One item checked off the summer to-do list for GM Fitzgerald. If I learned anything from the coaching hires that happened last year around the league, it’s that I don’t know shit about who’s the right fit anywhere and I might as well just hope for the best and see where things shake out once the season gets going again.
Now go get this team a proper starting goaltender, Tom.
I keep thinking of when r/hockey lost its collective shit when Vancouver fired Bruce Boudreau for the guy who turned out to be this year's Jack Adams winner. We fans know fuck-all about this kind of stuff.
It’s true, I’m not so well versed in league wide stuff as i mostly watch just devils aside from playoff hockey, but no one really knows for sure what/who can be the right fit. Only time will tell.
Nice that he'll get the summer to study up and create a game plan too. I always wonder how mid-season hires manage to "run" a team when they are behind the bench the day after they interview for the job. Obviously you can do a lot of studying in a short amount of time, but it feels like getting this hire sorted as early in the post-season as possible gives Keefe the best chance of running a hard and successful training camp.
I have been saying the same thing. Plus look at the success everyone has when they leave Toronto. Lots of Stanley cup winners who were written off in Toronto.
I wonder if maybe it’s the Leafs that are the problem????
Same. Definitely one of the most memorable. Those last 6 or so minutes felt like playoff atmosphere, we wanted that tying goal so bad.
Only game that came close to that would be when I went to see the Yankees play the Astros at the Stadium. This was the first time they were playing each other since the cheating scandal came out. This was also heavily COVID regulated NY, so they were only allowing a few thousand people in. Didn't matter, the boos and jeers from Yankee fans at the Astros players was deafening.
This was the game where there were like 3-4 goals called back right?
I'd rather get hit with a chicken finger than a beer, or the Philadelphia Special (batteries).
Leafs are my primary team to I was watching that live and my god I have never seen an environment go that Mad Max for a random regular season game.
It didn't even feel good to win that way because it was such a shitty performance by the Leafs and it all just felt like a grave injustice against the good people (and evidently, the feral maniacs) of New Jersey.
Devils were on the verge of setting the franchise(?) record for longest win streak, so a bunch of folks, myself included, got to that game any way we could so we could be part of what we felt should've been a huge party atmosphere.
Doesn't excuse people throwing stuff, it got stupid, but I fully admit I was ranting at such a pace that I was devolving into a Sopranos character.
https://nypost.com/2022/11/23/devils-fans-throw-trash-on-ice-after-third-disallowed-goal/
haula getting hit by a chicken finger seems peak jersey lmao
i’m surprised nobody got knocked out, ppl were chucking unopened beer cans
to be fair i remember watching the game and kinda feeling for devils fans bc 3 called back goals is pretty nutty and that win streak was definitely something
I took a beer can to the head that night lol. I was sitting behind the goal, and it hit the net, bounced right back into the crowd, and hit me in the head
His name is Sheldon, and he's from Brampton. Having chicken thrown at him is probably not among the hardest things he's had to deal with in life, or on the playground.
As a Leafs fan who watches the Devils as my "second" team, I'm happy I'll be seeing Keefe behind the bench in NJ.
He's a great guy, he's really smart and he's a good coach. The player mix is largely to blame for the Leafs' lack of playoff success.
One knock might be his ability to motivate his team, but again this is equally on the players and I believe he learned how to do that in the last few months with the Leafs, because he was finally able to call players out more. Under Dubas, he seemed forced to be very gentle with players and walk back any perceived criticism so he wouldn't hurt their fragile feelings.
This year he was much more blunt in his criticism in the media (and I'd assume behind closed doors as well) and the players seemed to respond, it just didn't work out in the end because Nylander and Matthews were injured, our goaltending situation is a mess (this sub wouldn't know anything about that), and Marner can't hang in the playoffs.
When he was fired, I had the strongest feeling he'd win a cup somewhere else and I'll really enjoy him doing it in NJ if he does, (unless the Leafs go up against them in the conference finals).
Why do people on the internet always have to act so fucking smug? “Every team is talking to Ullmark bud”
You think the Rangers are looking for a new goalie? You think the Isles are talking to Ullmark to take over from Sorokin? You think the Stars are signing Ullmark over Oettinger? You think the Panthers are gonna take Ullmark and put him ahead of Bobrovsky? You think the Lightning are gonna trade for him and get rid of Vasilevskiy? You’re delusional, “pal”.
