New Jersey Devils coach Sheldon Keefe received a tribute video from the Toronto Maple Leafs during his first game back at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday since being fired last summer.
As expected, Sheldon Keefe gets a warm welcome and a brief video tribute in his return to Toronto. pic.twitter.com/tGEZTiJK8Z
— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) January 17, 2025
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It may not have been Keefe’s first time playing against the Leafs in general, but you can tell by his reaction what it meant to him. Despite the team not being able to find success in the playoffs the fans in attendance gave him a warm reception to show their appreciation for his efforts.
Keefe spent nearly a decade in the Leafs organization, both in the AHL and NHL where he enjoyed a lot of success. His tenure with the Toronto Marlies saw the team finish no worse than the second round and helped guide them to the 2018 Calder Cup. During his five years with the Leafs, the regular season success carried over, but the playoff prowess did not, with their best showing being a second-round appearance in 2023.
The Toronto Maple Leafs welcome back former head coach Sheldon Keefe. 👏 pic.twitter.com/7QSoBRz6JH
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 17, 2025
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He has expressed gratitude for his time in Toronto in shaping him into the coach he is today as well as growing more comfortable in the NHL.
“It’s probably not the most ideal situation for your first coaching job in the NHL,” Keefe said Wednesday. “However, I do feel like I’ve benefitted greatly from experiencing that because I think it’s something that is a special opportunity, both in the talent that’s there and the organization and how it runs, and the expectations and the pressure and the fanbase. I grew a lot through that and I believe I have thicker skin.”
Going into Thursday night’s contest, both the Leafs and Devils have enjoyed a strong regular season. Toronto sits atop the Atlantic Division despite behind mired in a three-game losing streak while New Jersey is second in the Metropolitan Division, six points behind the Washington Capitals.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube knows the thoughts that are probably going through Keefe’s head as he experienced that feeling after being let go by the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues.
“There’s emotions for sure. I think it was similar when we played Jersey in Jersey,” he said. “He was here a long time, did a fabulous job and got close to a lot of people and players and organization stuff. The emotions run up on you a little bit, but we all sign up for this job and we all get fired at some time, at one point.”