The Devils have their next head coach.
Former Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe will take over behind the bench for the Devils, according to multiple reports.
“Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast co-host Brian McGonagle — aka Rear Admiral — was first to report the news and NJ.com reported that Keefe will be introduced at a press conference at Prudential Center at a yet-to-be-determined date.
His new deal with the Devils will be for four years, including the two years owed to him by the Maple Leafs, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported.
Keefe had spent six seasons as the Leafs’ coach and had a 212-97-40 overall record.
Under Keefe, the Leafs had qualified for the postseason in all five years he was there but made it past the first round just once.
He was fired after Toronto was bounced from the playoffs but the Bruins after a seven-game first-round series that ended in a heartbreaker in Boston.
Keefe made a goodbye video to Leafs fans from what appeared to be a boat after his firing.
Keefe now takes over a Devils squad that fell well short of expectations this season after a strong playoff run during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which included knocking off the Rangers.
New Jersey finished 38-39-5 in a season in which Lindy Ruff was fired from the head coaching job 61 games into the campaign, with Travis Green leading the Devils to an 8-12-1 record as the interim bench boss.
Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald had said at the end of the season that he would be conducting an extensive coaching search.
“I owe it to the organization that I scour the coaching world for who I believe would be the perfect coach for this group moving forward for what’s available out there,” Fitzgerald told reporters.