Article content

Looking back at his five years and six playoff rounds, Sheldon Keefe told his audience “I’m a far better coach than when I arrived in the NHL.” 

Article content

But, if true and if that experience is to be built upon, it’s the New Jersey Devils who’ll benefit, not the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Article content

Keefe gave his optimistic opinion at Tuesday’s introductory press conference at the Prudential Center in Newark to begin a four-year contract, a “fresh start” after the latest post-season setback resulted in his firing from the Leafs. 

Keefe, the 22nd coach in Devils history, was the 21st in Toronto since Punch Imlach most recently won the Cup in 1967. He had more resources than most of his Leafs predecessors, including all-star forwards and a multi-major trophy winner in Auston Matthews.

But great regular seasons, including a club-record three consecutive 100-point campaigns, ended in agonizing deaths in the playoffs, four times in the first round, all in deciding games. 

Article content

Article content

But to a club that has missed the playoffs 10 of the past 12 years, Keefe’s post-season record is viewed with a glass-half-full mentality. He’s a younger coach than his immediate predecessors Lindy Ruff and Travis Green, gifted a team whose top scorers are all aged 26 or less, the demographic he started his Toronto tenure with when the world was rosier in Leafs Nation. 

Keefe was immediately asked about accountability, not all to do from unfulfilled potential in Toronto, but what his new boss, general manager Tom Fitzgerald wanted brought out of the Devils in the wake of their exit meetings in April. 

“That is integral to a successful team, players who are accountable to themselves and for what their responsibilities are,” Keefe said. “And ultimately to the group that holds each other accountable. You want to have actions match ambitions. 

Article content

“But you also have to foster that as a coach. Expectations only come when they’re earned. Setting that very early is important and I expect them to hold me accountable as well.” 

Fitzgerald and the Devils brass extolled his regular-season mark, including his Toronto franchise-high .665 points percentage, the second-best winning percentage in the NHL next to Rod Brind’Amour and fastest to 200 victories and 18 straight years in the playoffs.

But media poked around about those failures in Toronto, Keefe acknowledging he was so used to long spring runs in Junior A Pembroke, the OHL Soo Greyhounds and the Calder Cup champion Marlies before the Leafs started hitting an early wall. 

“I’ve known this long before the NHL, that winning in the playoffs is extremely difficult. Every detail matters. That’s why it’s so important to focus on what’s right in front of you on a daily basis. Look to master every day you have, capitalize on every day, so that when the difficult days come, you trust yourself,” he said.

Article content

“You lose in the playoffs, that in itself is difficult. Lose a Game 7 is even more difficult and, not long after, you’ve lost your job. There was a lot for me to process and you also have term (two years) left on your contract.” 

But the same day Keefe was cashed out and recorded his touching farewell video was when Leafs GM Brad Treliving let him know Fitzgerald wanted permission to talk to him.

A series of calls, texts and then a three-hour “hockey talk” as Fitzgerald described it, were framed around giving Keefe space to discuss it with his family — wife Jackie and sons Wyatt and Landon. 

“Jackie reminded me I’m a hockey coach and I should take this offer seriously,” Keefe said. “With each day that passed, I saw this as an incredible opportunity here for my family and I. Expectations are high and I’m drawn to that. I’ve never coached any team at any level that didn’t expect to win from the moment they put their equipment on. That excites me.” 

Article content

Devils Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur was in the front row on Tuesday and Keefe noted driving past his statue on the way to the rink made him think about restoring the glory days of the franchise. 

“He checks a lot of boxes I was looking for,” ex-Leafs forward Fitzgerald said of Keefe. “Someone who will keep people accountable, not just top players, but all players and staff. (The GM considered) lineup, style of play, personnel and communication was the final one. He speaks every language; players, equipment men, managing partners (Jersey has more ownership execs with a daily interest in team matters than the Leafs). 

“I called people who knew Sheldon and asked what are the positive things they saw in him? There are areas we’re tapping into now where he can help us utilize the resources and tap into our talent and players. He’s the perfect guy for us. He’s going to teach us a lot because he’s been through a lot.” 

Article content

Fitzgerald said he interviewed eight to 10 candidates, but even though he could start that early after the Devils missed the playoffs and decided not to retain interim coach Green, he let the first round play out.

Keefe’s Leafs were down 3-1 at one stage to Boston and battled back, only to lose in overtime and get pink-slipped a few days later.

Keefe said he looked forward to “creating new relationships” and was pleased the Devils had kept up with NHL advances in sports science and analytics which he deemed critical to maximizing their young roster. 

He was also encouraged that many of the Devils he has spoken to were angry about last season stopping their upward mobility in the Metropolitan Division.

“There is skill at all positions in forward and defence (though he no doubt wishes a vintage Brodeur was still playing). Now we have to get those groups connected. I don’t have all the answers or the information, but the talent and hunger is there.

“I look forward to getting to know them.” 

[email protected] 

X: @sunhornby 

Article content