Sheldon Keefe named head coach of the New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils announced Thursday that Sheldon Keefe has been hired as the 22nd head coach in franchise history.
First reported Wednesday by Barstool Sports‘ Brian McGonagle, a.k.a. Real Admiral/R.A., then confirmed by Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli, Keefe joins the Devils nearly two weeks after being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Here’s a little nugget for you: Sheldon Keefe will be the next head coach of the New Jersey Devils. @spittinchiclets
— Rear Admiral (@RearAdBsBlog) May 22, 2024
Confirmed. Sheldon Keefe is next coach of #njdevils.
Good scoop by the one of a kind @RearAdBsBlog. https://t.co/OSwegYlW9Y
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 22, 2024
“This was an invigorating process for me, having met with many qualified candidates and hearing how attractive this position was to them,” President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald said in a team statement, going on to say the former Toronto Maple Leafs’ bench boss “jumped to the top of my list when he became available.”
“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 in a statement. “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.”
The 43-year-old Keefe spent five seasons with the Maple Leafs, compiling a 212-97-40 record in 349 games and posting three 100-point seasons with the club. They won one division title in 2020-21, the North Division created for the COVID-19 pandemic campaign.
His 212 regular-season wins rank fifth all-time in Toronto franchise history.
However, in 31 playoff games, Keefe could only produce a 16-21 record, and the Maple Leafs won just one playoff series under his tenure.
Before taking over for Mike Babcock in 2019-20, Keefe was the head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, where in parts of five seasons, he compiled a 200-89-22 record and won the franchise’s first Calder Cup in 2017-18.
As head coach of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Keefe had a 134-55-5 record, making it to the conference finals in his final season.
As a player, Keefe played parts of three NHL seasons, scoring 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points and 78 penalty minutes in 125 career regular-season games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In his last OHL season as a player with the Barrie Colts, Keefe scored 48 goals and 73 assists for 121 points, leading the league in scoring. He helped the team win an OHL championship before losing to the Rimouski Oceanic in the Memorial Cup final.