EAST MEADOW, N.Y. Friday was all about delivering messages for Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe
As apply ended, Keefe skated to William Nylander and chatted for about two minutes. Then it was over to captain John Tavares for an additional chat of about the identical size. Then a for much longer one-on-one with Alex Kerfoot.
That line, Keefe stated, must do higher.
“They’ve performed job persistently producing offence for us,” the coach stated. “I don’t suppose the road has had the identical kind of rhythm they’ve had previous to Christmas. They've one other degree to get to.”
The thought of Friday’s conversations wasn’t to single out a participant or a line, or to gentle a fireplace. Tavares hardly wants that, particularly since his subsequent recreation Saturday is in opposition to his previous staff, the New York Islanders. The thought was to strengthen the general route of the staff.
“He was simply checking in, following up, seeing the place issues are at,” Tavares stated. “And seeing the how the themes and messages of the day have been obtained. We’re all making an attempt to proceed to work collectively to get higher and problem one another and push each other, understanding that — particularly currently — we haven’t been as constant as we need to be.”
The message was all in regards to the staff discovering a strategy to cease the blown leads of latest video games: Play harder, be constant, don’t let up.
Keefe’s frustration with the staff currently led to a different uncommon messaging second. When it was his flip to talk to the media, he began to speak with out ready for a query.
He wished to make clear his feedback following Toronto’s 6-3 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday, when he known as the best way his staff performed “delicate and purposeless.” It was a theme he got here again to repeatedly that night time, clearly annoyed with how his gamers had performed.
“That was a mirrored image of how we performed in that recreation, and the way particularly we performed with the lead,” Keefe stated.
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The feedback have been harsh, although maybe deserved, and his candour created numerous play within the mainstream media and social media.
Friday’s messaging gave the impression to be about nipping within the bud any notion of division throughout the staff after his feedback gained traction with the staff’s critics.
“No matter what Sheldon stated publicly, it was going to be communicated to the group that we have now to play quite a bit higher,” Tavares stated.
“I don’t suppose gamers put an excessive amount of benefit into what occurs in post-game media,” defenceman Morgan Rielly stated. “It was an trustworthy reply. I don’t suppose he’s unsuitable. I believe as a bunch, we have now to do extra within the (defensive) zone, and I believe we have now to guard our goalie a bit extra and shield our web entrance.”
Keefe didn’t apologize for the feedback, or stroll them again, however he wished so as to add to it that he “believes” within the group he has.
“We’ve competed at a extremely excessive degree all season lengthy,” Keefe stated. “We’re a staff that has been troublesome to play in opposition to, after we’re at our greatest. That’s been via a basis of competitiveness, the standard of our construction. We proceed to work on our consistency.
“My perception on this staff hasn’t modified in any approach. However our commonplace slipped within the second and third interval the opposite night time, and we will’t win by taking part in that approach.”
His overriding message Friday was that his staff has not been superb currently and there’s no time like the current to show it round.
“We’ve earned the proper to have excessive expectations and excessive requirements, (and we’ll) proceed to push the staff in direction of these requirements,” he stated. “I don’t say issues to the media to that impact that I haven’t stated to the staff. So that they’re not caught abruptly. My message to the staff is: My perception on this staff is extraordinarily robust, that’s why my expectations are so excessive and why the frustration is there after we don’t meet these expectations.
“We wish accountability round right here from ourselves and for our followers.”
Notes: Petr Mrazek will begin in purpose in opposition to the Islanders as an alternative of Jack Campbell, who has struggled currently. It is going to be Mrazek’s fifth recreation of the 12 months, and first begin since a 2-1 loss in Arizona on Jan. 12. “He hasn’t performed quite a bit, however he’s an essential a part of our staff,” Keefe stated. “We’re actually going to wish him because the calendar turns to February.” … Defenceman Carl Dahlstrom, who missed a lot of the final two seasons with a damaged hand, different accidents and COVID-related pauses within the AHL, may begin his first recreation on the blue line. He was paired with Travis Dermott on Friday … Defenceman Justin Holl and ahead Ondrej Kaše have been launched from COVID protocol in Arizona and have been to affix the staff in time for Saturday’s recreation. Neither has been dominated out of the lineup however sometimes the staff desires gamers to get in a full apply earlier than taking part in a recreation. Joey Anderson practised in Kaše’s spot.