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<p>With the amount of changes made across the Leafs organization recently it seemed it was just a matter of the Marlies being eliminated from the playoffs before the focus was going to shift in their direction. Today, the expected changes have been announced&#8230;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs">@MapleLeafs</a> Asst. GM Kyle Dubas has announced changes to <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoMarlies">@TorontoMarlies</a> coaching staff as Gord Dineen will not return as head coach. (1/3)</p>
<p>— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/600731041297526784">May 19, 2015</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dineen has been offered a position to remain on as an associate coach while the Club&#8217;s search for a new head coach begins immediately. (2/3)</p>
<p>— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/600731096381284352">May 19, 2015</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Associate coach Derek King was relieved of his duties. Asst coach Ben Simon has been offered another position within the organization. (3/3)</p>
<p>— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/600731194200829954">May 19, 2015</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>Despite the late push from the Marlies to make the playoffs, and the apparent buy-in from Gord Dineen on the new front office&#8217;s vision, it seemed likely that there is a mandate to get all of the best possible people in their roles as soon as possible, and with the Marlies being critical to what the Leafs are looking to build long term this had to be a priority for Shanahan &amp; Co. </p>
<p>Dineen in an associate role would essentially make him the new coach&#8217;s de facto right hand man, which isn&#8217;t something that would be too much of a concern for an incoming AHL coach as they rarely get to hand pick their staff. It is possible with Dineen&#8217;s resume, he&#8217;d prefer to see what opportunities exist for him elsewhere.</p>
<p>The big question is whether this head coaching availability will be filled by Sheldon Keefe.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Widely expected Sheldon Keefe will be the Marlies coach but that&#8217;s not confirmed. Would make sense he work with prospects though.</p>
<p>— James Mirtle (@mirtle) <a href="https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/600732369448996864">May 19, 2015</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>This is something the wonderful Justin Fisher discussed on <a href="http://theleafsnation.com/2015/5/16/friedman-and-cox-have-some-big-updates-on-the-leafs-coaching-and-general-manager-search">Saturday</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Considering Keefe&#8217;s relationship with Leafs Assistant General Manager Kyle Dubas, who hired Keefe in Sault Ste. Marie, this shouldn&#8217;t come as a surprise to anyone. I&#8217;d be surprised if Keefe was hired on to be an assistant coach as part of a currently non-existent head coach&#8217;s staff, so we&#8217;re likely going to see Keefe take over the Marlies coaching duties from Gord Dineen.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>While I&#8217;m certainly there will be some other candidates considered, this seems like a perfect fit, though the triumphant return to <a href="http://theleafsnation.com/2015/5/12/maple-leafs-job-fair-dallas-eakins-resume">Dallas Eakins</a> to the Marlies bench may also be worth considering. I&#8217;d also hope that the coach hired at the AHL level has a style similar to the coach that will be brought in at the NHL, and perhaps it&#8217;s best to have a new GM in place before any of the decisions are made.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kyle Dubas says Leafs looking for an &#8220;elite young coach&#8221; for the Marlies. Says club is undergoing &#8220;big organizational shift in philosophy.&#8221;</p>
<p>— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonasTSN1050/status/600742218970832896">May 19, 2015</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p>I&#8217;m sure we&#8217;ll have much more on this on The Leafs Nation as the number of postings in MLSE&#8217;s job bank continues to grow.</p>
<h2>UPDATES</h2>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leafs?src=hash">#leafs</a> were granted permission from SSM yesterday to speak with Sheldon Keefe about Marlies job.</p>
<p>— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/600743436459876352">May 19, 2015</a>
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<p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>No real surprise here. </p>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash">#Leafs</a> AGM Kyle Dubas confirms that Gord Dineen will stay on as an associate coach with the Marlies to help groom the defencemen. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a></p>
<p>— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/600742446868332544">May 19, 2015</a>
</p></blockquote>
<p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>This isn&#8217;t a bad thing either as it puts Dineen back in his wheelhouse.</p></p>

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</div></center><p><br></p><p>With the amount of changes made across the Leafs organization recently it seemed it was just a matter of the Marlies being eliminated from the playoffs before the focus was going to shift in their direction. Today, the expected changes have been announced...</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs">@MapleLeafs</a> Asst. GM Kyle Dubas has announced changes to <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoMarlies">@TorontoMarlies</a> coaching staff as Gord Dineen will not return as head coach. (1/3)</p>— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/600731041297526784">May 19, 2015</a>
</blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dineen has been offered a position to remain on as an associate coach while the Club's search for a new head coach begins immediately. (2/3)</p>— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/600731096381284352">May 19, 2015</a>
</blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Associate coach Derek King was relieved of his duties. Asst coach Ben Simon has been offered another position within the organization. (3/3)</p>— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/600731194200829954">May 19, 2015</a>
</blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>Despite the late push from the Marlies to make the playoffs, and the apparent buy-in from Gord Dineen on the new front office's vision, it seemed likely that there is a mandate to get all of the best possible people in their roles as soon as possible, and with the Marlies being critical to what the Leafs are looking to build long term this had to be a priority for Shanahan &amp; Co. </p><p>Dineen in an associate role would essentially make him the new coach's de facto right hand man, which isn't something that would be too much of a concern for an incoming AHL coach as they rarely get to hand pick their staff. It is possible with Dineen's resume, he'd prefer to see what opportunities exist for him elsewhere.</p><p>The big question is whether this head coaching availability will be filled by Sheldon Keefe.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Widely expected Sheldon Keefe will be the Marlies coach but that's not confirmed. Would make sense he work with prospects though.</p>— James Mirtle (@mirtle) <a href="https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/600732369448996864">May 19, 2015</a>
</blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>This is something the wonderful Justin Fisher discussed on <a href="http://theleafsnation.com/2015/5/16/friedman-and-cox-have-some-big-updates-on-the-leafs-coaching-and-general-manager-search">Saturday</a>:</p><blockquote>"Considering Keefe's relationship with Leafs Assistant General Manager Kyle Dubas, who hired Keefe in Sault Ste. Marie, this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. I'd be surprised if Keefe was hired on to be an assistant coach as part of a currently non-existent head coach's staff, so we're likely going to see Keefe take over the Marlies coaching duties from Gord Dineen."</blockquote><p>While I'm certainly there will be some other candidates considered, this seems like a perfect fit, though the triumphant return to <a href="http://theleafsnation.com/2015/5/12/maple-leafs-job-fair-dallas-eakins-resume">Dallas Eakins</a> to the Marlies bench may also be worth considering. I'd also hope that the coach hired at the AHL level has a style similar to the coach that will be brought in at the NHL, and perhaps it's best to have a new GM in place before any of the decisions are made.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kyle Dubas says Leafs looking for an "elite young coach" for the Marlies. Says club is undergoing "big organizational shift in philosophy."</p>— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonasTSN1050/status/600742218970832896">May 19, 2015</a>
</blockquote><p>I'm sure we'll have much more on this on The Leafs Nation as the number of postings in MLSE's job bank continues to grow.</p><h2>UPDATES</h2><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leafs?src=hash">#leafs</a> were granted permission from SSM yesterday to speak with Sheldon Keefe about Marlies job.</p>— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/600743436459876352">May 19, 2015</a>
</blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>No real surprise here. </p><p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash">#Leafs</a> AGM Kyle Dubas confirms that Gord Dineen will stay on as an associate coach with the Marlies to help groom the defencemen. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TMLtalk?src=hash">#TMLtalk</a></p>— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/600742446868332544">May 19, 2015</a>
</blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>This isn't a bad thing either as it puts Dineen back in his wheelhouse.</p><p></p>

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