Keefe’s harsh words for Tavares: the captain responds to his coach

John Tavares’ time with the Maple Leafs has not been without its bumps. Yes, there was that one goal to finally propel the team into the 2nd round of the playoffs last year, but otherwise, the center is extremely criticized.

In a season almost without a tomorrow for Toronto, Sheldon Keefe has a short fuse, even with his captain.

Sheldon Keefe: John Tavares among Leafs who ‘got carried away’ in loss to Devils. https://t.co/trrVHSvZ4V pic.twitter.com/ejuHKAJ5pB

– theScore (@theScore) March 27, 2024

Last night, the coach sent him a pretty strong message, insinuating that he could have given a lot more in the game. He said Tavares had acted like a passenger by being carried along by his team.

Keefe followed up today by saying that he expects a good response from him, while mentioning that he could very well be one of his team’s best players.

For his part, Tavares didn’t shy away from mentioning today that, as captain, he must be the first to be accountable and set the standards for his teammates to follow.

We can expect quite a game from him tomorrow night against the Capitals.

While to some, Keefe’s exit may seem normal, it’s more a sign of a coach who has almost no room for manoeuvre left.

It’s true that Tavares isn’t looking too good at the moment, but this kind of conflict is often settled in the office, not in front of the media.

The playoffs haven’t even begun, and already the pressure is on. Imagine, the Maple Leafs have just lost two games in a row and are the 3rd best team in the Eastern Association. Despite this, the coach has little patience with his team.

It will be interesting to see what impact the pressure has on the Leafs in the playoffs. Once again, the lineup is more than interesting for doing damage, but it will all be played out on the ice, and in the Leafs’ case, that’s a challenge every year.

Overtime

– The Rocket in action tonight.

– Anunoby’s return to Toronto.

– What a game from Slaf.