From Marlies to Devils: Meet the Newest NHL Head Coach Sheldon Keefe

The Devils have recently announced that Sheldon Keefe will be their next head coach. Keefe previously coached the Toronto Maple Leafs for five seasons before being fired on May 9 following a first-round playoff loss to the Boston Bruins.

During his time with the Maple Leafs, Keefe led the team to the playoffs in each of his five seasons as head coach, but they were unable to advance past the first round in four of those years, winning just one out of six playoff series. He compiled an impressive 212-97-40 record in 349 career regular season games.

Before coaching in the NHL, Keefe was the head coach of Toronto’s AHL affiliate, the Marlies, where he had a successful tenure with a 200-89-31 record, four playoff appearances, and a Calder Cup title in 2018.

Keefe was drafted 47th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1999 NHL Draft but his playing career was cut short after five seasons, leading him to pursue coaching.

Keefe replaces Lindy Ruff as the head coach of the Devils, who was fired in early March. Travis Green served as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2023-24 NHL season before accepting the head coaching position with the Ottawa Senators on May 7.