Sheldon Keefe may be the most underrated ELITE head coach in the NHL and here's the evidence
Since replacing Mike Babcock as head coach during the 2019-2020 season, Sheldon Keefe has been under a microscope from most of, if not all of Leafs Nation. Despite making the postseason every year under Keefe, there still seems to be a sliver of doubt from fans due to the lack of playoff success, which is understandable. Beyond that, though, Keefe has been one of the league's very best coaches - and that's not an exaggeration.
In the 185 games under the 2018 Calder Memorial Cup winner, the Leafs rank second in points, behind only the 2022 Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche, third in total wins and second in goals for. This team has been an offensive juggernaut since Keefe has taken over and, although the post season success may not do him justice, these numbers certainly do.
In addition, Keefe ranks second all time in points percentage with coaches that have more than two seasons under their belt, ranking under the late Tim Johnson and above Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, the legendary Scotty Bowman and current Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour. It's safe to say that Keefe is doing better than okay with the Leafs.
This season is going to be a big one for the Leafs. Fortunately for all of us in Leafs Nation, we have the right coach and the right team to bring us a Stanley Cup and prove to the hockey world that the Buds aren't pretenders.
| POLL | ||
13 SEPTEMBRE | 309 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe may be the most underrated ELITE head coach in the NHL and here's the evidence Is Sheldon Keefe and elite NHL coach? | ||
| Yes | 132 | 42.7 % |
| No | 101 | 32.7 % |
| Once he wins a Cup, he will be | 76 | 24.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
