Sheldon Keefe Speaks Out For The First Since Being Ejected From Recent Game

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Hunter Bowman
February 29, 2024 (12:19)

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During Tuesday night's game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe received a rare game misconduct, an unusual occurrence for a coach. The incident marked the end of a disappointing game for the Leafs.

Following his ejection, Keefe has remained silent on the matter, focusing instead on supporting his team and maintaining a positive outlook. However, it was only a matter of time before he addressed the incident.

Today, Keefe finally spoke about the incident after the morning skate. Rather than standing by his actions, he chose to backtrack on his earlier comments.

«I think there is a fine line between being a voice for the players at different times, and try to be the voice so that they don't have to be- they can focus on playing. But really all I'll say is my job as a coach is to really make sure I'm focused on the next moment and what comes next. I don't feel like I lost control or anything like that the other night. But I'm not focused on the right thing. My job is to be focused on the right thing. The players' job is to be focused on the right thing. I'll be better in that area. It's a chance for me to reflect and grow from it.»

After Keefe's ejection, many Leafs fans admired how he handled the situation, particularly given the team's struggles with powerplay opportunities. Fans felt it was time for the coach to hold the officials accountable. However, with Keefe now retracting his comments, it leaves some fans feeling disappointed.

Keefe will now look to his team to find motivation from the incident and bounce back with a win against the Arizona Coyotes tonight.

Source: Bladeofsteel