Sources – Devils to hire Sheldon Keefe as new head coach

May 22, 2024, 05:50 PM ET

The New Jersey Devils are hiring Sheldon Keefe as their next head coach, sources told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski on Wednesday.

Keefe was fired on May 9 by the Toronto Maple Leafs after the team’s first-round playoff exit. He had two years remaining on a contract extension signed last August.

Through 4½ NHL seasons, Keefe led the Leafs to a 212-97-40 record — with consecutive seasons of 50 or more wins — and playoff appearances in each full campaign. Toronto never found postseason success under Keefe, though, bowing out of the first round in three of the past four seasons, including in this year’s first-round loss to Boston in Game 7 overtime.

He was promoted to Toronto’s head-coaching role in November 2019 to replace the fired Mike Babcock. Keefe had previously been coach of the Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, since 2015 and guided them to a Calder Cup championship in 2018.

ESPN’s Kristen Shilton contributed to this report.

Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40199089/sources-devils-hire-sheldon-keefe-new-head-coach

Author : Greg Wyshynski

Publish date : 2024-05-22 23:09:22

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