Former Maple Leafs Head Coach Takes Aim at Toronto

Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe finally broke the silence on his time in one of hockey's most scrutinized markets, Toronto, and he didn’t hold back.

Now coaching the New Jersey Devils, Keefe talked to Devils play-by-play announcer Matt Loughlin in a Q&A session held on August 9 . The former Leafs coach touched on the relentless pressure that comes with leading the Leafs, hinting that the constant spotlight in Toronto can be overwhelming.

“There’s nothing that I haven’t seen or experienced,” Keefe said. “And I've seen it at the highest level."

Keefe, who coached the Leafs for five seasons and amassed an extraordinary regular-season record of 212-97-40, acknowledged that the pressure in Toronto is unlike any other while acknowledging his postseason failures.

Despite leading the team to two of their best seasons in recent history, the weight of expectations and the inability to go deep in the playoffs eventually led to his departure.

"Perhaps we didn’t get deep enough in the playoffs for it to really elevate, but I guess the deeper you go in the playoffs, everyone, no matter where you are, you know, the attention and what have you is going to increase, but it's on an everyday basis in Toronto and I've experienced that,” Keefe said.

While Keefe’s regular-season success places him among the Leafs' all-time best in terms of win percentage, he made it clear that the daily intensity of the Toronto market leaves little room for error or patience.

"I think the biggest thing is just to remain true to yourself, keep the focus on the things that matter and the things that you can control," Keefe said. "So that is the perspective I've gained, which comes through any experience in life, but certainly what I've been through as it relates to the media attention and the expectations that were on the team in Toronto."

The Maple Leafs fired Keefe following a first-round exit at the hands of the Boston Bruins in the 2024 playoffs. The Devils signed Keefe as their new head coach, securing him on a four-year deal, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski .

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