Toronto Maple Leafs sign AHL coach Sheldon Keefe to two-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs locked up one of the most important members of their organization, signing Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe to an extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Sheldon Keefe, the head coach of the AHL’s Marlies, to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.

"“Over the last four seasons Sheldon has done a great job developing our individual prospects into Maple Leafs while also guiding the Marlies deep into the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the organization, including the Calder Cup in 2018,” Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said. “Ensuring that Sheldon remains tasked with guiding the development of our prospects was very important to our program and the reason we began the discussion to extend Sheldon months ago.”"

Dubas brought in Keefe to be the head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds midway through the 2012-13 season. He was kept on to be the bench boss of the team for another two full seasons, but Dubas left the organization in order to become the Maple Leafs’

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After longtime minor league coach Dallas Eakins took the head coaching gig in Edmonton ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, the Marlies had to find a replacement behind the bench. Steve Spott was brought in as Eakins’ successor. He only spent one season in the AHL before being promoted to the Maple Leafs and serving as an assistant coach to Randy Carlyle.

Gord Dineen was brought in to replace Spott, but again, he only lasted a year as the bench boss. However, that was because Dubas – who was the Marlies’ GM – brought in Keefe in June 2015 be the head coach of the team. Dineen stayed on as an assistant.

In his first professional coaching season, Keefe helped lead the Marlies to their best season in franchise history, going 54-16-6 to finish first in the AHL’s North Division. They were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final by the Hershey Bears.

During Keefe’s four-year run as the Marlies’ bench boss, he’s compiled a 189-87-28 record and made the playoffs every year.

His hard work paid off last season, as the Marlies had a magical run to the Calder Cup Final, bookended by a Game 7 victory over the Texas Stars on home ice.

The Marlies won’t get the chance to win back to back championships, as they were bounced in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Charlotte Checkers after a controversial non-call led to the series-clinching goal.

"“It’s been a privilege and honour to be part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and head coach of the Toronto Marlies for the past four seasons,” Keefe said. “In my conversations with the Leafs over the past several months, I felt that staying on with this club was the best decision for me, my family, and my development. I’m incredibly proud of our recent achievements as a club and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to develop young Maple Leafs.”"

Keefe was in the rumour mill as a potential candidate for coaching jobs in the NHL – including the Leafs at one point when Mike Babcock’s status was up in the air.

The 38-year-old can continue to help develop the next crop of Maple Leafs over the next two years. He’s likely already preparing for the 2019-20 campaign, as the Marlies will have a new crop of individuals making the jump to the AHL to start their respective careers.