TORONTO: Following yet another early exit from the NHL playoffs, Sheldon Keefe was fired on Thursday, ending his tenure as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Following Toronto’s Game 7 loss to rival Boston last weekend—the team’s fourth first-round loss in five years under Keefe—the change was anticipated. Since Keefe took over in November 2019, the Maple Leafs have only triumphed in one postseason series.

In a statement, general manager Brad Treliving said, “Today’s decision was difficult.” Sheldon is a wonderful man and a superb coach. But we came to the conclusion that the team needs a fresh perspective to persevere and accomplish our main objective.

In a social media video statement, Keefe expressed his eternal gratitude for the chance to lead the Maple Leafs, describing it as “a dream come true for a boy from Brampton,” his hometown outside of Toronto. He also admitted that the outcomes did not match his original expectations.

Keefe remarked, “I didn’t get it done in the playoffs.” “I didn’t contribute to our squad reaching the finish line. I take ownership of that. Make no excuses. That is the task. I was unable to finish it. I accept that as the way things are in the business.

Following the 19th coaching change in the league since the conclusion of the 2022–2023 season, the team announced that Keefe’s replacement will be found right away. On Friday, Treliving and other management representatives are anticipated to speak with reporters regarding the coaching change and other season-ending matters.

Thanks in large part to his junior hockey connections, Keefe, 43, joined the club in 2015 as the coach of the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. At the time, deputy general manager Kyle Dubas had been promoted to general manager and had served five seasons until being sacked the previous year.When Dubas fired Mike Babcock a few weeks into the 2019–20 season, Keefe took over for him.

All that was left were some fantastic regular seasons and postseason visits, with little else to show for it. Under Keefe’s direction, the Leafs finished 16–21 in the postseason behind a core that included Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, and John Tavares.

Keefe stated earlier this week that although he takes responsibility for the group’s and his own failure to live up to expectations, he was extremely confident in the group’s and his own abilities to achieve.

“I believe in myself and our team more than ever,” Keefe remarked. “That both our team and I will triumph.”

If they do end up winning in Toronto, it will be with a different coach. The 2019 Stanley Cup winner Craig Berube, the seasoned Bruce Boudreau, and the former Minnesota coach are among the knowledgeable choices available.