Sheldon Keefe, 43, was sacked as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday following five seasons and four first-round playoff exits. During that time, he had a 212-97-40 record, five postseason appearances, and one division title.
Keefe’s teams have been successful in the regular season, finishing above 100 points in each of the previous three years, but they have struggled in the postseason. Under Keefe, the Leafs only made it to the second round once, and that was in 2022. They averaged just two goals per game, which was about a goal and a half less than they scored in the regular season, and were quickly destroyed in five games by the Florida Panthers.
The best contenders to take over as head coach of the Maple Leafs after Keefe retires are listed below.
Craig Berube
Former St. Louis Blues HC Berube has long been considered the front-runner to succeed Keefe in the event of his firing. Berube has a solid NHL resume, having guided the Blues to five playoff appearances in his eight seasons and winning a Stanley Cup with them in 2019. Berube, who is only five years removed from winning a Cup, has a lifetime points percentage of 58.4 and is expected to be a hot commodity during the next NHL coaching cycle. Berube is an astute coach who approaches success with a stern demeanor. He might be just what the struggling Maple Leafs need as they attempt to win the Cup again with their pricey but ineffective core of players.
Woodcroft Jay
Having been sacked by the Edmonton Oilers after just 13 games in the 2023 season, Woodcroft appeared to have gotten a harsh deal. Although the Edmonton Oilers were only 3-9-1 during that time, they went on to win 11 of their next 14 games as the offense found its groove and the team’s goaltending stabilized. He might be just what the struggling Maple Leafs need as they attempt to win the Cup again with their pricey but ineffective core of players.
Following Dave Tippett’s firing midway through the 2021–22 season, Woodcroft took over as the Oilers’ head coach. Woodcroft guided Edmonton to a 26–9–3 record and their first conference final since 2005. Although Woodcroft has only been a head coach in the NHL for two years or less, his expertise working with superstars like Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid should help Toronto’s players play to their full potential.
Karl Taylor
Taylor is the player Toronto needs to take a chance and bat for the fences. Taylor is previously acquainted with the Leafs, having been pursued by them for an assistant coaching position the previous season. As the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals, the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate, Taylor has an overall record of 204-112-43.
Claude Julien
Julien is another accomplished winner, but unlike Berube, it has been a long time since Julien captured the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. Julien last coached in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020–21 season. His teams are known for playing disciplined hockey, and he has made the playoffs in ten of his 19 seasons as a head coach.
Gerard Gallant
Gallant guided the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their 2017 expansion season, and he has guided three of his four clubs to the postseason. Gallant’s teams have hit the 100-point mark three times in the last five seasons and made the playoffs five times in his previous seven. The New York Rangers were his most recent NHL coaching position, which he held from 2022 to 2023.
