Sheldon Keefe's comments after a blowout loss will resonate with Maple Leafs fans
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe brought some unpleasant memories for Leafs fans after the Devils were thrashed 9-0 by the New York Islanders.
On Tuesday night, there were several high-scoring affairs around the NHL however none were more egregious than New York's 9-0 drubbing of the New Jersey Devils.
Backed by a 44-save shutout from Ilya Sorokin and a hat-trick from Anthony Duclair, it was an absolute nightmare for Jacob Markstrom, who made only 15 saves on 24 shots and gave Sheldon Keefe horrible flashbacks.
Sheldon Keefe harkening back to scary time for Leafs Nation
They were so bad in fact that when reporters spoke to Keefe post-game, he started off by bringing back some bad memories; especially for Maple Leafs fans.
Keefe noted that the Islanders were dominant from start to finish, but it was their quality of chances that really took center stage:
Obviously it makes it a challenge because there's a lot we did well that led to us offensively, they were probably the best offensive team in terms of quality chances we've played in a really long time.
The way we started, the quality of chance we gave up; it's unacceptable. It creates a hole that's hard to get out of. How we started, and how it ended, it's a difficult game to process.
The way we started, the quality of chance we gave up; it's unacceptable. It creates a hole that's hard to get out of. How we started, and how it ended, it's a difficult game to process.
While the first part of Keefe's quote would also sting for Maple Leafs fans as they've no doubt been on the receiving end of some rough losses, it's his follow-up comment that really brings back bad memories.
Craig Berube has transformed Toronto into a more respectable defensive team
Far too often fans saw the Maple Leafs give up a ton of goals while Keefe was in charge, and while the team came out with the victory a majority of the time it overshadowed the actual issues.
Toronto would give up their fair share of shots, heck they still do. But the difference is that Craig Berube's system has opponents taking weaker and less effective chances as opposed to Keefe's which gave up a lot of in-close and high-danger chances.
In the 2023-24 season, the Maple Leafs gave up the third most high-danger chances in the NHL and when you couple it with the 412 defensive zone giveaways; you get a recipe for disaster and Keefe's reflection of New Jersey's game mirrors his previous coaching history.
Compare the same metrics to Berube, who last year was responsible for Toronto ranking 7th in defensive zone giveaways, and pushed the team from 30th in high-danger chances given up to 14th (all stats per MoneyPuck).
So while some fans may be missing the run-and-gun style of the Keefe era, the slower and more boring style of Craig Berube has made the team overall a lot better, and hasn't been on the receiving end of a 9-0 thrashing as part of the Maple Leafs.
Which is probably a sign that his hiring was the right move after all.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
What Auston Matthews said after the Maple Leafs' win over the Panthers
What Auston Matthews said after the Maple Leafs' win over the Panthers
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 7 | 1943 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe's comments after a blowout loss will resonate with Maple Leafs fans Do you think Sheldon Keefe was a good coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 1244 | 64 % |
| No | 699 | 36 % |
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