For the first time in his coaching career, Keefe coaches against a team where he'd been a bench boss.
NEWARK, N.J. — Sheldon Keefe smiled as he greeted the media at Prudential Center on Thursday morning.
"Hello everybody," the New Jersey Devils said as he saw some familiar faces before taking questions ahead of his first game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"I don't know what to make of it You know, I've never been in this situation before. We'll see when we get out there and the game gets going," Keefe said about facing Toronto.
The Maple Leafs fired Keefe following their first-round exit against the Boston Bruins in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. Within hours, the Devils expressed interest and signed him to a four-year contract.
Keefe was all class following the dismissal, taking to his social media account thanking fans, staff, players and media following the dismissal.
"I got nothing but love from the people right around the other side. And a tremendous respect for everybody in the organization that treated me so well and the players that gave me so much," Keefe said. "It's going to be strange being on the other side. But, you know, for us, it's our home opener. It's my first time in front of the Devils fans."
Keefe pre-scouted the Maple Leafs 1-0 loss against the Canadiens on Wednesday and said it was the first time he'd watched a Leafs game since his days as coach of the Toronto Marlies. But there's the added element of the Devils' home opener on Thursday is weighing heavier on his mind. The club opened the season with a pair of victories against the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia as part of the NHL's annual Global Series.
Keefe was quick to point out one memory of his time at Prudential Center.
"I'm excited here for tonight to get a taste of it on this side and hope we get through it without them throwing anything at us like they did a few years ago."
On Nov. 23, 2022, the Maple Leafs benefited from three different goal reviews that went in their favor en route to a 2-1 victory Devils, snapping New Jersey's 13-game win streak. Devils fans, dismayed by the calls, began to throw beer bottles and other projectiles onto the ice following the third disallowed goal, which forced a delay in the game
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All jokes aside, Keefe has always looked at his time in Toronto. Most of the players and staff sent him text messages after he was dismissed, but he feels the club is on the right path.
"I leave Toronto disappointed that I wasn't able to help them push through in the playoffs. But I do think that the team is in a really good place." Keefe said about the Maple Leafs. "I love the moves that Tree made in the off-season. And I think that the team is as good as it's ever been and wish them nothing but the best."
