Pretty sure Keefe is staying with the marlies on a new and loaded contract

Thoughts on above:
1. LA-BUF trade: Toffoli provides veteran finisher on RW for Eichel and who has Cup experience at age 27; Kings get younger winger with scoring potential in Thompson and a LHD veteran defender to fill hole left by Muzzin. Teams swap draft picks in 3rd round.
2. EDM-BUF trade: With both teams in need of a major reshuffling of deck and Nugent-Hopkins and Ristolainen being parts of their teams' respective losing histories of late, Sabres add a two-way, 2C and shutdown RHD to pair with Dahlin while Oilers add a physical RHD with size and offensive ability to pair with Nurse along with young winger with offensive potential to team with Draisaitl or McDavid. Girgensons adds depth to bottom 6 for Oilers and with swap of draft picks, Oilers draft position moves up 6-7 spots (assuming SJ finishes 26-28 and Edm finishes 5-8).
3. FLA-BUF trade: Swap of defensemen provides Sabres with more puck transition ability for 3rd pairing with return of Pysyk and Panthers add veteran with physicality to bolster their defense.
4. Signing of Smith-Pelly adds another veteran with Cup experience and some grit to 4th line in checking role.

Possibly - though there's an out if an NHL job opens. If he sees his path in Toronto blocked by Babcock and his only chance to get some NHL experience towards an eventual NHL head coaching job, he could look to accept an assistant's role as a stepping stone - the same way many inexperienced NHL coaches get their feet wet.

That said, since Gronborg also has no head coaching experience, he could become the assistant to Keefe at Botterill's request. Gronborg's experience in Europe makes sense with all of the Swedes the Sabres are building around and, like Keefe, he's an innovative thinker. Normally, the HC picks his assistants but the sense is that Botterill deferred to Housley picking his assistants and Payne and Hajt were each ineffective in their roles. In theory, it seems like Botterill would suggest assistants to his next HC.

outstanding

Yeah i definitely think Housley is gone, the sabres have too much talent to not be at least in a position like montreal. Keefe is gonna get a lot of looks at NHL jobs, but the same thing happened with Dubas before he was promoted. Idk i think maybe hte leafs see Keefe as a successor to Babcock, but that could literally change depending on how the leafs preform in the playoffs. I think he's in the NHL in 2 years minimum.

Keefe will probably wait for an NHL Head Coaching job I’d think
Seems like he’s pretty high on the list of guys up next