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Sheldon Keefe Appointed as Head Coach for the New Jersey Devils
Former head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sheldon Keefe, has quickly found a new position with the New Jersey Devils. This news was corroborated by Sportsnet on Wednesday, following initial reports from the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.
Coaching Transitions
Keefe’s tenure with the Maple Leafs came to an end on May 9, shortly after the team’s loss in Game 7 of the first playoff round against the Boston Bruins. Despite having two years remaining on his contract, Keefe was relieved of his duties. The Devils had previously parted ways with head coach Lindy Ruff on March 4, appointing assistant Travis Green as the interim head coach.
Since Green moved on to coach the Ottawa Senators, Keefe has been selected to take over as the new head coach for the Devils.
Performance Analysis
Throughout his time with the Maple Leafs, Keefe guided the team to consistent success during the regular season but faced challenges in making deep playoff runs. The Leafs made post-season appearances in all five years under Keefe, qualifying for the playoffs each time. However, they only managed to win one out of six playoff series, falling short of prolonged success.
Now, as he transitions to the Devils, Keefe, at 43 years old, is tasked with rejuvenating the team and steering them towards a playoff berth, after a season where they fell short of qualifying.
Team Challenges
The Devils faced numerous setbacks in the past season, including injuries to key players such as Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, Jack Hughes, and Nico Hischier. Additionally, goaltending inconsistencies plagued the team, despite late-season reinforcements.
General manager Tom Fitzgerald’s roster boasts young, speedy talent such as Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Jack Hughes, offering promise for the team’s future development.
Keefe’s Background
Keefe’s coaching career began with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL, where he achieved success by leading the team to a Calder Cup victory in 2017-18. Prior to his coaching endeavors, Keefe had a brief NHL playing career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, totaling 125 games.
His coaching reputation grew substantially when he orchestrated a remarkable series comeback against the Bruins in the recent playoffs, despite facing injuries and a 3-1 deficit. This achievement, however, was not sufficient to secure his position with the Maple Leafs, leading to his current role with the Devils.
Keefe’s trajectory in coaching can be traced back to his early days with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, where he was given the opportunity by Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas to lead the team. Before that, he found success in the junior leagues with the Pembroke Lumber Kings.
The transition to coaching in the NHL for Keefe signifies a new chapter in his career, as he aims to leave a lasting impact on the New Jersey Devils.
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