The New Jersey Devils have hired Sheldon Keefe as the franchise’s next head coach, according to an announcement from the team. Keefe spent the last five seasons as the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach before parting ways earlier this month.
“This is an exciting time, and I’m honored to be a member of the Devils’ organization,” Keefe said in a statement. “To have the chance to lead this young, dynamic team and to see the potential that can still be unlocked is all very attractive for me. After meeting with David, Josh, Tom, and other members of the organization and in talking with my family, this was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. I know this organization has a great history of winning and I look forward to getting started to work on leading them back to that level.”
Keefe, 43, tallied a 212-97-40 regular-season record as the Maple Leafs head coach and those 212 wins are the fifth-most in franchise history. His points percentage (.665) also ranks first among all head coaches in Maple Leafs history.
The former Maple Leafs head coach became the second-fastest coach to reach the 200-win mark in their NHL career behind only former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma. Toronto qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in all five of Keefe’s seasons at the helm.
The 43-year-old also spent time in the NHL as a player. Keefe was selected with the No. 47 pick in the 1999 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and appeared in 125 career NHL games from 2000 until 2003.
The Devils are coming off of a season in which they racked up a 38-39-5 record (81 points) and finished 10 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The New Jersey Devils made a bold move in naming Sheldon Keefe as their new head coach following his successful tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Keefe, who took over as head coach of the Maple Leafs in 2019, led the team to a 41-27-10 record in his first season and helped them secure a playoff spot in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.
Keefe’s coaching style is known for its emphasis on speed, skill, and creativity, which aligns well with the Devils’ young and talented roster. His ability to develop young players and maximize their potential was evident during his time with the Maple Leafs, where he helped players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander reach new heights in their careers.
The Devils are hoping that Keefe can bring the same level of success to their organization and help them become a competitive team in the Eastern Conference. With a solid core of young players like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Ty Smith, the Devils have the potential to make some noise in the NHL under Keefe’s guidance.
Keefe’s hiring also marks a new era for the Devils, who have struggled to find consistent success in recent years. With his proven track record of success and ability to connect with players, Keefe could be the missing piece that helps the Devils turn things around and become a perennial playoff contender.
Overall, the decision to hire Sheldon Keefe as the new head coach of the New Jersey Devils is a bold and exciting move that has the potential to pay off big for the organization. Fans will be eagerly anticipating the start of the new season to see how Keefe’s coaching style translates to success on the ice for the Devils.
