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Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Mike Babcock amidst middling season

By Mary Clarke

EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 9: Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs speaks to the media prior to the game against the Edmonton Oilerson March 9, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 9: Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs speaks to the media prior to the game against the Edmonton Oilerson March 9, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have let go of head coach Mike Babcock, with minor league coach Sheldon Keefe stepping in as the team’s new bench boss.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially fired head coach of four seasons Mike Babcock on Wednesday, in an announcement from the team’s PR department. Taking over as head coach for the Maple Leafs will be Sheldon Keefe.

As of mid-November, the Maple Leafs sit at fifth place in the Atlantic Division with a 9-10-4 record. Toronto’s 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday was their sixth straight loss in an underwhelming year so far.

Team president Brendan Shanahan announced Babcock’s firing with a statement to the media, stating that it was time the team made a change.

“At this time, we collectively felt 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 he is the right person to take us to the next stage in our evolution.”

Babcock had spent the last four years and some change with the Maple Leafs after signing a major eight-year deal with the team in 2015. As of his firing, Babcock had three years remaining on his $50 million deal.

The Maple Leafs this season are in the midst of an underwhelming year. The team has had a slew of injuries, but overall have underwhelmed in a season where many believed they would take the next step forward as a playoff contender.

Instead, inconsistencies and flat performances have curtailed the Maple Leafs’ promising season so far and the team has struggled to stay afloat in a competitive Eastern Conference.

Babcock will end his Maple Leafs’ tenure with a 173-133-45 record across four seasons and 23 games, with a first round exit in his last three seasons.

Taking over for Babcock is former Toronto Marlies head coach Keefe, who has been head coach of the Maple Leafs’ AHL team since 2015. The Maple Leafs job will be his first NHL head coaching experience of his career.

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