Toronto Maple Leafs fire head coach Mike Babcock

 

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday (Nov. 20) that coach Mike Babcock has been fired.

In a tweet sent out late afternoon, the Leafs confirmed that Babcock had been ‘relieved’ of his duties and Sheldon Keefe will be replacing him as head coach.

Toronto Maple Leafs President and Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan announced today that Mike Babcock has been relieved of his coaching duties and Sheldon Keefe has been named the Club’s new head coach. #LeafsForever

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) November 20, 2019

Maple Leafs president and alternate governor Brendan Shanahan made the announcement in the midst of much speculation around Babcock’s future with the franchise after a dismal 9-10-4 start to the season.

Babcock had been with the Leafs since 2015.

Keefe, 39, has been the head coach of the Toronto Marlies since 2015 and played in the NHL before that with Tampa Bay.

The Leafs signed Keefe earlier this year to a two-year deal as head coach of their AHL team.