15 most important people in New Jersey Devils organization: 3. Sheldon Keefe

The New Jersey Devils had some pretty questionable coaching in 2023-24. Lindy Ruff came into the year with good graces, but it quickly turned hostile once the team started to struggle in November. 

By the time they fired him and named Travis Greene interim head coach, it was too little, too late. Despite getting more out of certain players following Ruff's departure, Greene was not hired on to be the full-time guy because he was not a great fit either. 

Over the offseason, Tom Fitzgerald launched a new coaching search. He landed on Sheldon Keefe, who was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs after losing in the first round once again. It was hardly his fault, as he had yet another incredible regular season that proceeded to a playoff where none of the stars showed up. 

Now, coming into his first year with the New Jersey Devils, expectations are high. There are multiple elite players, good defensemen of all ages, and a good goaltending duo. Keefe is in charge of molding all of this talent into a winner. 

Sheldon Keefe has a chance to help the New Jersey Devils do big things

When he was in Toronto, his first head coaching job in the NHL, Keefe saw his best young players become superstars.

Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner are all at the top of their game, and Keefe was a big part of it. Even a veteran like John Tavares was able to dominate the game at an even higher level. 

The Devils hope Keefe will do that for Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jesper Bratt among others. Keefe has also never had a defenseman as good as Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes, or Simon Nemec in Toronto which is wild to think about. 

With how many games he won with that Leafs squad, it is hard to imagine Keefe not doing more of the same with this Devils team. There is so much potential for them to be better than great. 

The players play but the head coach is incredibly important when it comes to the sport of hockey. They must create the best lines, pairs, and goalie rotation for the team to win. Keefe has done it in the regular season and now would like to take his career to another level. 

It is hard to see him as anything other than the third most important person in the organization. If he doesn’t do his job to the best of his ability, the team could suffer a terrible hockey fate. They could go far if he unlocked the best from every player on the roster.