Robert Brown|Toronto Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe fired after another early playoff exit

The Robert BrownToronto Maple Leafs fought back to force overtime in Game 7 after trailing three games to one in their first-round series against the Boston Bruins.

But the bottom line is they lost early in the postseason again, and coach Sheldon Keefe paid the price when he was fired on Thursday, the Maple Leafs announced.

“Today’s decision was difficult," general manager Brad Treliving said in a statement. "Sheldon is an excellent coach and a great man; however, we determined a new voice is needed to help the team push through to reach our ultimate goal.”

The Maple Leafs, who haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1967, said they would begin the search for a new head coach immediately.

Keefe got the Maple Leafs to the second round last season for the first time since 2004, but he also has lost in the first round three times and in the qualifying round in the 2020 postseason bubble after replacing Mike Babcock.

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“I didn’t get it done in the playoffs,” Keefe said in a video he released on Thursday. “I didn’t push our team over the line and deliver. I accept responsibility for that. No excuses. That’s the job and I didn’t get it done.”

He received a two-year extension in August that takes him through 2025-26. Toronto finished with 102 points, a nine-point drop from 2022-23, and ran into tough luck in the playoffs with William Nylander missing Game 1-3 and Auston Matthews missing the third period of Game 4 and all of Games 5 and 6.

They played desperate hockey to win Games 5 and 6 behind Joseph Woll, but the goaltender missed Game 7 with an injury. The Bruins won on David Pastrnak's overtime goal.

“Your talent and your work ethic made me look good on a lot of nights,” he said in the video about the team's players, adding, “Players and support staff will drive the team to success. I believe it will win.”

Keefe finishes with a .665 points percentage in the regular season and .432 in the playoffs.

“I don’t know what comes next but I’ll be ready for it," he said. "In the meantime, I’ll enjoy giving my family the time that they deserve."

The Maple Leafs also have to decide the status of their Core Four, whose cap hits total more than $45 million. Nylander and Matthews are signed long-term, but captain John Tavares and Mitch Marner are entering the final years of their contracts. Both have no-movement clauses.

The two are eligible to sign extensions after July 1 if the Maple Leafs choose that route. Marner said a long-term contract in Toronto is his goal.

"Obviously, we’re looked at as kind of gods here, to be honest, and it’s something that you really appreciate," he said. "The love that you get here from this fanbase and this attention is not like any other."

NHL coaching carousel

With Keefe's firing, five NHL teams (Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken) have coach openings.

The Buffalo Sabres (Lindy Ruff), Ottawa Senators (Travis Green) and St. Louis Blues (Drew Bannister had his interim tag removed) have filled their openings.

The Los Angeles Kings still have to make a decision on the status of interim coach Jim Hiller.