05.28 Dave McCarthy Interview NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/what-can-the-new-jersey-devils-expect-from-sheldon-keefe-toronto-maple-leafs] general manager Tom Fitzgerald is no stranger to running and overseeing a head coaching search. He has conducted two since being named executive vice president and full-time general manager in July 2020. In 2020, Fitzgerald was looking for specific qualities. A candidate with NHL coaching experience who could walk into a room and grab the attention of his young team. A teacher who had experience coaching young talent and developing them into budding stars—someone who would come into the organization and clearly convey a message to his young players. That intensive coaching search ended with Lindy Ruff being named the 19th head coach in team history. For the next 281 games, the veteran head coach stood behind the bench and helped develop Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier [https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/nico-hischier-8480002], and Jesper Bratt, seeing them each reach new career highs. Four years later, Fitzgerald once again found himself searching for the right candidate to lead his team after Ruff was fired on March 4 and interim head coach Travis Green left New Jersey to accept the position of head coach of the Ottawa Senators. His intensive coaching search concluded on Tuesday, May 21, when Fitzgerald received a text message that led to a celebration. "Last Tuesday night, Sheldon Keefe texted me that he accepted the job," the general manager said. "You usually don't celebrate on Tuesday night, but I celebrated that night." Days later, on May 23, the Devils officially named Keefe as their next head coach, and one week after Fitzgerald received that text message, he held a press conference to formally introduce his new bench boss to the media and hockey fans in New Jersey. During his availability, Fitzgerald gave a glimpse into his search, a process he called the gauntlet. "When I look back at this process, it was pretty thorough. I called it the gauntlet to the people who went through it because it was extensive," Fitzgerald said. "I spent a lot of time with a lot of great candidates. One thing that I was consistent with was waiting, being patient in the process, and allowing the first round to see through and see what possibly could shake out. I stuck with that, and I wasn't going to budge from that." Fitzgerald revealed he spoke to eight to 10 candidates, including some who weren't necessarily ready for the coveted job behind New Jersey's bench. "I'm a pretty curious person, and there were a lot of guys that I spoke to that I knew weren't ready for the job, but curiosity put them in front of me, knowing that certain individuals I spoke to will be NHL coaches at some point down the road." As the process continued, Fitzgerald realized that Keefe was the guy, and a three-hour phone call solidified the 43-year-old as New Jersey's top target. "I call it the hockey talk, where it was just hockey," Fitzgerald explained. "I realized we would be fortunate to have him as our head coach because there are areas that we are tapping into now that he's very experienced in and that can help us." For the second time in four years, Fitzgerald believes he has found the right candidate to lead his team. Like Ruff, Keefe checks the boxes and possesses the qualities and attributes that Fitzgerald believes are needed to turn his team of young stars into Stanley Cup contenders. Today marked day one of the Sheldon Keefe era in New Jersey, and the Ontario native knows there is a long way to go. "There is a lot of work ahead," Keefe said, "which is the most exciting part." The Devils are expected to be active this summer after a disappointing 2023-24 season. Between solidifying the coaching staff and finding a goaltender to complete his tandem, Fitzgerald and Keefe will remain busy until training camp begins in late September.
