Confirmed: The Leafs are bringing back Sheldon Keefe

According to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs intend to bring back head coach Sheldon Keefe next season and are looking at signing a contract extension with the coach this offseason.

From Friedman's latest 32 Thoughts podcast with Sportsnet:

“In the end, it confirms what we had suspected for some time, which is that Keefe is coming back,” said Friedman. “They haven’t announced anything, but he’s coming back. I believe that once Treliving was hired it increased the chances, and there was one minute where I kind of wondered if that’s what the Rangers were waiting for, but generally, I’ve believed since Treliving arrived that Keefe was coming back and that’s going to be happening. He’s coming back.”...

- Elliotte Friedman

Again, the Leafs haven't confirmed anything officially, but all signs point to Keefe returning as the team's bench boss.

The real question then becomes, who do they hire to replace assistant coach Spencer Carbery who was hired by the Washington Capitals?

More from Friedman's 32 Thoughts co-host Jeff Marek:

“I had a couple of names float my way… there’s one name I think you’ve [Friedman] talked about before, I believe Elliotte, I can’t remember which team it was around… Karl Taylor… Todd Nelson… and listen, I think a lot of us wonder about Mitch Love after he didn’t get the Calgary gig… I don’t know how far the Maple Leafs are along in that process of trying to find the next assistant coach to replace Spencer Carbery, but those are three that, you know, I had conversations about over the weekend.”

- Jeff Marek

There were reports this weekend that the Leafs offered up the job to former Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green, but Green had declined the offer in favor of an assistant coaching opportunity with the New Jersey Devils. Honestly, it's a fascinating decision from Green given the opportunity that exists in Toronto with the Leafs. Still, the Devils look to be a team on the rise and Green has a history with the New York / New Jersey area, so it makes sense from that perspective.