The New Jersey Devils have hired Sheldon Keefe as their new coach with a four-year contract, according to sources reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. The announcement was made on Thursday.
“This is an exciting time, and I’m honored to be a member of the Devils’ organization,” Keefe said in a statement. “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.”
Sheldon Keefe, 43, was fired as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 9, shortly after their first-round playoff loss to the Boston Bruins. He was replaced by Craig Berube, former coach of the St. Louis Blues.
Keefe had two years left on his contract, but the Maple Leafs are no longer responsible for it. He is now the fifth head coach for the New Jersey Devils since 2019 and the third since March.
“This was an invigorating process for me, having met with many qualified candidates and hearing how attractive this position was to them,” Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said.
“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.”
During his five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sheldon Keefe led the team to the playoffs each year but only advanced past the first round once, in 2023.
This was the team’s first playoff series win since 2004. Keefe’s record with the Leafs was 212-97-40, giving him a .622 points percentage.
Sheldon Keefe, who played 125 NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, coached the OHL Soo Greyhounds for three years and the AHL Toronto Marlies for five years before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Devils fired coach Lindy Ruff during the 2023-24 season after missing the playoffs with a 38-39-5 record, a 31-point drop from the previous season.
The Devils’ coaching position was highly sought after due to their young stars like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Luke Hughes.
Keefe’s experience with young talents in Toronto, such as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, made him a suitable candidate. The Devils also interviewed Craig Berube, Jay Woodcroft,
