Maple Leafs Fire Sheldon Keefe: Penguins Next?

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PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins are kicking their offseason with a search for new faces in the organizational coaching staff, and a top target may have just hit the market. The Toronto Maple Leafs fired Sheldon Keefe as their head coach, and the Penguins may just be his landing spot.

Keefe has a history with key figures in the Penguins’ front office, and the hunt for an NHL assistant and AHL head coach is underway. Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas is looking for a replacement for Todd Reirden. Jason Spezza is looking for names to fill some vacancies with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Dubas and Keefe have a successful history dating back to their days with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. After taking over as GM of the Greyhounds, Dubas hired Keefe as the head coach in late 2012.

Keefe would follow Dubas to the Maple Leafs organization, first as head coach of their AHL squad, the Toronto Marlies. Under Dubas and Keefe, the Marlies won the 2018 Calder Cup. In November 2019, Dubas promoted Keefe to head coach of the Maple Leafs.

Over his five seasons as head coach of the Maple Leafs, Keefe never made it past the second round of the postseason but consistently had a winning team in the regular season. His skill may not be suitable for a head coaching role again just yet, but that isn’t what the Penguins are looking to fill.

Keefe may fit in just fine as an NHL assistant but don’t count out the head coaching job open with WBS. Former Maple Leafs assistant general manager Spezza is leading that search, which might be the perfect fit for Keefe.

There is already an established success at that level under Dubas’ watch, and the Penguins want to build a top-notch development system. Familiarity paired with a specific vision may lead Keefe back to the AHL, but under a voice he knows well.

The Maple Leafs relieved Keefe of his duties before a two-year contract extension was set to begin. The Maple Leafs will continue to pay Keefe through those two years, making a job at the AHL level more appealing for him financially. He would still make an NHL paycheck while working at a lower level.

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