The New Jersey Devils are in the midst of a three-game skid that’s seen them outscored by opponents 16-2, and while everyone is feeling the heat, perhaps nobody’s seat is hotter than head coach Sheldon Keefe.
After another uninspired, 4-1 loss to the divisional rival Pittsburgh Penguins, Keefe was asked by beat reporter Ryan Novozinsky if he feared for his job.
“It’s out of my hands,” the second-year Devils coach replied. “It’s not in my control. … I know what this team needs, how to get them going, but I’m also aware of the reality of the business and how it works.”
On Tuesday, the Devils lost 9-0 to the New York Islanders in the worst shutout in franchise history.
“We’ve got work to do to become a real hockey team,” Keefe continued. “There was a perception that we were a real hockey team before the work was put in.”
Keefe is in his second full season with the Devils, leading them to a playoff appearance in 2024-25, where they were eliminated in the first round.
Prior to heading to The Garden State, Keefe coached the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019 to 2024, leading the Original Six team to six straight playoff appearances, though only one series win in that time.
He was hired by the Devils on May 23, 2024 and subsequently signed a four-year deal.
“(The team) is going to keep working at it and I’m going to keep working at it,” Keefe added. “Part of coaching is you have to deal with crisis, challenges. These kinds of things excite me. I believe I can be part of the solution here and I’m going to keep doing my job to find the answers.”
The Devils are back in action against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, who lost their 11th straight game on Thursday night.
