Was he the fall guy or was it deserved?
Toughest job in Canada? Any advice for the next person in the hot seat?
My Stratford Now asked residents about the big news out of the big smoke: Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Kaylen, from Tavistock, said he feels bad for Keefe. After getting his team to the playoffs, he was minus some key players in the first round series against Boston.
The team endured the loss of 69-goal scorer Auston Matthews for a portion of the series and teammate William Nylander was out for a time.
“I thought he did okay for missing his star player(s),” Kaylen said of Matthews.
Kaylen said the Maple Leafs are one of the harder teams to coach, with a lot of pressure from the fans.
“It’s a decent team, they have a lot of good players, they could do a lot of good things. It’s definitely a tough team to coach for sure.”
Local resident Mary Lou said Maple Leafs fans expect wins in the playoffs and if not, the coach can expect an exit.
“I think it’s time. He had his chance in the playoffs for a few years and didn’t make it. They need some new blood in there and hopefully they can put it together and pull it through next year.”
“The pressure is always on Toronto, the coach and the players. They get criticized whether they do it or not.”
As for advice for the next coach, she said, “Do better.”
Local fan Ross said Leafs’ fans expect results.
“Sheldon Keefe was a good coach but it was time to move on, change the scenery.”
The team needs someone who is a little stricter, he suggested. It’s one of the tougher jobs out there, Ross said.
“One of the hardest without a doubt. There is so much pressure.”
