TORONTO– The Toronto Maple Leafs are only focused on getting better, not head coach Sheldon Keefe’s job security.
“We’re out there trying to win games, that’s all we’re thinking about,” defensive end Morgan Rielly said at practice Tuesday.
After a 1-2-2 road trip that ended with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday when they gave up a 3-1 lead in the third period, the Maple Leafs will play eight of their next 10 games at home starting against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, NBCSP+, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Despite high expectations, Toronto (4-4-2) has gotten off to a slow start through 10 games, including regulation losses to the Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes and Vegas Golden Knights, and overtime losses to the San Jose Sharks and Ducks, all the teams that did it. did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs last season.
As for any suggestion that Keefe’s job is in jeopardy, the players disagree.
“We’re a hockey team that wants to win games,” forward Mitchell Marner said. “Keefe has done an amazing job with this team when he’s come in and done what he’s done. If you look at our numbers, we’ve improved a lot of things and he’s done an amazing job here. He’s been a lot of fun to play with. For us, it’s just making sure that it starts with our effort, responsibility and once we get those two things, I think we’re really moving in the right direction.”
Marner was publicly held accountable by Keefe during Sunday’s loss, and was ejected for a shift after committing two turnovers that led directly to Anaheim’s goals. He left the bench during a stoppage in the game to vent his frustration, but said his displeasure stemmed from his poor play, not the bench.
“I take a lot of responsibility on myself and [Keefe] he does with everybody here in this locker room,” Marner said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, you have to show that every player is accountable, regardless, and I have no problem with that.”
Keefe is 120-54-21 in 195 games over four seasons since replacing Mike Babcock as Toronto coach on Nov. 20, 2019, and the Maple Leafs have lost all three playoff series during his tenure. He said he is not focusing on the mounting pressure.
“My goal is just to get our team to play better,” Keefe said. “I think one area we can improve the most is how we connect, how we execute coming out of our zone and going through the neutral zone and just attacking from there.”
The Maple Leafs are built around offensive prowess, but they ranked 27th in the NHL in goals per game (2.70) on Tuesday, having scored more than three in a game once. Toronto ranked second with a 3.80 goals-per-game average last season, going 2-4-1 in its first seven games, then winning five straight en route to finishing second in the Atlantic Division ( 54-21-7).
Captain John Tavares agreed with Keefe that the road to offensive improvement starts in the defensive zone.
“We look at how we’re breaking the puck and just try to be more efficient,” Tavares said. “We open up our speed and our ability to attack and in the forecheck and hope to connect all three zones together.”
While the players admitted they can sense the frustration among a fan base eager to see the Maple Leafs succeed, center Auston Matthews said fans aren’t alone in those feelings.
“I think we’re frustrated, too,” Matthews said. “I think it’s not a one-way street. We want to be better, win games and play to our abilities. … We expect a lot from each other.”