New Jersey Devils hire Sheldon Keefe as new head coach

The New Jersey Devils employed Sheldon Keefe as their new coach, it was introduced Thursday. Keefe’s take care of the Devils is for 4 years, sources advised ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.

“That is an thrilling time, and I am honored to be a member of the Devils’ group,” Keefe stated in a press release. “To have the prospect to steer this younger, dynamic crew and to see the potential that may nonetheless be unlocked is all very enticing for me.”

Keefe, 43, was fired as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Could 9, lower than per week after they misplaced in Recreation 7 to the Boston Bruins within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He was changed by former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube.

Keefe had two years remaining on a contract extension signed in August, however the Maple Leafs are not on the hook for that expense. He turns into the Devils’ fifth head coach since 2019 and the third since March.

“This was an invigorating course of for me, having met with many certified candidates and listening to how enticing this place was to them,” Devils common supervisor Tom Fitzgerald stated. “Sheldon jumped to the highest of my checklist when he grew to become obtainable, and I used to be thrilled when he agreed to be part of what we’re constructing right here. He is a wonderful communicator, believes in collaboration and can take what he has discovered beforehand to make this crew a Stanley Cup contender.”

The Leafs made the playoffs in all 5 seasons Keefe coached the crew however superior previous the primary spherical just one time. That playoff sequence win in 2023 was the primary for Toronto since 2004. Keefe compiled a document of 212-97-40 with the Leafs for a .622 factors share.

Keefe performed 125 video games within the NHL as a winger with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He coached the OHL Soo Greyhounds for 3 years and the AHL Toronto Marlies for 5 years earlier than taking up the Leafs, working with former Toronto common supervisor Kyle Dubas at every cease.

The Devils fired coach Lindy Ruff throughout the 2023-24 season, which noticed them miss the playoffs with a a 38-39-5 document and regress by 31 factors after advancing to the second spherical of the postseason throughout the earlier marketing campaign.

The New Jersey emptiness was thought of one of the crucial fascinating within the NHL due to the Devils’ assortment of 25-and-under stars Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Luke Hughes. Keefe had expertise in Toronto working with elite younger skills akin to Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

The Devils reportedly interviewed Berube, former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft and former Los Angeles Kings coach Todd McLellan, amongst others.

The Related Press contributed to this report.