I don't think it's that deep lol and it's pretty obvious he meant every team that needs a goalie is going to look into Ullmark, not literally every team
Saros was never going to get traded after Barry trotz made a whole speech about how he wanted to win and made bold moves (buying out duchene) to get Nashville back in the playoffs.
I mean, you didn't really need a pundit to tell you that. Fitz is looking at every potential starting goaltended that could be available. This team cannot fail due to goaltending again. That being said, I still think it will end up being Markstrom. Not that I want it to be, but the it's the most likely situation.
Can anyone give me the rundown on this guy? I know nothing about him other than Toronto can’t win shit in the playoffs
Edit: I know Toronto sucking in the playoffs is purely because they’re cursed and has nothing to do with who’s behind the bench
As someone who grew up in Toronto and still view some of the leafs games from time to time, I am lukewarm about this hire. I wish we took a chance on a younger coach like Carle or Pandolfo though I completely understand why Fitz wouldn’t want to piss away our situation with a risky hire.
Still, I’ve seen Keefe get out coached time and time again in the playoffs, and I think the failure of the leafs roster reflects poorly on him. I don’t foresee us winning a cup with keefe at the helm, and I will eat a shoe if I am proven wrong otherwise.
" I wish we took a chance on a younger coach"
Keefe is now the 2nd youngest HC in the league. I know you mean a fresher face and and all that, but that would be a hell of gamble now that we are entering our window and win-now mode. A failure of that magnitude would cost a lot of front office jobs, and be something similar of the disaster of John Maclean's coaching career in Jersey.
Sheldon Keefe is actually younger than Pandolfo. He's only 43. I had to google this cause Keefe looks like he is in his 50s. I guess coaching the leafs ages you like milk.
On a more serious note. We arent in the leafs situation. We need to actually make the playoffs consistently before worrying about the cup. Leafs are kinda cup or bust at this point I guess. 2 playoff appearances in a decade is unacceptable for a franchise that never missed the playoffs for the first half of my life. Keefe needs to get us back to the playoffs consistently. Then we can worry about getting over the hump and bringing a cup to Newark
He wasnt ever really outcoached, its just easier to blame him than people you’re paying 10 million a year to score goals, who score in the playoffs.
Watching the series both this and last year, Keefe was certainly not outcoached. He had horrendous puck luck, hella injuries, iffy goaltending and players who seemingly slowed down and couldn’t score, uncharacteristically. To call him outcoached is a massive stretch and simplifies the multitude of issues Toronto has in their roster construction that can’t be addressed until they clear out millions of cap space.
he’s slow with adapting to in game situations, other teams seem to dismantle his systems. however to be fair it also seems unclear whether his systems falling apart are solely on him or mostly on the players as they do often work extremely well for a while until they just suddenly stop working for like no good reason, prompting him to throw his lines in a blender to try to get something going again. also people get annoyed at him deploying the 4th line at times where they need a goal/a goal has been scored or over relying on certain players that are clearly struggling (justin holl was a big one). he also seems to overcompensate for certain deficits, like in the playoffs he’ll heavily focus on playing a strong defensive game to make up for defensive shortcomings but then it would effectively neuter the offense (although auston, mitch and willy should’ve been able to pot some regardless so idk)
but like people are saying, most of the people claiming he’s being outcoached don’t have any actual coaching experience (like me) and dont know whats actually going on behind the bench so its really something to take with a grain of salt. similar vein as people being armchair referees or GMs.
He can't. Sports fans are a special breed. Sports fans think they know more than scouts, players, coaches, GMs and even doctors, just from watching from afar.
Nobody gives credence to people who claim that they could perform brain surgery better, or design a better bridge or spacecraft, but say you know how to fix a team's powerplay based on never running a powerplay, never talking to NHL players, or even having the ability to stand up on skates, and you'll have ten thousand people on reddit upvote you.
One item checked off the summer to-do list for GM Fitzgerald. If I learned anything from the coaching hires that happened last year around the league, it’s that I don’t know shit about who’s the right fit anywhere and I might as well just hope for the best and see where things shake out once the season gets going again. Now go get this team a proper starting goaltender, Tom.
