Maple Leafs sticking with Keefe, hope to re-sign Matthews, Nylander

NASHVILLE -- Sheldon Keefe will return as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and general manager Brad Treliving said he's confident Toronto will sign forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander to new contracts until proven otherwise.

Treliving joined the Maple Leafs on May 31, replacing Kyle Dubas, who was told he would not return as GM on May 18 and became president of hockey operations of the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 1.

One of Treliving's first priorities was to get to know Keefe, who is entering the final season of his contract. Treliving said Toronto would deal with his contract at the appropriate time.

"We probably met for 17 hours over four or five days," Treliving said Tuesday ahead of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS). "Probably about the third day, he's like, 'Maybe I don't want to stick around.' Once I didn't chase him out there, I thought, 'Well, maybe he'll stick around.'"

Keefe has gone 166-71-30 with Toronto over the past four seasons.

The Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the Eastern Conference First Round this season, winning a series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2004, but lost to the Florida Panthers in five games in the second round.

Treliving said Keefe has a strong bond with the players.

"There's lots of belief both ways," Treliving said. "There's belief in the players with the coach, and there's belief from the coach in the players."

Treliving praised Keefe's focus, bright mind and openness to change. Though Toronto still represents Keefe's first head coaching job in the NHL, it will be a little like his second after the GM change. He also needs a new assistant after Spencer Carbery became the coach of the Washington Capitals on May 30.

"I think he's strong in his beliefs, but he also doesn't think he's got all the answers," Treliving said. "And one of the things we talked about it is, I firmly believe we're all sometimes better in our second jobs. I think there's a little bit of that. … Sometimes a little bit of new, a little bit of fresh, can help."

Matthews and Nylander are each entering the final season of their contract and are eligible to sign an extension July 1. Two other members of the Maple Leafs' core -- forwards Michell Marner and John Tavares -- each has two seasons left on his contract and is eligible to sign an extension July 1, 2024.

Treliving said he spent a few days meeting with Matthews at his home in Arizona, developing a relationship and dialogue. He said the Maple Leafs' focus is strictly on signing Nylander, though he's always talking to his colleagues about trades in his role as GM to see if there is a way to improve the team. He downplayed the significance of July 1.

"When you know where things are at, you can plan better," Treliving said. "When you know if it's going to be raining tomorrow, you maybe pack a jacket, so having clarity always helps. Is it the be-all, end-all? No. And you've got two sides that are going to play a piece in this puzzle.

"So, we certainly would like that. We're certainly trying to work towards that. July 1, the world doesn't stop. I'm confident we're going to get both players signed until proven otherwise, and hopefully, it's July. If it's not, we'll keep working away at it."

Treliving said he is comfortable with goalies Matt Murray, Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll. Samsonov can become a restricted free agent July 1. Murray is signed for one more season, Woll for two.

"It's a position we've got good depth in," Treliving said. "Like anything else, we'd be open to looking at different things, but if at the end of the day we go to camp and we've got three good goalies, good for us."

Treliving, who left the Calgary Flames on May 30 after nine seasons, said he was not involved with the Maple Leafs' draft preparations until Tuesday. He said Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan had been working with the Flames on draft restrictions.

Calgary selects at No. 16, Toronto at No. 28.

"As we stand here today, I will be at the table once Calgary has made their selection," Treliving said.

Treliving said the Maple Leafs likely will make their first-round pick. They have only two other picks -- one in the fifth round, one in the sixth. Rounds 2-7 are Thursday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS).

"You move draft capital when you're trying to win, so we've moved some draft capital over the last few years," Treliving said. "It would have to make a lot of sense to move the pick. I don't think we're flush with bullets to move up. You're probably, when you're handicapping it, picking it or potentially moving down.

"If there's something that makes sense to move the pick, we would. But at some points, you've got to put some groceries back in the cupboards, and so I think there's a fairly good bet we're picking at 28."