In a stunning turn of events, former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has found his new home as the bench boss of the New Jersey Devils. Keefe, who was unceremoniously let go by the Maple Leafs after a heartbreaking Game 7 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins, wasted no time in landing a new gig just two weeks later with a four-year deal in place with the Devils.
Addressing season-ticket holders at a team event, Keefe expressed his excitement about the team’s culture and determination to win. “With the players, there’s a real culture and expectation of winning here. They’re very disappointed with what happened in the past. All through the organization everyone feels that way,” Keefe said. “There’s been an absolute full commitment on all levels by everyone I’ve interacted with to get it right and get back on track right away. But the belief has never wavered within the organization. I think there’s tremendous belief there.”
The Devils had a breakout season in 2022-23, racking up an impressive 112 points and making the playoffs for the first time in four years. However, the following season did not go as planned, as the team stumbled to a 38-39-5 record, missing the playoffs by a significant margin. This disappointing outcome led to the firing of veteran head coach Lindy Ruff in March, with interim coach Travis Green taking over before departing for the Ottawa Senators in the off-season.
Keefe acknowledged the defensive struggles the team faced last season, emphasizing the importance of improving in that area while continuing to rely on their offensive firepower. “There are a lot of elite teams in the NHL at generating and producing offence, the New Jersey Devils certainly are one. We’ll continue to lean in on that,” he said. “The foundation of any successful team is the ability to defend its net and keep pucks out of its net ultimately. That will be a major priority and focus for us. It’s got to be a big part of our identity. It’s got to be difficult to get to our net and get to our goaltenders. We have a lot of belief in our goaltenders.”
General manager Tom Fitzgerald wasted no time in addressing the team’s defensive issues, making some key acquisitions over the summer. With the addition of veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames and signing free agent defensemen Brendan Dillon and Brett Pesce to multi-year contracts, the Devils are looking to shore up their defensive play and make a strong push for the playoffs in the upcoming season.
