Field Level Media
18 May 2022, 03:10 GMT+10
A sixth straight first-round playoff exit will not lead to the dismissals of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas or coach Sheldon Keefe, team president Brendan Shanahan said Tuesday.
The Maple Leafs notched a franchise-record 115 points in the regular season but opened the Stanley Cup playoffs with a seven-game series loss to the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Toronto held a 3-2 series lead before losing the final two games, each by one goal.
"We're not going to make any excuses," Shanahan said three days after the Game 7 setback. "I thought our players battled hard, I thought that they played well, and they lost to a great hockey team. As players, management and ownership, we share in everybody's frustration in not getting the job done.
"Certainly, as we look forward to next year, there's always going to be new faces. That being said, we will not be making changes just simply for the sake of saying we made changes."
Keefe, who has coached the Maple Leafs for 2 1/2 seasons, guided the club to a stellar 54-21-7 record in the regular season.
Dubas has been general manager for the past four seasons and Toronto has finished more than 10 games above .500 in each of his campaigns. He was the assistant GM the previous four seasons.
"I think that Kyle built a very good hockey team," Shanahan said of Dubas. "I think he made excellent adjustments along the way, and I think Sheldon is an excellent coach. As we look forward to next year, and getting to work towards next year, I think it's important to state that I see both of them as being extremely important in getting us to the next level, so that when we do approach next year, and we do come back, that we are ready to take that next step.
"As Kyle said to the players today, the work for next year begins right now. And I look forward to getting to work with Kyle and Sheldon for next season."
Toronto hasn't won a playoff series since the 2003-04 season.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Orlando Echo news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Orlando Echo.
More InformationMADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
EVERGLADES, Florida: Over the weekend, a diverse coalition of environmental activists, Native American leaders, and residents gathered...
(Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images) The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-hander Yimi Garcia on the 15-day injured list with a...
Washington DC [US], July 5 (ANI): Julian McMahon's ex-wife, Brooke Burns, remembered the actor with a heartfelt message for the actor...
Washington [US], July 5 (ANI): Elon Musk is threatening Republicans who voted for President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' posing...
(Photo credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images) Catcher Agustin Ramirez, who entered this weekend leading all major-league rookies with...