Insider reveals 3 top candidates to replace Sheldon Keefe

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Cooper Godin
May 8, 2024 (5:22 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are more likely than not to have a new Head Coach in the near future, as Sheldon Keefe's time with the organization could be coming to a close.

There are several candidates the Maple Leafs could consider, but it appears that they will opt for a veteran coach, if they do decide to let Sheldon Keefe go.

With that being said, the Maple Leafs have their eyes on three veteran coaches, according to Darren Dreger of TSN. Those coaches being Craig Berube, Todd McLellan and Gerard Gallant.

"Dreger considers it "more likely" than not there is a coaching change in Toronto. Considers Berube a "top contender" for the job, with the stipulation that he has also interviewed in New Jersey. Leafs would be hiring a head coach with experience; McLellan and Gallant also named"

Of the three coaches named by Dreger, the front runner is Craig Berube, who has parts of eight seasons of experience as a head coach in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues. During his first season in St. Louis, Berube led the Blues to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

As for Todd McLellan, he's the most experienced of the three named by Darren Dreger, spending parts of 16 seasons behind the bench in the NHL with San Jose, Edmonton and Los Angeles. He led the Sharks to back-to-back Western Conference Finals in 2010 and 2011.

Gallant also has plenty of that experience the Maple Leafs want. In parts of 11 seasons as a Head Coach in the NHL with Columbus, Florida, Vegas and the New York Rangers, Gallant has five playoff appearances, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 with the Golden Knights.

The Maple Leafs have a lot of work to do this summer, other than a coaching change, if they want to go on a deep playoff run in 2025. We may have seen the last game that the 'Core 4' have played together and changes to the roster could be on the horizon.