Devils coach Keefe isn't sure what to expect in the first game against the Maple Leafs

NEWARK, N.J. – Sheldon Keefe isn't quite sure what to expect when the New Jersey Devils coach takes on his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the Prudential Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN4).

The 44-year-old was released by the Maple Leafs on May 9 after leading them to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his five seasons but advancing past the opening round of the playoffs just once (2023).

He had a 212-97-40 record in the regular season and a 16-21 record in the playoffs, which was his first coaching job in the NHL after replacing Mike Babcock on November 20, 2019. Before being named coach of the Maples, Keefe coached the Toronto Marlies, their American Hockey League affiliate, for five seasons, leading them to their first Calder Cup championship in 2018.

“I don't know if it will be an emotional night because I've never coached against a team that I've been associated with in the past,” Keefe said. “I like to think I’m focused and happy enough with my current situation that I’m not too worried about anything other than facing one of the top teams in the league.”

Keefe was hired as the Devils' coach on May 23.

“It was a great honor to coach in Toronto,” Keefe said. “Just coaching the minor league team was a big deal because I grew up in the area, in Brampton, Ontario. I had the opportunity to coach professional hockey and raise my children essentially in my hometown. We spent nine years there and it was an incredible opportunity for me and my parents.

“I never really considered myself a legitimate candidate to coach the Maple Leafs and was more focused on furthering my career outside of Toronto. But when this opportunity came up, I was super excited. Of course you feel like you. “I'm prepared, but you need the experience in the league and I've benefited a lot from my time in an environment like Toronto. I'm really disappointed that I wasn't able to help this group get through the crisis, but I learned a lot through this process and it has made me a better coach coming to New Jersey.

Nico Hischier knows the game will mean a lot not only to the Devils fans in the home opener, but also to Keefe against his former team.

“He gave us everything he has and we want to do the same,” the Devils captain told NHL.com. “Even though he probably just sees it as a game, it’s probably a game that means something to him. We know he was coach there and the players in that locker room want to get that win for him, get that win for us and start the season with three wins in a row.”

New Jersey opened the regular season with two wins over the Buffalo Sabers in the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal at the O2 Arena in Prague on Friday and Saturday.

“We definitely want to win, but of course we gain additional emotions because Sheldon is now our coach,” said Devils forward Jesper Bratt. “He’s been great to us, taught us a lot, and even in this short amount of time we know how much he wants to win and we want him to get that win.”

“It's also a little emotional boost for us to go back to the first home game and also play against Toronto so Sheldon gets a win and we get a win.”

Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic, who the Devils acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on June 30, has an idea of ​​what Keefe might be going through.

“He'll probably play it down a little bit, as he should, but I know it's going to be an emotional night because I was in that situation,” Kovacevic said. “The preseason I played against Montreal and it was strange because you were just on that side and you knew so much about them. The best thing about hockey is building those personal relationships. But when the game starts, it's about winning, and you only have 25 friends when the puck drops.

Brenden Dillon signed with the Devils as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The veteran defenseman is in his 14th NHL season and on his fifth team.

“There is a little bit of nervousness or fear because there are people that you would fight every day, no matter how many years,” Dillon said. “I'm sure Sheldon has had a significant impact on the careers of many of these guys in Toronto, whether it was playing in their first NHL game under him or just learning. “We are very happy and fortunate to have him as our coach now.” It’s probably one he has circled on the calendar.

“I'm sure there will be a million storylines because of Toronto, but we just want to do our best for our coach. We want to get off to a good start now that we're back in North America. Toronto has done a lot too.” There are a lot of changes this summer. It's a team that has high expectations and we have to give our best.