Confirmed with Link: Sheldon Keefe named Marlies coach

[RoyalCitySlicker]

It's official according to TSN 1050 in Toronto.

No surprise here.

Click to read more...

 

[showtime8]

Toronto Marlies & Toronto Maple Leafs PR tweeted it out also.

I really thought that Keefe would have coached with the Maple Leafs for a year under Babcock, learned the system and then moved to the Marlies as their head coach.

I'll be interested in what he does with a young team next year.

 

[grits207]

Gee, nobody saw this one coming.

Smart of Dubas to wait a while before hiring Keefe to at least make it look like he was considering other people.

 

[Nithoniniel]

I just hope for some stability from now on.

 

[Leafidelity]

Very nice add.

 

[Super Mega]

excellent

 

[MJ65]

Another good signing by the Leafs

 

[IBeL34f]

I just hope for some stability from now on.

Yep, gotta keep him around for a while.

The Marlies have dealt with a different coach each of the last 3 years, and I think that had something to do with the slow start last season (adding Nylander and Brennan helped as well).

Could be some growing pains, but hopefully this becomes another in what's turning into a pretty long list of good moves by management this off-season.

 

[Paradoc]

Marlies to announce Sheldon Keefe as Head Coach

 

[Amadeus]

Good hire!

Dubas is bringing quite a bit of his connections from Soo over. Wes Clarke and now Keefe. Won't be surprised if he also bings Victor Carneiro over.

 

[Mess]

Great news but the worst kept secret in sports as Dubas hired him for Sault St. Marie so connections and previous links made this highly predictable.

Keefe was OHL coach of the year so its a great hire on merit also.

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

Excellent

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Sweet. Adding more pieces to the puzzle to make this a successful franchise.

 

[Swervin81]

Good hire. Great redemption story too.

 

[I Believe]

No complaints here

 

[Guy Boucher]

Great addition. He's a Jon Cooper-like coach. He wants his forwards to make plays with the puck.

 

[SprDaVE]

No surprise here. Seems like a good hire. We'll see how it goes.

 

[MJ65]

No surprise here. Seems like a good hire. We'll see how it goes.

No it's not a surprise at all

 

[Daisy Jane]

I am shocked and amazed ya'll. shocked.

actually the only thing that is surprising me is that Keefe isn't spending time up with the Leafs this year. but I guess the argument would be that would be the Marlies then 4th (5th) coach in 5 years, and that's not good, so i guess, they are going to benefit from the fact that the Ricoh isn't that far from ACC and have lots of Babcock-Keefe sessions at practice i suppose.

 

[Menzinger]

Fantastic news - he's got a great personal redemption story, and his talent is obvious as recognized by his beers by being awarded OHL coach of the year.

 

[Felstead]

No it's not a surprise at all

Nope, not surprised in the slightest.

Surprise...there isn't one. There never was one.

 

[Menzinger]

http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2013/12/28/keefe-turning-greyhounds-franchise-around

Great article on Keefe's time with the Greyhounds and what he did to change around their organizational culture.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

 

[Trapper]

Good hire. Important job.
He will be responsible for getting Nylander/Brown/Gauthier/Verhaeghe etc. working the same system Babcock is employing.
At present, he can prepare the waves of prospects for the next level.

 

[AvroArrow]

nice