SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. – Twenty-three games into the season, Mike Babcock has been fired by the Maple Leafs.Mired in a six-game winless streak, the team announced Wednesday that Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe would take over the team beginning with Wednesday’s game against the Coyotes.“Today, we made the decision to relieve Mike Babcock of his coaching duties and named Sheldon Keefe our new head coach,” team president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement. “Over parts of the last five seasons, Mike has played an integral role in changing the direction of our franchise.”Babcock, the richest coach in NHL history thanks to the eight-year contract worth $50 million the Maple Leafs handed him in 2014, led the Maple Leafs to the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. But playoff success has eluded him; he’s lost eight of his past nine playoff series. It was no secret that Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas and Babcock didn’t see the game the same way. And Babcock had little success getting the team on track this season, winning just nine times in 23 games.“Mike’s commitment and tireless work ethic has put our organization in a better place and we are extremely grateful and appreciative of the foundation he has helped us build here.”“At this time, we collectively felt that it was best to make a change to Sheldon Keefe. 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.” The Leafs have lost six straight games and sit outside a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 9-10-4 record.In parts of five seasons under Babcock, the Maple Leafs posted a record of 173-133-45 in 351 regular season games and an 8-12 record in three post-season appearances. Keefe, 39, was in his fifth season as head coach of the Marlies. In 319 regula ...
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