Following Sheldon Keefe’s Dismissal Who Will be The Next Head Coach of the Maple Leafs? Here are the Top Candidates

A new era is upon us behind the Toronto Maple Leafs’ bench.

The organization announced on Thursday morning that they had fired head coach Sheldon Keefe and that the team “will immediately begin the search for a new head coach, and decisions regarding the remainder of the coaching staff will follow.”

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving signed Keefe to a two-year extension last season after getting to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004. However, after another first-round defeat, Toronto decided that “a new voice” for the dressing room was needed.

The available crop of experienced NHL head coaches is limited. But, there are still a few names that could fit the mould that Toronto is looking for: A coach that can help “the team push through to reach our ultimate goal.”

It’s likely not going to be current Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who’s in the final year of his contract. If there’s anyone who has a passion for winning and could light a fire under this current Maple Leafs roster, it’s him.

However, there are two reasons why that hire is unlikely.

Treliving wants to “act quickly,” per TSN’s Darren Dreger, and, Brind’Amour is currently in the middle of a playoff series against the New York Rangers in the second round of the playoffs. Brind’Amour has also publicly expressed his desire to stay in Carolina, saying that he remains optimistic that a deal can get done with Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell.

If not Brind’Amour, what available head coach makes sense for Toronto?

Honorable mention: Bruce Boudreau, because of his passion for the Maple Leafs, which I think could help them immensely. Maybe in an assistant coaching role?

3. Todd McLellan

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Most recently with the L.A. Kings, McLellan has the most experience among the top available head coaches. He was an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings for three seasons and won a Stanley Cup in 2008.

McLellan then became the head coach of the San Jose Sharks. He was there from 2008 to 2015 and took them to the conference finals in back-to-back seasons (2010 and 2011).

After the Sharks parted ways with McLellan in 2015, he was brought in by the Edmonton Oilers as their head coach for three years, before being axed 20 games into the 2018-19 season. Edmonton only made the playoffs once in his tenure, going to the second round in 2017.

McLellan then led the Kings for parts of five seasons but was let go on Feb. 2. L.A. made the playoffs twice during his tenure and was eliminated in the opening round.

He makes sense for Toronto because of his lengthy history as head coach. However, McLellan’s lack of recent playoff success makes him the third-best coach available

2. Gerard Gallant

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Of the few head coaches available, Gallant has had recent playoff success. Although he was let go after last season by the New York Rangers, he did take them to the third round of the playoffs in 2022.

Before that, Gallant was the first-ever head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights and helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season before falling 4-1 to the Washington Capitals.

Gallant, and his recent playoff success, could be of interest when understanding what Toronto wants in a head coach. Not having a Stanley Cup to his name might make the Maple Leafs lean toward another candidate.

1. Craig Berube

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Among the head coaches available, I, and many others, believe that Berube is the clear frontrunner to be Toronto’s next bench boss.

He has a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues and has said it would be “an honor” to coach the Maple Leafs if it were to happen.

Dreger added on TSN’s That’s Hockey that Berube would be a “top candidate” for the Maple Leafs’ head coaching job, if it became available, which it has. Where there’s a lot of smoke, means a fire is burning.

And that could signify that Berube is the likeliest of all candidates to become the 32nd head coach in Maple Leafs history.

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