TIMES HAVE CHANGED FOR KEEFE, NHL COACHES
With two of his elder colleagues in hot water amid stories of pressure tactics on impressionable players, new Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe is already discovering how much his methods will be scrutinized in the coming weeks and months.
A storm had already gathered Monday when Postmedia’s Terry Koshan revealed that rookie Mitch Marner was “scared bleepless,” said a source, by fired coach Mike Babcock in his rookie year when asked to list the Leafs from best to worst in terms work ethic
— which Babcock later shared with the bottom group.
That was exacerbated throughout Tuesday by what happened with the Calgary Flames. Coach Bill Peters is facing possible dismissal after former NHLER Akim Aliu followed up his hot tweet by telling Frank Seravalli of TSN that Peters allegedly fired racial slurs his way 10 years ago in the minors about his choice of dressing room music. Aliu said what transpired “ruined my career before it started.” Two players with the AHL Rockford Icehogs corroborated Aliu’s version of events to the network.
Another former Peters player, Michal Jordan of the Carolina Hurricanes, added a tweet about alleged physical abuse by Peters, while ex-icehog Sean Mcmorrow also went to social media to say Peters was the “worst human being ever to coach me.”
Babcock’s actions put Marner in an unexpected position of getting recognized for casting light on hard-core tactics when he really didn’t seek the attention.
“What happened was unfortunate, (but) if something gets out, if you want to speak your mind, let them,” Marner said.
“If something’s happened to someone and they feel like it should get out, let it out. If they don’t want to hold it in, it’s your story to tell.
“In my case, I don’t know how it did get out. (Babcock) did apologize after. He was just trying to show I should work harder. He knew he was mistaken for what he did. I was lucky enough that the guys in the room (the departed Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak were at the bottom of Marner’s list) understood the situation and didn’t take it to heart right away. For the three years after, especially my second and third year, (Babcock) really trusted me on the ice. I had a really good relationship at the end of that.”
Marner added that he texted Babcock right away after last Wednesday’s firing to thank him for his work turning the Leafs around and “good luck wherever it takes you next.”
This all came as Keefe put together his first two full homeice practices prior to Wednesday’s game in Detroit. While there was the anticipated spike in energy around the Ford Performance Centre in Toronto following the change from the barking Babcock to the more reserved Keefe and two road wins, it was further enhanced by some wrinkles Keefe put into the workouts.
Utilizing the adjoining Marlies and Leafs rinks, Keefe had some up-beat theme music playing in the background while the top Leafs skill players worked out before the main body. After the end of the full workout, Keefe circled back to Zach Hyman for a quick chat and then longer sessions with healthy scratch Dmytro Timashov, followed by William Nylander and Auston Matthews, two stars the Leafs need to get more out of with Marner injured.
Not that Babcock didn’t do 1-on-1s, but they seemed fewer and far between, at least on the ice. Babcock did win a Stanley Cup in Detroit, but there is a different breed of athlete today.
“There has been a lot of change in that (motivational) regard,” Keefe said. “For myself, I try to deal more directly, in a more positive nature as much as possible. I think players respond well to that. You try to be constructive, but every situation is different.
“I don’t know if there is really one style. Any time you can adapt to that player or what that situation calls for is what I’m looking to do.”
For Keefe, half the Leafs roster came through the Marlies, so he already has a good idea of what buttons to push with each player.
“I’m fortunate to have time spent with a good number here, but just to rely on that would not be good for me. I have to re-establish those relationships. A lot has changed, those players are older and matured.”
Former Marlie Hyman recognized a lot of the “old” Keefe in his first week on the job.
“He’s transitioned seamlessly,” Hyman said. “I’m familiar with his style. Exact same guy, same mentality. He’s like anybody who goes from the minors to the NHL, you want to play your game, the same way that made you effective. He’s doing the same with his coaching, the exact same things that made him successful in the past.”