Leafs to speak to Keefe?

It’s not the first time but Soo Greyhounds Coach Sheldon Keefe’s name has come up again in conversations regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Sportsnet’s Damian Cox reported on Saturday night that the Toronto Maple Leafs plan to approach Keefe to discuss a potential position either with the NHL team or their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

Keefe led the Greyhounds to a team-record 110 points after going 54-12-2 in the Ontario Hockey League regular season. The team won a pair of playoff series’ before losing in six games to the Erie Otters in the Western Conference final.

The Maple Leafs are searching for a new coach after relieving interim Coach Peter Horachek and the rest of his coaching staff of their duties in early April. The move came as the team cleaned house by also firing General Manager David Nonis.

At the time, former Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Dubas took over Nonis’ duties, sharing the role of interim general manager with Leafs Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter. Dubas also serves as the Marlies general manager.

The future of the Marlies coaching staff, which includes head coach Gord Dineen is uncertain at this time.

Exactly where Keefe would fit in with the Leafs at this point is also uncertain as the team is reportedly interested in hiring Detroit Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock as the next coach of the hockey club. Babcock’s contract in Detroit expires at the end of June but he told TSN’s Darren Dreger that he expects to make a decision on his future by May 20.

The Maple Leafs have reportedly requested permission to speak with Babcock about the current coaching vacancy with the team.

(Photo: Courtesy Terry WIlson/OHL Images)