Assessing Sheldon Keefe's job security entering his fourth season behind the Maple Leafs bench

The Maple Leafs finished fourth in the NHL last season. They didn't make any big moves this summer, but they did sign Calle Jarnkrok on a four-year contract. The coaching staff has remained the same. Sheldon Keefe is the coach behind the bench. The team needs to have playoff success to prove the decision. Ottawa Senators won't close the gap between them. It's unlikely that the Leafs will close it. This is their fifth game plan series. Their last edition was about the coaching. In this edition, they take a look at the Maple Leaf's coaching team.

Sheldon Keefe's Toronto Maple Leafs have won just one playoff series in three attempts. The team won the regular season, but lost the playoffs against Columbus. They finished fourth in the league in goals per game and second in power play. The next season they will play 56 games inside the Canadian division. Their defensive metrics are good and their special teams are effective. Keefa's team has been successful in regular-season games. He has experimented with line combinations and players' ice time. His team is organized and has good special team performance. It's the goal of the coach to win the Stanley Cup.

The Maple Leafs power play has gone down in the final months of the season and up in playoffs. There have been personnel issues at times, such as a trigger-shy Mitch Marner and Mark Giordano. The first unit has had success with Giordan at the top, but the second unit hasn't. Sheldon Keefe is entering his fourth season behind the Maple Leaf bench.

Sheldon Keefe's Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled with their power play for the third straight season. Keefa's team won 67 games and lost 23 games down the stretch. The team's playoff opponents have been able to make adjustments and the Leafs weren't able. Bruce Boudreau was fired 22 games into his fifth season after the team lost two playoff series.

Sheldon Keefe is looking for a new job behind the Maple Leafs bench. He is not satisfied with where they were even in the regular season and in playoffs.

Sheldon Keefe is the coach of the Maple Leafs. He has two more years left on his contract. The organization is still paying Mike Babcock until next summer. The team did not perform well in the playoffs, but they did well during the regular season. They did the same with Dean Chynoweth last season, who did a great job building the penalty kill and working through shaky goaltending. It's fair to bring Keef back to start this upcoming season and see how it goes. If he gets fired, it would be when they are no longer paying Babck. This is when he's no more. For the time being, he has an excellent record.