Nash Daily: Toronto Extends Keefe, Slafkovsky Primed To Breakout

The NHL released the start times for the 2023 season and Nashville Hockey Now will have more details about how and when to watch the Nashville Predators primetime games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs extended head coach Sheldon Keefe on Wednesday, keeping him around for another two years that will take him through the 2025-26 season.

Keefe has both his advocates and detractors, but new general manager Brad Treliving has not wavered in his support for his guy behind the bench even though it was former general manager Kyle Dubas who brought in Keefe.

Brad Treliving, on his decision to give head coach Sheldon Keefe a contract extension: "I think Sheldon is a top coach. I think he's a really, really good coach. … When you've got good people you want to keep them."

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) August 30, 2023

Around the NHL and National Hockey Now

Boston Hockey Now: Jake DeBrusk is one of many notable names entering the final year of his contract before becoming a free agent. DeBrusk hopes to remain a Bruin and be a part of the next era of hockey in Boston.

Montreal Hockey Now: Juraj Slafkovsky is a key piece of the Canadiens core. Will the 19-year-old forward surpass the 55 points ESPN projects him to score in Year 2?

Philly Hockey Now: Former Flyers goaltender and current commentator Brian Boucher will replace current Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones at TNT.

San Jose Hockey Now: Former Predator Mikael Granlund is seeking to reinvent himself after a poor showing in Pittsburgh. Perhaps defense is his path forward.

Washington Hockey Now: The NHL is regarded as the top professional hockey league in the world, but how do other leagues stack up? The president of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) continues to express the KHL’s interest in making inter-league games a reality.

NHL.com: A new women’s professional hockey league has been formed and will begin play in January 2024, marking a major step in the growth of women’s hockey. The PWHL will have teams in cities: Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, New York, Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

IIHF: Recent rule changes have been announced for the upcoming international slate with some interesting modifications that some have been advocating transfer over to the NHL. One of the most popular changes includes a penalized player getting out of the penalty box if a short-handed goal is scored.

Follow Clay Brewer on Twitter/X: @ClayBrewer10