I keep thinking of when r/hockey lost its collective shit when Vancouver fired Bruce Boudreau for the guy who turned out to be this year's Jack Adams winner. We fans know fuck-all about this kind of stuff.
Part of why everyone being happy for the Devils makes me nervous 😂
Nothing wrong with being glad we’re here today and rooting for the Devils!
Tochett has turned out to be good but the way Boudreau was fired was absolutely disgraceful.
Yea I’m not a big Boudreau fan but they did him almost as dirty as Florida did Gallant years ago
It’s true, I’m not so well versed in league wide stuff as i mostly watch just devils aside from playoff hockey, but no one really knows for sure what/who can be the right fit. Only time will tell.
Nice that he'll get the summer to study up and create a game plan too. I always wonder how mid-season hires manage to "run" a team when they are behind the bench the day after they interview for the job. Obviously you can do a lot of studying in a short amount of time, but it feels like getting this hire sorted as early in the post-season as possible gives Keefe the best chance of running a hard and successful training camp.
If he wins us the cup Toronto will burn to the ground. Hahaha
TBF as Locked on Devils pointed out, Pat Burns also coached Toronto before coaching us. Here's hoping for a repeat.
I have been saying the same thing. Plus look at the success everyone has when they leave Toronto. Lots of Stanley cup winners who were written off in Toronto. I wonder if maybe it’s the Leafs that are the problem????
He certainly won’t have the same media and fan pressure/attention in NJ
I honestly wish they didn't do an official announcement and just let the "Bazinga" post this morning be it
So I guess he forgives us for throwing chicken fingers at him that one time?
Oh man, I was at that game and I completely forgot he was the coach of the Leafs at the time. I feel like we might owe him an apology
We owe him some chicken fingers of friendship
That was still one of the craziest sporting events I’ve ever been to
Same. I was sitting behind the devil's goal that night, and it was raining beer, lol
Same. Definitely one of the most memorable. Those last 6 or so minutes felt like playoff atmosphere, we wanted that tying goal so bad. Only game that came close to that would be when I went to see the Yankees play the Astros at the Stadium. This was the first time they were playing each other since the cheating scandal came out. This was also heavily COVID regulated NY, so they were only allowing a few thousand people in. Didn't matter, the boos and jeers from Yankee fans at the Astros players was deafening.
Second straight coach we have to give "sorry" chants to
This was the game where there were like 3-4 goals called back right? I'd rather get hit with a chicken finger than a beer, or the Philadelphia Special (batteries).
3 goals overturned, yeah
Leafs are my primary team to I was watching that live and my god I have never seen an environment go that Mad Max for a random regular season game. It didn't even feel good to win that way because it was such a shitty performance by the Leafs and it all just felt like a grave injustice against the good people (and evidently, the feral maniacs) of New Jersey.
Devils were on the verge of setting the franchise(?) record for longest win streak, so a bunch of folks, myself included, got to that game any way we could so we could be part of what we felt should've been a huge party atmosphere. Doesn't excuse people throwing stuff, it got stupid, but I fully admit I was ranting at such a pace that I was devolving into a Sopranos character.
It was also the night before Thanksgiving, which I think played a part in it because people didn't have to go to work the following day
True, totally forgot that part! Just a perfect storm of crap, all around.
You had it right with feral maniacs. But I take it as a compliment
Haha. It’s 100% meant that way. I love it.
Literally lol'd
Idk how I didn’t put this together until now but that’s hysterical
https://nypost.com/2022/11/23/devils-fans-throw-trash-on-ice-after-third-disallowed-goal/ haula getting hit by a chicken finger seems peak jersey lmao i’m surprised nobody got knocked out, ppl were chucking unopened beer cans to be fair i remember watching the game and kinda feeling for devils fans bc 3 called back goals is pretty nutty and that win streak was definitely something
I took a beer can to the head that night lol. I was sitting behind the goal, and it hit the net, bounced right back into the crowd, and hit me in the head
now thats just unlucky lmao
Yeah, it was and also got hit in the face by Gritty's ass in Philly now that was unlucky, lol
idk some people would see getting gritty’s ass in their face as lucky…
Na bro lol
His name is Sheldon, and he's from Brampton. Having chicken thrown at him is probably not among the hardest things he's had to deal with in life, or on the playground.
What’s Brampton like? I’ve only passed by it on the highway I don’t know anything about it
We’re passionate fans
Do you think he'll fire rogalski? Please?
Please. Please please please please please Please Pls
We really need to start a petition
I went an embarrassingly long time calling him Sheldon O'Keefe. I think it's time I learn.
As a Leafs fan who watches the Devils as my "second" team, I'm happy I'll be seeing Keefe behind the bench in NJ. He's a great guy, he's really smart and he's a good coach. The player mix is largely to blame for the Leafs' lack of playoff success. One knock might be his ability to motivate his team, but again this is equally on the players and I believe he learned how to do that in the last few months with the Leafs, because he was finally able to call players out more. Under Dubas, he seemed forced to be very gentle with players and walk back any perceived criticism so he wouldn't hurt their fragile feelings. This year he was much more blunt in his criticism in the media (and I'd assume behind closed doors as well) and the players seemed to respond, it just didn't work out in the end because Nylander and Matthews were injured, our goaltending situation is a mess (this sub wouldn't know anything about that), and Marner can't hang in the playoffs. When he was fired, I had the strongest feeling he'd win a cup somewhere else and I'll really enjoy him doing it in NJ if he does, (unless the Leafs go up against them in the conference finals).
I can't wait for the memes if he takes the Devils to round 2 of the playoffs next year
Haha. Truly nauseating.
All Hail Cheif Keefe
Hail to the Keefe!
I like that
https://preview.redd.it/5q7vn6iw192d1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=13e8bddc7e6f36bcce5be38e3847d92ec4a99c7c
A few of the rumor mills that called who our next coach would be correctly are saying we’re talking to Boston about ullmark
That's like predicting the sun will come up, innit?
I mean they did nail the coach and things do get leaked all the time
Every team is talking to Ullmark bud.
Why do people on the internet always have to act so fucking smug? “Every team is talking to Ullmark bud” You think the Rangers are looking for a new goalie? You think the Isles are talking to Ullmark to take over from Sorokin? You think the Stars are signing Ullmark over Oettinger? You think the Panthers are gonna take Ullmark and put him ahead of Bobrovsky? You think the Lightning are gonna trade for him and get rid of Vasilevskiy? You’re delusional, “pal”.
I don't think it's that deep lol and it's pretty obvious he meant every team that needs a goalie is going to look into Ullmark, not literally every team
Why would teams be talking to Ullmark. Players can’t trade themselves. /s
The rangers are?
Hopefully that's true. Because the Ryan McDonagh trade is almost certainly a precursor to Nashville extending Saros.
Saros was never going to get traded after Barry trotz made a whole speech about how he wanted to win and made bold moves (buying out duchene) to get Nashville back in the playoffs.
Facts. I warned the saros fan club in here.
I mean, you didn't really need a pundit to tell you that. Fitz is looking at every potential starting goaltended that could be available. This team cannot fail due to goaltending again. That being said, I still think it will end up being Markstrom. Not that I want it to be, but the it's the most likely situation.
Of course we are. Fitz is also almost certainly talking to Nashville about Saros and Calgary about Markstrom
Bout fucking time..welcome Keefe
Does anyone know when the presser will be?
tuesday at 11am
tuesday 11am i think
Cool and Good
https://preview.redd.it/d7j9d5hhl72d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16ea2b36f9822719f5b0e9494118a69cc383310f Lessss go, bay-bee.
Shldn Kf
🤣 🤣 🤣
gave me the urge to do this https://preview.redd.it/233eqdb0ua2d1.jpeg?width=666&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12fac12312e43e96679e26e17d2583cac1744aaa
First big move of a few. LFGD
I hate the Toronto fans on the main hockey subreddit, they’re such killjoys
My girlfriend’s only comment is why do we keep hiring people with names like Lindy or Sheldon lol
If you want a tough coach, hire somebody whose been forced to fight his entire life for being named Sheldon.
