Speaking to reporters in Nashville ahead of the NHL Draft on Wednesday and Thursday, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager confirmed Keefe would return next year to guide the Buds.
“Sheldon will be back,” Treliving said.
Treliving, of course, has only been the Leafs GM since former GM Kyle Dubas and the organization parted ways in May following Toronto’s second-round loss to the Florida Panthers. Given the guy who hired him — Dubas — is no longer at the helm, to say nothing of the fact Keefe is on a contract that expires at this time next year and has one playoff series win in five attempts with Toronto, there was plenty of speculation that a new executive may want his own guy behind the bench in an attempt to find a winning formula.
Not so.
Treliving indicated he had really never crossed paths with Keefe before the former took his new job. That changed during an intense period of meetings that took place over a few days. The result of that was Treliving being very impressed with what he saw and heard.
“There’s a real focus,” he said of Keefe. “He [came into] this market at a young age, as a young coach and has been able to deal. That’s not an easy job. I think he’s got a bright mind. He’s open to change. He’s strong in his beliefs, but also doesn’t think he’s got all the answers.”
Treliving noted that sometimes people are better during their second chance at a job and, though Keefe still holds the position he had previously, he may benefit from new working relationships and gaining a different perspective on some things. One thing Treliving is banking on continuing is the mutual respect between Keefe and the players in the Leafs dressing room.
“Sheldon has a really good relationship with his players,” he said. “They all think he’s a good coach. I think there’s a real strong bond.”
That leaves two items of business remaining on Treliving’s to-do list with respect to the coachingstaff: filling the vacancy created when assistant Spencer Carbery took the Washington Capitals top job and figuring out if Keefe will get an extension this summer or enter next season on the last year of his contract.
Treliving said, between the draft, contract negotiations with players and looming free agency, the team has a lot cooking right now and will figure out what’s going on with the open assistant spot down the road. And, basically, he’ll take the same approach with Keefe and a potential extension.
“We’ll deal with that at the appropriate time,” Treliving said, “but Sheldon will continue on and [we’re] excited for him to do so.”
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