Keefe snaps on Kovacevic

[Boss Man Hughes]

Weak. Singling out and throwing a depth player under the bus publicly because he doesn't dare call the big guns out.

Well as he is a depth player he should not say anything. It's up to the top players and leaders to make comments like that.

 

[Thechozen1]

I'm just saying Keefe could've also played better in his career which he couldn't match the level so I think he should be more understanding.

In 6 pro seasons Keefe only had 1 season where he wasn’t a minus player and that was at the AHL level. Seems he could have tried playing better too. Not always so easy. How quickly he’s forgotten.

 

[Mike C]

He is a disciple of John 'pop' TARTorella
That explains some things but he seemed unhinged after the game.

Give him a break eh?

He thought it was another Leafs 1st round playoff exit.

 

[Mike C]

Let's see if Keefe walks it back today or not

The spilt milk doesn't taste the same when you put it back in the bottle

 

[Mike C]

I don't know what happened here but I have my doubts that this was out of left field like some here are suggesting. Keefe knows a little something about making chicken salad turning the Leafs into one of the best defensive teams in the League with Holl in his top 4. The team should listen to him. Kovacevic was only worth a 4th round pick until he met Keefe. Kovacevic should be kissing Keefes feet for that big contract he got.

Not to mention all his playoff success!!

 

[Mike C]

In 6 pro seasons Keefe only had 1 season where he wasn’t a minus player and that was at the AHL level. Seems he could have tried playing better too. Not always so easy. How quickly he’s forgotten.

The correct response is

" Shelly just needs to coach better"

 

[ItWasJustified]

lol

So your argument is that they will make the playoffs and any type of concern for their current play is meaningless, and also they won't get far when they do make it, so making the playoffs doesn't matter either.

That's some nihilistic thinking and I don't subscribe to it.

This group needs to make the playoffs. Even if they lose, they'll still gain experience. They'll understand how difficult the game gets in the playoffs and will be more mentally prepared for it (hopefully) in subsequent years.

​

Yes, yes, and to your point, yes.
They will make the playoffs.
They won't get past the 1st round.
Great for them if they get some playoff experience.

The only reason for a Devils fan to hope that they start to heat up is that they get 6 or even possibly 7 games of playoff experience instead of just 4 or 5.

 

[Mobiandi]

Giving the media an excuse to stir up drama while the team is already under the microscope is a bizarre move.

Besides, some questionable coaching giving Markstrom this much rope after injury

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...1st Round PTSD got the best of Keefe...

 

[notbias]

Some of the responses are hilarious...

"Keefe shouldn't say things like that, he wasn't a good player" - A person who never coached commenting on someone coaching.

 

[AfroThunder396]

As a Devils fan, I wasn't really sure why this was a thread. The Devils have been plying mediocre hockey for three months now. Guys in the room should be pissed.

But now I see what this thread is for - Leafs fans continuing to litigate their past playoff failures.

 

[Coffee]

“Wouldn’t be surprised if Keefe walks these comments back. He made these snappy remarks here too and had to put his foot in his mouth the next day.”

Just paraphrasing what @TheShape said last night.

Shape is a Leafs guy who usually has sound judgement

 

[Xirik]

As a Devils fan, I wasn't really sure why this was a thread. The Devils have been plying mediocre hockey for three months now. Guys in the room should be pissed.

But now I see what this thread is for - Leafs fans continuing to litigate their past playoff failures.

They just can't let it go.

 

[banks]

Well as he is a depth player he should not say anything. It's up to the top players and leaders to make comments like that.

Give me a break!

You're joking, right? He was put in an interview, and the media asked him questions. What do you expect him to say? "I'm not allowed to talk about it"?

"We're in a fight... we want a playoff mentality that carries into the playoffs... we're not going to back down." Is not something that only the top players should be allowed to say.

 

[JIMVINNY]

Give me a break!

You're joking, right? He was put in an interview, and the media asked him questions. What do you expect him to say? "I'm not allowed to talk about it"?

"We're in a fight... we want a playoff mentality that carries into the playoffs... we're not going to back down." Is not something that only the top players should be allowed to say.

Those are the words of a fan who feels obligated to defend the indefensible. Claiming only top players can make comments like that is such a milquetoast response, you can tell they don't believe it themselves. There is nothing wrong with what Kovacevic said, and there's no way O'keefe can salvage this beyond a public apology, something for which he is far too arrogant.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Lame by Keefe , throw the bottom pairing guy under the bus lol nice

 

[North]

This reminds me of when someone from the Edmonton Oilers (don't remember who exactly, could have been the coach or GM, or someone else), after their crappy 2018-19 season, decided to make a very disparaging remark about Tobias Rieder.

Oooh Bob Nicholson, the CEO at the time.

Rieder was garbage but he wasn’t the reason for the whole team being garbage.

 

[Kranix]

Keefe is and always will be a loser

 

[johnnyonthspot]

Give him a break eh?

He thought it was another Leafs 1st round playoff exit.

The leafs are well past being first round exit status. I feel this is their year. They seem to have a different make up than past years.

 

[wolfgaze]

A person who never coached commenting on someone coaching.

Keefe wasn't actively 'coaching' his team while speaking to the press after a game - so it's perfectly fair grounds to criticize or call him out for something he said to the press that was perceived as inappropriate. The appeal to "You're not a hockey coach" doesn't work in this context.

 

[Voight]

He is a disciple of John 'pop' TARTorella
That explains some things but he seemed unhinged after the game.

Says who? Keefe did play under him, but he was a 4th liner at best so not really a guy who's going to be talking with the coach a whole lot.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

As a Devils fan, I wasn't really sure why this was a thread. The Devils have been plying mediocre hockey for three months now. Guys in the room should be pissed.

But now I see what this thread is for - Leafs fans continuing to litigate their past playoff failures.

Lol, yeah I’m sure you didn’t…That’s a load of crap…and you know it.

As if coaches just frequently call out a player by his name in a condescending manner after every game…

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Is there anything to suggest that Keefe hasn't had these conversations with him in private before this?

 

[notbias]

Keefe wasn't actively 'coaching' his team while speaking to the press after a game - so it's perfectly fair grounds to criticize or call him out for something he said to the press that was perceived as inappropriate. The appeal to "You're not a hockey coach" doesn't work in this context.

You realize how silly this post is when the original comment were on how people are saying Keefe shouldn't comment because he wasn't a good player, right?

Also, do you think coaching stops when they leave the ice? How does your post have a single like?

 

[Dr Pepper]

Feels like Kovacevic sorta got railroad by the media there.....like they specifically ask him the type of question to get that sort of answer, and then once they got that they immediately run to Keefe like "omgz Sheldon guess what your guy just said!"

Also it's possible that mightve been Sheldon's response if any other Devil was asked that question and gave the same answer.