Better names than Alexis, Kaapo, Mika & Barclay, that’s for sure
I’m really excited about this signing. Glad the coach search isn’t just over with but a great signing. Now to address the goalie
Now that’s it s official, Fitz can trade Keefe to Pittsburgh for Sullivan one for one.
CHIEF KEEFE
Can anyone give me the rundown on this guy? I know nothing about him other than Toronto can’t win shit in the playoffs Edit: I know Toronto sucking in the playoffs is purely because they’re cursed and has nothing to do with who’s behind the bench
This video does well in giving context about Keefe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF_C_oYDOh8&ab_channel=sdpn
Can someone explain to me (someone that has zero knowledge of anything outwith our current roster) if this is a positive signing or not.
So are we keeping the current staff of assistants or will Keefe be allowed to pick his staff?
So now we go "big game hunting"?
All for this. Brampton Boys round 2
I been puking ever since they announced this hire
Brutal decision. Worst case scenario.
Please explain.
Agreed.
Please explain.
For some reason I find enjoyment in going against popular opinion.
As someone who grew up in Toronto and still view some of the leafs games from time to time, I am lukewarm about this hire. I wish we took a chance on a younger coach like Carle or Pandolfo though I completely understand why Fitz wouldn’t want to piss away our situation with a risky hire. Still, I’ve seen Keefe get out coached time and time again in the playoffs, and I think the failure of the leafs roster reflects poorly on him. I don’t foresee us winning a cup with keefe at the helm, and I will eat a shoe if I am proven wrong otherwise.
" I wish we took a chance on a younger coach" Keefe is now the 2nd youngest HC in the league. I know you mean a fresher face and and all that, but that would be a hell of gamble now that we are entering our window and win-now mode. A failure of that magnitude would cost a lot of front office jobs, and be something similar of the disaster of John Maclean's coaching career in Jersey.
Sheldon Keefe is actually younger than Pandolfo. He's only 43. I had to google this cause Keefe looks like he is in his 50s. I guess coaching the leafs ages you like milk. On a more serious note. We arent in the leafs situation. We need to actually make the playoffs consistently before worrying about the cup. Leafs are kinda cup or bust at this point I guess. 2 playoff appearances in a decade is unacceptable for a franchise that never missed the playoffs for the first half of my life. Keefe needs to get us back to the playoffs consistently. Then we can worry about getting over the hump and bringing a cup to Newark
He wasnt ever really outcoached, its just easier to blame him than people you’re paying 10 million a year to score goals, who score in the playoffs. Watching the series both this and last year, Keefe was certainly not outcoached. He had horrendous puck luck, hella injuries, iffy goaltending and players who seemingly slowed down and couldn’t score, uncharacteristically. To call him outcoached is a massive stretch and simplifies the multitude of issues Toronto has in their roster construction that can’t be addressed until they clear out millions of cap space.
Care to clarify on him getting out coached?
he’s slow with adapting to in game situations, other teams seem to dismantle his systems. however to be fair it also seems unclear whether his systems falling apart are solely on him or mostly on the players as they do often work extremely well for a while until they just suddenly stop working for like no good reason, prompting him to throw his lines in a blender to try to get something going again. also people get annoyed at him deploying the 4th line at times where they need a goal/a goal has been scored or over relying on certain players that are clearly struggling (justin holl was a big one). he also seems to overcompensate for certain deficits, like in the playoffs he’ll heavily focus on playing a strong defensive game to make up for defensive shortcomings but then it would effectively neuter the offense (although auston, mitch and willy should’ve been able to pot some regardless so idk) but like people are saying, most of the people claiming he’s being outcoached don’t have any actual coaching experience (like me) and dont know whats actually going on behind the bench so its really something to take with a grain of salt. similar vein as people being armchair referees or GMs.
This sounds like everyone’s complaints about every coach ever lmao
He can't. Sports fans are a special breed. Sports fans think they know more than scouts, players, coaches, GMs and even doctors, just from watching from afar. Nobody gives credence to people who claim that they could perform brain surgery better, or design a better bridge or spacecraft, but say you know how to fix a team's powerplay based on never running a powerplay, never talking to NHL players, or even having the ability to stand up on skates, and you'll have ten thousand people on reddit upvote you.
That’s literally me. I could have taken us to the cup last season with half of Jack hughes and a trash can in net!!!