Treliving, Keefe 'focused on the end goal' for Maple Leafs

TORONTO --Sheldon Keefe is 166-71-30 in four seasons as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, already ranking sixth in wins in franchise history.

Impressive.

On the other hand, Toronto's postseason record under Keefe is just 13-17.

Frustrating.

That is the dilemma Brad Treliving had to consider regarding the future of Keefe after he was named Toronto's general manager May 31. How do you balance regular-season success with shortcomings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Does one carry more weight than the other, especially when concerning the fate of a coach that Treliving inherited?

Those answers came Wednesday with the announcement that Keefe, who is entering the final season of a two-year contract he signed Oct. 1, 2021, had signed another two-year contract that will run through the 2025-26 season.

Treliving is not trying to downplay the postseason heartache that has accompanied the Maple Leafs, who won a playoff series last season for the first time since 2004 before losing in five games to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Second Round. Far from it. He is well aware of the "noise," as he calls it, that follows the team each time it seemingly stumbles in the spring.

At the same time, Treliving's logic is this: You can't win the Stanley Cup if you don't qualify for the playoffs. And in Keefe's case, the Maple Leafs have done just that in each of his four seasons.

"I know we're all focused on the end goal here," Treliving said. "There's a lot of steps that you have to take to before you get there. You have to put yourself in a position year after year to get to the dance to give yourself an opportunity.

"Sheldon has done that each and every year."

That doesn't mean Treliving isn't aware of the questions that have surrounded Keefe about the Maple Leafs not being able to elevate their play in the postseason despite being the more talented team, at least on paper, numerous times, with stars like Mitchell Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

"I know it's been talked about in this market for a long time. You know, "What's happened at the end of the season the last few years?'" Treliving said.

"But you have to keep putting yourself in those positions to have those opportunities. To me, to have success you've got to keep knocking on the door and to be good for a long time and consistently be a good team. And it just gives you another ticket to the ball. And you keep knocking on that door, knocking on that door, knocking on that door, to eventually knock it down."

There is no denying that Keefe's regular-season resume is impressive.

Since the 42-year-old replaced Mike Babcock on Nov. 20, 2019, Toronto has posted a .678 points percentage, which is fourth in the NHL behind the Boston Bruins (.714), Colorado Avalanche (.695) and Carolina Hurricanes (.680). In 2021-22, the Maple Leafs set their regular-season record for wins (54) and points (115), and last season, they won 50 games and had 111 points.

Despite those numbers, Treliving needed to learn more to be convinced Keefe was the right guy.

He wanted to hear what the players thought about Keefe, and in return, what the coach thought about them. He also was curious what Keefe's vision was for the team moving forward, and if that vision aligned with his own.

Treliving estimated he spent 17 hours sprinkled across a handful of days in June getting to know Keefe, learning what his thoughts and philosophies were, both when it comes to the game in general and the Maple Leafs in particular.

The more Treliving learned about Keefe, the more he liked, so he decided to extend his contract now rather than let the season play out amid uncertainty.

"I think he's got a real good relationship with our players," Treliving said. "It's not about being liked as a coach, it's about being respected, and the conversations that I have had with our coaches and our players, there's a great deal of respect."

And to those who don't agree with his decision, Treliving has a simple message.

"When you have good people, you want to keep them," he said.