Keefe not concerned with job security amid Leafs' early slump

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe is blocking out the noise surrounding his future with the organization as he looks to erase an ugly start to the 2022-23 campaign.

"My focus solely is just to get our team to play better," Keefe said, per NHL.com's Dave McCarthy. "I think an area we can improve on the most is how connected we are, how we execute coming out of our zone and getting through the neutral zone and just getting on the attack from there."

Speculation on Keefe's job security has picked up considerably over the past week as Toronto concluded its five-game road trip with four consecutive losses. The Maple Leafs sit 4-4-2 on the season and have lost to five teams that missed the playoffs in 2021-22.

Keefe has guided Toronto to a 120-54-21 regular-season record since taking over for Mike Babcock in November 2019. The Maple Leafs collected a franchise-best 115 points last campaign but failed to escape the first round of the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year and third under Keefe.

The 42-year-old is under contract through 2023-24.

Mitch Marner, subject to plenty of criticism himself this season, dismissed the notion that Keefe's job is in jeopardy.

"We're a hockey team that wants to win games," Marner said. "Keefe has done an unbelievable job with this team when he's come in and done what he's done. If you look at our numbers, we've really improved on a lot of things.

"It's been a lot of fun to play for him. For us, it's just making sure it starts with our effort, accountability, and once we get those two things going, I think we are really going to be moving in the right direction."

Marner and Keefe have been in the spotlight together multiple times this season. Keefe recently called out Toronto's elite players after losing to the Arizona Coyotes. The coach also briefly benched Marner during the third period of Sunday's loss to the Anaheim Ducks after a pair of turnovers led to goals against the Leafs.

Marner, who leads Toronto forwards in average ice time this season at 22:50 per contest, insists he had no issue with being benched.

"I take a lot of accountability in myself, and (Keefe) does with everyone here in this locker room," Marner said. "It doesn't matter who you are, you have to show every player is accountable regardless, and I've got no problem with that at all."

The Maple Leafs' next chance to snap their skid comes Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers.