 - 3.

[@williamrallis83]

Keefe could only go so far and no more and never all the way He always got out coached in the playoffs

[@whitegd4100]

They didn’t. The players are the problem 😂

[@davidmollenhauer7580]

Everyone is the problem in Toronto except the Toronto Maple Leaf’s management.

[@generalimlerith8356]

Do you really have to ask why lol it was as it is seems no results equals no job

[@flodareltih9825]

Leafs = Sharks, two perennial playoff chokers

[@ratedRblazin420]

I'd take the Sharks 10 times out of 10 if I had to pick who would make it further in the playoffs. Toronto's playoff chokes are way worse

[@briandelorme6689]

They fired him so he can go coach a Playoff team.

[@73stanglover]

Give it up guys. The Leafs lost, don't tell me that you're surprised. Not everyone cares. Give it a rest already 😅

[@wavyamar]

I'll say this Leafs always run into a crazy damn goaltender in the playoffs. That's the only thing I can say good about them in the playoffs

[@michaelb4590]

Shanahan was the much bigger problem

[@platapus112]

Should have fired the MLH

[@matthewshepley8298]

TML will not win a Cup inder MLSE ownership

[@user-zn7ll5bu2q]

Hey I drive a truck and didn't like your comment

[@scottcampbell5536]

PP was a disaster. Team D was awful.

[@user-vh9vw7un9b]

The question is why did the Leafs move on from Lou Lamoriello who I believe would have had far greater success with the Leafs than Dubas. Babcock was perfect to "mentor" the young guns. Both Matthews and Marner. The real question is why does no one talk about how Matthews can get roughed up and the rest of the Leaf bench look on disinterested. That is the biggest warning sign in the Matthews era followed by Matthews demanding more ice time.

[@Joeblow12349]

You guys need a life

[@dandy87]

Easy way out! Sad it doesn't go where it should! PLAYERS......

[@TheBalls2thewalls]

Seems to me Patrick Roy would have been a good coach last year when they fired Dubas.

[@JayMil365]

The problem is and always will be the salary cap and the underperforming core FORE!🏌️‍♂️⛳️

[@dinoricci1778]

They always fire from the BOTTOM UP, IT'S ALL ABOUT PROTECTION, SAVING YOUR JOB. , #1. GOALIE. NEEDED, WALL. AS. BACKUP. , DEFENSE NEEDS. HELP, SIZE. AND. GRITT. PLAYERS. NEEDED, DO WHAT NEEDS. TO. BE. DONE, ENOUGH. OF. THE. STUPIDITY,THINK. CUP