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The New Jersey Devils have officially introduced Sheldon Keefe as their new head coach. The announcement was made by President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald on Thursday last week; the team held an introductory press conference today. Keefe, who previously led the Toronto Maple Leafs to the post-season for five consecutive years, will be the 22nd head coach in the Devils' history.
"This was an invigorating process for me, having met with many qualified candidates and hearing how attractive this position was to them,” said Fitzgerald to The Hockey News. “Sheldon jumped to the top of my list when he became available, and I was thrilled when he agreed to be a part of what we are building here. He is an excellent communicator, believes in collaboration, and will take what he has learned previously to make this team a Stanley Cup contender."
Keefe expressed his excitement about the new role, stating, "This is an exciting time, and I’m honored to be a member of the Devils’ organization. To have the chance to lead this young, dynamic team and to see the potential that can still be unlocked is all very attractive for me."
The 43-year-old coach was fired by the Maple Leafs on May 9, after his team lost Game 7 to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Despite this, Keefe's tenure with the Maple Leafs was marked by success, with a record of 212-97-40 and 16-21 in the playoffs.