Photo: KHL Photo Agency

Mike Keenan is not an easy guy to deal with; everybody knows that.

During his 20-year-long NHL career, Iron Mike got into more than a few personal conflicts. Yet the Washington Capitals reportedly interviewed Keenan for the head coaching gig two years ago, and his name has been floated again this year.

After becoming head coach of Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL, Keenan’s been mostly quiet. That is, until the final series against Lev Prague.

A few days after calling Lev’s Martin Sevc (to whom Keenan referred by number) “quite a slob,” Keenan expanded his hitlist to the refs. Following an overtime loss in game six, Keenan was barely held from jumping an official in the tunnel. He also delivered an animated speech to the rest of the officiating crew.

It is unclear what exactly infuriated Keenan. There was no doubt Lev’s game-winner was legal. Before going down the tunnel, Keenan and his assistant pointed to the other end of the ice (40 seconds into this video).

Most likely, Keenan was referring to a couple of borderline plays during Metallurg’s last rush that could have been called for holding, but maybe not in overtime of the sixth game of the finals.

We’ll see if KHL takes any action against Keenan. If there’s a suspension coming, Keenan will miss game seven, to be played on Wednesday.