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The lingering question for the Toronto Maple Leafs after their elimination from the playoffs and the dismissal of GM Kyle Dubas has been the status of head coach Sheldon Keefe. It was assumed that Keefe’s future in Toronto was bleak since he and Dubas have been attached at the hip since their days with the Soo Greyhounds, but it appears for the sake of continuity that Leafs GM Brad Treliving is leaning towards keeping him and possibly signing him to a contract extension.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Friday that Treliving and Keefe spent time getting to know one another soon after Treliving was hired as GM, and that the Leafs are interviewing candidates for the assistant coach spot vacated by Spencer Carbery when he was hired by Washington as their head coach.
Few names have filtered out as potential replacements, but one that was mentioned was Flames associate coach Kirk Muller. The long-time NHL assistant and former Carolina head coach’s contract with Calgary is not being renewed with Ryan Huska being hired as head coach.
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There were indications that the Leafs and pending UFA defenseman Luke Schenn were on the same page regarding a new contract, but Vancouver reporter Rick Dhaliwal said on Friday that the two sides are not close at this point.
Schenn is reportedly looking for a multi-year deal and a raise from the $850,000 he made the last two years from the Canucks, as well as some no-trade protection after bouncing around between Tampa Bay and Vancouver the last few seasons.
Treliving in his introductory press conference had favorable things to say about Schenn and it is clear from the integral role that he played in the first-round victory over Tampa Bay that his presence is quite valuable, especially for a Leafs club light on physicality, but there may be a limit of how far Treliving is willing to go for the 33-year-old as a likely bottom-pairing blueliner.
Based on the Leafs limited cap space, it would be tough to imagine that Treliving would pay any more than the $1.1 to 1.4 million range being paid to Conor Timmins and Timothy Liljegren. The deal could be the last that Schenn will get, so it is understandable that he will try to get as much as possible out of Toronto or any other NHL club.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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