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Better Head Coaching candidates the Detroit Red Wings should Consider

By Bob Heyrman

SUNRISE, FL - MARCH 10: Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Jeff Blashill listen to Assistant Coach Dan Bylsma during a break in the action against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on March 10, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL - MARCH 10: Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Jeff Blashill listen to Assistant Coach Dan Bylsma during a break in the action against the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on March 10, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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He’s road blocked by Mike Babcock in Toronto and looks poised to become the next bright young up and coming NHL head coach.

Sheldon Keefe was born in Brampton, Ontario not to be mistaken with Brantford the home of Wayne Gretzky not too far down the road. Keefe was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 1999 NHL Entry Level Draft.

He played in the Ontario Hockey League where he was a superstar, his final season with the Barrie Colts. He played 66 games and scored 48 goals totaling 121 points. He was a plus 23 and also recorded 95 penalty minutes. During that final season, he enjoyed a lengthy playoff run where he played 25 games, scored 10 goals and recorded 23 points.

Needless to say, his talents didn’t translate over to the NHL. He was moved between the AHL and NHL often and played a total of 125 career NHL games and was only able to accomplish 12 goals, added 12 assists and totaled 24 points. Remember the Detroit Vipers? He played 13 games with the Vipers in 00/01 scoring 7 times.

Sheldon Keefe started his coaching career with the Soo Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League, although he was unable to win a memorial cup during his two seasons as the bench boss he had two unbelievable regular season records. His career OHL coaching record was 98-29-9. His teams were bounced in the second & third rounds respectably, but he’d later coach his current Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup Championship in the American Hockey League.

I’m not confident Keefe would be an upgrade immediately to Jeff Blashill because if you remember, Jeff won a Calder Cup in Grand Rapids and had tremendous success at the AHL level before succeeding Mike Babcock with the Detroit Red Wings.

Personally, I would rather a veteran established head coach at this point to help groom the young players within the organization holding them accountable while they develop into seasoned professionals. That being said, I expect the 38-year-old Keefe to be a highly sought after coach this summer.

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