In 2015, upon signing an eight-year contract to coach the Maple Leafs, Mike Babcock prophesied “There’s pain coming.”
Just over halfway into the term, sans playoff round victory in all that time, those words ring true with the coach’s dismissal.
Babcock was summarily relieved of his duties on Wednesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after his now former team went down to its fifth consecutive regulation defeat, and sixth loss in a row overall. To no one’s surprise, Sheldon Keefe was named as Babcock’s successor, the 31st coach in Leafs history.
“Sheldon’s record with the Marlies in terms of development and on-ice success during his time in our organization has compelled us all to feel that he is the right person to take us to the next stage in our evolution,” said team president Brendan Shanahan as part of a news release.