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Former Leafs coach doesn't like how Sheldon Keefe is perceived in Toronto
Photo credit: NHL, Maple Leafs
Former Maple Leafs coach Dave Hakstol has gone to bat for Sheldon Keefe after Keefe was run out of Toronto.
Following another first-round playoff exit, the Toronto Maple Leafs relieved Sheldon Keefe of his duties as head coach after five seasons. It was something Keefe said he saw coming, but it didn't take him long to find new work as he was named the head coach of the New Jersey Devils.
Keefe was scrutinized time and time again for many of his lineup decisions and tactics, but one person who was impressed with his work was former Leafs assistant coach Dave Hakstol. Hakstol was on 'Leafs Morning Take' yesterday where he was asked about the former Leafs head coach and what impressed him most.
»He's very very well prepared. He's a guy that looks beyond the obvious at times, I believe in his mind, he's not afraid to innovate, to try to look to new things. I look back to the situation when he came into the Leafs.
Obviously he had been in the organization, he had strong relationships throughout the organization, but that still doesn't make that process of transitioning from the American Hockey League and Toronto Marlies to the Toronto Maple Leafs in November and I thought he did a tremendous job with that, with the players, with the staff. That was my, other than training camp earlier in the year, [first time] getting to know Keefer and I was really impressed with all of that under the stress and strain of being the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach.
I've got a lot of respect for Sheldon. I thought he handled his time there very very well as a young coach and growing through it.»
Obviously he had been in the organization, he had strong relationships throughout the organization, but that still doesn't make that process of transitioning from the American Hockey League and Toronto Marlies to the Toronto Maple Leafs in November and I thought he did a tremendous job with that, with the players, with the staff. That was my, other than training camp earlier in the year, [first time] getting to know Keefer and I was really impressed with all of that under the stress and strain of being the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach.
I've got a lot of respect for Sheldon. I thought he handled his time there very very well as a young coach and growing through it.»
Hakstol saw Keefe quickly grow and develop into a very good NHL coach and many people believe that Keefe will have tons of success in New Jersey.
Hakstol spent two seasons as Keefe's assistant before becoming the head coach of the Seattle Kraken until the end of this past season and prior to joining the Leafs he was the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 13 | 526 ANSWERS Former Leafs coach doesn't like how Sheldon Keefe is perceived in Toronto Will Sheldon Keefe have more success in New Jersey? | ||
| Yes | 265 | 50.4 % |
| No | 261 | 49.6 % |
| List of polls | ||