NHL: Barely released by the Leafs, Sheldon Keefe had already caught the attention of the Devils

It's only been a few hours since Sheldon Keefe was fired from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and another Eastern Conference team is reportedly interested in hiring him.

According to our collaborator Pierre LeBrun, the New Jersey Devils would like to interview Keefe as part of their search for a new head coach.

Keefe was fired Thursday morning by the Leafs after four seasons at the helm of the Ontario club. His two-season contract extension was scheduled to begin next season, which began in August 2023.

The successes were there in the regular season for Keefe in Toronto, with a cumulative record of 212-97-40 (.633), but it was a different story in the playoffs.

In the playoffs with Keefe behind the bench, the Leafs lost five more games than they won (16-21), and have only advanced to the second round once, in the spring of 2023.

“I didn't do my job in the qualifiers,” Keefe admitted in a video posted on social media shortly after his dismissal. I didn't take our team to the next step and deliver the goods. I take responsibility for this failure. There is no justification. This is the mission, and I haven't accomplished it. It is the truth [du hockey professionnel]And I accept it. »

The Devils showed the door to veteran coach Lindy Ruff in early March during her fourth campaign on the job.

He was replaced by Travis Green on an interim basis, and will lead the Ottawa Senators from 2024-2025.

After qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2018 last year, the Devils disappointed over the past year, finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division at 38-39.