Sheldon Keefe joins the New Jersey Devils as their new coach two weeks after the Toronto Maple Leafs dismissed him.
Sheldon KeefeUpdated on May 23: The New Jersey Devils announced Sheldon Keefe as their 22nd head coach in team history.
“This was an invigorating process for me, having met with many qualified candidates and hearing how attractive this position was to them,” Devils GM-president Tom Fitzgerald said in a press release. “Sheldon jumped to the top of my list when he became available, and I was thrilled when he agreed to be a part of what we are building here. He is an excellent communicator, believes in collaboration, and will take what he has learned previously to make this team a Stanley Cup contender.”
Keefe said he's honored to be part of the organization.
“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,” Keefe said.
Thursday's announcement follows reports from TSN's Darren Dreger and Barstool Sports' Brian McGonagle on Wednesday that Keefe would join the team.
Keefe will be tasked with turning around a team that sprung up into the playoffs last season before finishing 10 points out of the post-season this year.
He wasn't out of work long, either.
The 43-year-old from Brampton, Ont., gets his second career NHL coaching position two weeks after the Toronto Maple Leafs fired him. Keefe spent parts of five seasons coaching the Leafs, amassing a 212-97-40 record. He ranks tied with Bruce Boudreau for second place in NHL history for the fewest games to 200 wins, with 326.
When he coached his first NHL game after replacing Mike Babcock in November 2019, the Leafs were sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 9-10-4 record and .478 points percentage. They moved to third place with a .579 points percentage before COVID-19 cancelled the rest of the regular season.
Keefe could turn around the Devils in a similar way. While they did have a 52-22-8 record in 2022-23 that ranked them third in the NHL, they dropped to 23rd overall this year with a 38-39-5 record.
Their offense wasn't as strong this season, dropping to 12th in the NHL in goals-for from fifth the year prior. Their defensive drop-off was even worse, allowing 59 more goals against than in 2022-23.
While injuries to Dougie Hamilton, Jack Hughes, Timo Meier and Nico Hischier contributed to the team's setback, goaltending was also a concern. Only trade deadline acquisitions Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen recorded a save percentage of at least .900 with the team.
If the team can stay healthy next season, Keefe can work with a young core the way he did with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander in Toronto.
Hughes continues to develop into one of the NHL's top forwards since being drafted first overall in 2019, logging 74 points in 62 games at 23 years old. Jesper Bratt, 25, recorded a career-high 56 assists and 83 points in 82 games this season, while Hischier can average at least a point per game if Keefe can help him improve upon his 80 points in 81 games in 2022-23. He stumbled slightly to 67 points in 71 games this season.
And as Jacob Stoller says in the video below, Keefe's abilities to build rapport with players, teach up-and-comers and command the team are exactly what the Devils need.
Keefe replaces interim Devils coach Travis Green, who joined the Ottawa Senators last week as their new coach. Green replaced coach Lindy Ruff in March after the latter had a 30-27-4 record to start the season.
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