The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe, the team announced on Thursday.
The organization said it will immediately begin the search for a new head coach and will decide on the rest of the staff in the coming days.
Keefe addressed members of the media on Tuesday after it was announced that general manager Brad Treliving, President Brendan Shanahan and MLSE President Keith Pelley would speak on Friday.
Keefe had a two-year contract extension that he and the Leafs agreed to prior to the regular season that had yet to kick in.
The 43-year-old has been behind the bench for the last five seasons after replacing head coach Mike Babcock midway through 2019-20. The Maple Leafs have qualified for the playoffs in each of those campaigns but have advanced past the first round only once.
More to come