Sheldon Keefe to become next coach of the New Jersey Devils

First reported 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.

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.

However, in 31 playoff games, Keefe could only produce a 16-21 record, and the Maple Leafs were only able to win one playoff series under his tenue.

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, helping the team win an OHL championship before losing to the Rimouski Oceanic in the Memorial Cup final.