Keefe mocked for 'most pathetic quote... in the history of this sport'
Sheldon Keefe did more than just ruffle a few feathers with his comments this week.
New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe spent many years as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a truly unique hockey market, and it may very well be that his years of experience with that unique market may have given him some insight into how to push some buttons.
Whether he intended to do so or not, there's no question that Keefe created a firestorm of controversy this week when he made comments about his former job in Toronto, comments that have not gone over well with some rather passionate Maple Leafs fans.
When speaking with the media, Keefe revealed that he had received several messages from his peers around the league that were derisive of his former workplace in Toronto.
"It was a tremendous honor to coach the Maple Leafs," said Keefe this week. "There's a lot that goes into that. I've had a number of well-established coaches in the league reach out to say that I should be happy now that I get to coach in the real NHL. Toronto is quite unique... it's not like the rest of the league."
It was that last bit that seemed to rub some the wrong way, but perhaps no one had a more nuclear reaction to Keefe's comments than Maple Leafs superfan Steve Dangle.
"What a league of losers," said Dangle. "Loooosers. You get to coach in the real NHL where... no one pays f***ing attention?"
"That's the most pathetic quote I've ever heard in the history of this sport."
Dangle called out the NHL's commissioner as part of the lengthy rant he went on in response to hearing the quote for the first time.
"Gary Bettman should seek out whoever the f*** this is and grab them by the collar," added Dangle.
"That should send a shiver down Gary Bettman's spine."
Dangle's outrage, aside from the obvious fact that his favorite team is being disparaged, stems from the fact that the implication of the alleged comments from Keefe's peers is that hockey fans don't care outside of Toronto.
"The implication, the subtext, is explicitly no one watches the NHL," screamed Dangle. "It is a non-factor in North America, there it is in plain English."
Dangle went on for the better part of 10 minutes, roasting the league, Keefe and the other unnamed coaches the entire time.
"Welcome to the real NHL? That's one of the most shocking things I've ever heard from someone allegedly working in professional sports," said a furious Dangle.
You can listen to his entire impassioned rant in the short clip below.
