5 assistants that Sheldon Keefe should target with New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils finally have their coach of the future and the present. Sheldon Keefe, the 43-year-old former head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, reportedly signed a four-year deal with the Devils. It’s very clear we think the Devils made the right move. Now, the real work starts. 

The Devils have a lot to do this offseason. They have to sign or trade for a goalie. There’s additions they need to make to the defense. They have to figure out what to do with the 10th overall pick in the NHL Draft. There’s a lot to do, but one of the underrated tasks is hiring assistant coaches. 

Right now, the Devils still have Ryan McGill, Chris Taylor, Sergei Brylin, and Dave Rogalski. However, it’s very possible that Keefe wants to bring some of his “own guys” to the Devils. Here are five coaches who would be fantastic for the new regime.

1. Ryan Warsofsky

When we started discussing head coaching options, we mentioned Ryan Warsofsky right away. He’s one of the most intriguing options for those without head coaching experience. Yes, he was a coach for the worst team in the NHL (the San Jose Sharks), but he is a great coach trying to make something out of an awful roster. 

Warsofsky was an amazing hire at the time. He’s a former Calder Cup champion with the Carolina Hurricanes affiliate. This is something Sheldon Keefe is very familiar with as a former Calder Cup-winning coach himself. 

There’s also the report from NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky that said the Devils already interviewed Warsofsky. Since he already has a rapport with Tom Fitzgerald, it would be a very easy sell for everyone involved. Keefe wouldn’t have to worry about hiring his replacement since he just got hired. Warsofsky also sees that the Devils have had three head coaching placements in the past two years. So, this could be a much easier jump to a head coaching job if he doesn’t get the SHarks job.