Kyle Dubas has words for Sheldon Keefe

Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan took a huge risk by giving his general manager in Kyle Dubas and head coach in Sheldon Keefe each a vote of confidence despite yet another 1st round postseason flameout. Needless to say, this season is going to be a critical one for the trio. 

The Leafs have been inconsistent in their performances so far in 2022-23, though their record is a respectable 8-5-3 through the first 16 games. How does Dubas feel that Keefe has done behind the bench? 

"Oftentimes, when people view it, whether it is getting upset with the officials or voicing his concerns about certain players or certain groups of players on the team, they take it to mean there is a bit of a coming-unglued way about it," Dubas said. "To me, with the way he has handled it, everything is done with a purpose. There is never anything about him that isn’t purposeful."

"In my time knowing him and working with him, when things are not necessarily perfect, he finds a way to be at his best and get the most out of the group. The thing for me about Sheldon that has been most encouraging in working with him, even as we have gone through this season where we have had stretches where we haven’t played as well: The group responds to him."

Dubas used the recent example of Toronto faltering on their western road trip and how the team responded to the adversity once they returned to the friendly confines of home.

"On Saturday night, it would be another example of that after the first period," Dubas said. "After the road trip out to California, where we didn’t have a strong finish to the trip whatsoever, we came back home and were able to find our game again. That, to me, represents the way the players respond to the coach."

"It is always very encouraging for me to see. He is always adapting and trying to change the way he does things to make sure he is always getting through to the group."