Hakstol was an assistant coach on Keefe’s staff for parts of two seasons from 2019-21.
There’s no question that the Toronto market is under one of the biggest microscopes in the NHL. Unlike a long list of teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs are constantly in the spotlight, highlighted by a Stanley Cup-starved city, a passionate fan base, and relentless media attention. The Leafs and their market are incomparable.
From the outside looking in, one can only imagine the pressure that comes with being a professional athlete or staff member of the organization. The point is, the constant tension of underperforming or coming up short is daunting, even for these seasoned professionals – just ask them.
In Friday’s edition of Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Matt Larkin, the co-hosts interviewed former Maple Leafs assistant coach Dave Hakstol, who was on now-New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe’s staff for parts of two seasons from 2019-21 in Toronto. Specifically, Hakstol was asked about the “pressure cooker” that is Toronto and how he and Keefe navigated the challenges of coaching in such a unique market.
“It’s a different world. It really is,” Hakstol said, emphasizing the daily intensity of being part of the Leafs. “Being in Toronto, on a daily basis. It’s the media scrutiny, again I go back to Keefer and I thought he handled that extremely well.”
Hakstol, who worked alongside Keefe and experienced the high expectations firsthand, noted the relentless attention from media and fans. He admitted that this ongoing pressure can be intimidating, no matter the role you’re in.
“We could always go through and probably pick our pressers that we would like to do over again; I’m sure that he has a couple,” Hakstol admitted. “But I thought he handled himself very well in that environment.”
In June of 2019, Hakstol was hired as an assistant coach by the Leafs after being let go by the Philadelphia Flyers as the club’s head coach in December of 2018 following a 12-15-4 start to the season. In Toronto, he helped lead the Leafs to a 36-25-9 record in the 2019-20 season, followed by a top-seeded 35-14-7 record in the 2020-21 campaign before an eventual magnifying postseason loss to the Montreal Canadiens, where the team lost a 3-1 series lead.
Hakstol would be brought on as the head coach of the expansion Seattle Kraken in 2021, leading the way for three seasons before being relieved of his duties at the end of the 2023-24 season.
As for Keefe, Hakstol’s praise is a testament to the head coach’s ability to maintain professionalism over his five-year tenure in Toronto, handling the demands posed by the Toronto market. Under Keefe’s leadership, the Leafs earned their first playoff series victory since 2004 in the 2022-2023 postseason, and he is the all-time leader in points percentage as a head coach with a 212-97-54 (.665) record.
Despite the recent turnover we have seen with NHL head coaches, Keefe found greener pastures as he committed to join the Devils on a four-year deal. Keefe’s ability to navigate these pressures and lead the team to a few notable successes, including a long-awaited playoff series victory, speaks volumes about his coaching capabilities.
