Sheldon Keefe with yet another impressive NHL coaching accolade after huge win
The Leafs are just past the half way point of the season and are on pace to set franchise records in wins and points and will still face one of Tampa, Boston or Florida in the first round of the playoffs (worst playoff set up in pro sports).
A big reason behind the Leafs' success, the staff behind the bench, led by Sheldon Keefe. In his third (first full 82 game) season as Leafs Head Coach Keefe has turned a once offensive dynamo into a very well-rounded and stout defensive team without sacrificing much offense.
With a full training camp and some luck on the injury front this season (only missing players for a handful of games) and stellar goaltending at times, Keefe has been able to show the league just how good of a coach he is. So much so that the Leafs are tops in the league in combined special teams percentage, top 5 in goals score per game, goals allowed per game, powerplay and penalty kill percentage and top 5 at even strength in all major shot metrics such as corsi, scoring chances and expected goals.
It certainly hasn't been easy for Keefe or the rest of the coaching staff to ignore the outside media and fan questions of their defensive pairings and major defensive inefficiencies at times, but they have done just that, kept their sword to the grindstone and have been rewarded with possibly the best statistical team the Leafs have ever had.
Unlike his predecessor Babcock, Keefe is not shy to make in-game lineup changes to try to spark the offense or hold down the defensive zone and it appears that all the players have bought into his systems. He has also made it a point to explain to the media that before he makes line changes with his stars he explains to them his thought process to ensure they understand and are on the same page to prevent the media from ambushing them during their media availabilities.
Last night against Pittsburgh was Keefe's 150th game as the head coach of the Leafs and with the win, Keefe has now racked up 94 wins in his first 150 games as an NHL coach. For some perspective, that is tied for the 4th-highest win total among coaches in their first 150 games in NHL history. Keefe's 94 wins are also far and away the most wins through a coach's first 150 games in franchise history.
The win on Thursday also improved the Leafs to 94-41-15 under Keefe in his three "half" seasons at the helm which is a respectable .677 points percentage. The young coach set the franchise record for points percentage last season with .688. This year, Keefe boasts a .713 points percentage so far this season and is in pace to beat his previous record, only this time he's not doing it in a 56-game season in the North Division. He's doing it in an 82-game season in the powerhouse Atlantic.
It's long past time for Keefe to get his due.
