Marlies coach not looking Leaf-ward
Keefe says he’s on track for his career plan, focused on AHL playoffs
Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe is happy Maple Leafs assistant coach D.J. Smith is now the head coach of the Ottawa Senators.
But Keefe didn’t sound as if he was looking to fill the hole on the Leafs’ bench as one of Mike Babcock’s assistants any time soon.
“My 100 per cent focus will remain with what is happening here with the Marlies,” Keefe said. “I’m really happy with where I’m at, the path that I’m on as a head coach in the American (Hockey) League, particularly in this organization.
“For the time being, it’s in line with my future goal.”
The Leafs filled one hole on the bench Thursday by naming Paul McFarland assistant coach, replacing Jim Hiller, whose contract was not renewed.
“I’m extremely excited to be coming home and joining the Maple Leafs organization,” McFarland said in a team news release. “This is an amazing opportunity.”
The Leafs had hired Smith after he coached the Oshawa Generals to the Memorial Cup in 2015. They were looking to reunite Smith with McFarland, his former assistant with the Generals, after the 33-year-old Richmond Hill native was let go as an assistant with Florida. But now Smith has moved on.
“He’s a great coach,” Keefe said of Smith. “His teams were always the hardest to play against in the OHL. He’s very prepared and I’ve learned a great deal from him. He’s been a big part of helping our staff prepare, and close the gap between the Marlies and the Maple Leafs in terms of systems.
“It’s been great to work with him. I’m thrilled he’s getting the opportunity.”
Smith coached the Leafs defence and ran the penalty kill. Hiller coached the forwards and the power play and joined the Leafs from Detroit with Babcock in 2015. The power play had a good start, but sputtered through the regular season and was almost non-existent in the playoffs. McFarland ran Florida’s power play, second-ranked in the NHL.
Keefe’s Marlies are once again in the AHL’s Eastern Conference final after having won the Calder Cup last year and he is regarded as head coaching material for the NHL. Some believe he’ll replace Babcock as Leafs coach even though Babcock has another four years remaining on his contract.
There aren’t many NHL jobs left, with openings remaining in Edmonton — Dave Tippett appears to be the front-runner — and Anaheim, where with Dallas Eakins in the running. Eakins is coaching the Ducks’ top affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, in the AHL Western final.
Keefe was hired as Marlies coach in 2015 by Kyle Dubas — the assistant Leafs GM/Marlies GM at the time. Dubas had hired Keefe with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds after Keefe made a name for himself in Junior A with the Pembroke Lumber Kings.
Keefe said he got to know Smith well the last few years. They knew each other from their playing days with Hershey of the AHL in 2003-04.
“He has a lot of fun, he relates to players in that sense,” Keefe said of the sometimes largerthan-life Smith. “Players really like playing for him. He’ll do a great job.”