Latest news with #SheldonKeefe
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Countdown to the Devils Puck Drop
There are 60 days until the puck drops and the New Jersey Devils are back on the ice. The team has made moves in the offseason to improve their on-ice game and bring the Cup back to New Jersey. With just over two months to go before the season starts, it's a good time to look at what has changed since the team last took the ice, and what still needs to be done. Coaching Staff The Devils have adjusted their coaching staff this offseason, choosing not to renew the contracts of assistant coaches Ryan McGill and Chris Taylor. They dealt with inconsistencies at the head coach position last season, starting with Lindy Ruff, then bringing in Travis Green for the final 21 games, and finally appointing Sheldon Keefe as head coach. The Devils have now committed to Keefe for the 2025-26 season. Since his hiring on May 9, Keefe has made several moves to address the team's weaknesses from last season, beginning with goaltending. Goaltending The Devils are in a unique position in the NHL. While many teams are struggling to find a consistent starter, New Jersey has a strong goaltending lineup. They entered the offseason confident in veteran Jacob Markstrom as their starter. The backup spot appeared open with Jake Allen testing free agency, but in a surprising move, Allen re-signed with the Devils for five years, solving that concern quickly. The team also has promising prospects in Nico Daws and Mikhail Yegorov, who are ready to step up if a spot opens in net. Middle Six The Devils needed to add depth to their middle six this offseason, and they did so by signing Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov. These additions also address a major issue from last season: scoring first. Too often, New Jersey surrendered the opening goal, something they must change to make a deeper playoff push. Still to Do The biggest remaining task is re-signing Luke Hughes. The young defenseman is expected to receive a large, long-term contract. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has said it's his top offseason priority, though the deal has yet to be finalized. There's little concern about Hughes signing; one theory is that the delay is tied to creating more cap space to offer him a bigger deal. Trade The Devils have explored moving Dougie Hamilton and his large contract, but as August begins, no trade has materialized. With just under $7 million in cap space, moving a high-priced contract like Hamilton's could benefit the team. Strength Training One of the Devils' biggest offseason goals has been improving player health. The team has battled injuries for several seasons, so enhancing strength training and allowing players to fully recover is crucial. While injury prevention is hard to measure, it's safe to assume Devils players have spent the offseason training and preparing for a deeper playoff run. Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Sheldon Keefe visits Belfast to celebrate brother Adam Keefe's jersey retirement in a tearful salute
Sheldon Keefe and Adam Keefe (via Getty Images) New Jersey Devils bench boss Sheldon Keefe made a return visit recently to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to mark a milestone occasion in the career of his little brother, Adam Keefe , whose jersey was retired by the Belfast Giants. What transpired was not only a salute to Adam's on- and off-ice legacy but also a tender moment for a family of hockey players who rarely crossed professional paths but are forever intertwined by the sport. Adam Keefe honoured by Belfast Giants as Sheldon Keefe part of memorable weekend celebration As Adam Keefe's No. 47 jersey was hoisted to the rafters of SSE Arena in Belfast, the deafening roar of gratitude wasn't solely for a talented hockey player—it was for an individual who has become an anchor of the Belfast Giants organization and society. To celebrate the occasion, Adam's older brother, Sheldon Keefe, made his first-ever trip to Northern Ireland to see the birthday party. "It was amazing,' Keefe shared of his experience. 'It was great to see him in his element and be a part of his testimonial night and his jersey retirement. Just to see how much he is loved in the community and learning and hearing so many stories about what he's brought to them, not just on the hockey side, but even just in the community, all the charitable work he does, especially with the hospitals and hospice.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Искате да научите повече за новото BMW 2 Gran Coupe? BMW Научете повече Undo undefined The special format of a Testimonial Game—a UK hockey tradition—had Adam don the uniform one final time, coaching and playing alongside his former teammates and friends. It also became a family affair, as Sheldon and their dad shared the opposing bench. Although they had concurrent careers in hockey, the Keefe brothers never got to split the ice—one in North America, the other building a legacy in Britain. undefined "I moved away from home around 16 to go play hockey," Keefe said. "He was only 12 years old, so I missed kind of that. And then, as he enters junior hockey, I leave to go pro. Then as he became a pro, I was starting to get into coaching, so I've always kind of missed him, and as a result, haven't been as connected as you'd like to be to your brother and his gave so much to it, but the way that he played the game, he played extremely hard, as tough an individual as you can as you'll ever find. " Now Belfast Giants head coach, Adam Keefe, came to Northern Ireland in 2011 as a hard-nosed forward. He hasn't left since. An integral part of the city's fabric over the years, he's become more than a coach—he's family. Married to a native Belfast woman with two daughters, Adam has established a life and legacy in a city that is foreign soil, gaining respect as much for who he is as for how he coaches. Also read: Seth Jones's silent romance: How the NHL star balances fame and privacy The weekend also raised over £109,000 ($147,000) for Northern Ireland Hospice with the Odyssey Trust charity event—a further example of the tight-knit community Adam has assisted in developing. For Sheldon, the trip was greater than mere family support; it was a reminder of how hockey can cross boundaries. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
New York Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Stanley Cup checklist: How do Devils stack up to Panthers and Oilers?
By the end of the regular season, the New Jersey Devils weren't close to the same level as the Florida Panthers or Edmonton Oilers. That wasn't a shock: The Devils were down several of their top players to injury and, because of it, did not go all-in at the trade deadline. The two conference champions are now the standard, though: the level New Jersey must get to if it wants to be a true contender. So, how close are president Tom Fitzgerald, coach Sheldon Keefe and the Devils? Advertisement In 2020, colleague Dom Luszczyszyn created a checklist comprising common elements from the previous decade of champions. That list suggests contenders should aim to have an elite center, winger, defenseman, and goalie, then another top-line center, two top-line wingers and a No. 1 defenseman, plus two more top-six forwards and top-six defensemen. I went through each piece of the checklist and examined how the Devils compared to both the finalists. New Jersey has significant work to do to catch up, but it also has some important pieces already in place. Oilers: Connor McDavid Panthers: Alexander Barkov Devils: Jack Hughes There's only one McDavid, and Barkov-level two-way centers don't come around often either. Still, Jack Hughes is one of the game's most elite players when he's on the ice. Shoulder injuries have ended his past two seasons. The Devils aren't on the hunt for a 1C like some teams, but it's also imperative that the organization and Hughes do everything in their power to have him playing when the games matter most in the coming years. Oilers: Zach Hyman Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk Devils: Jesper Bratt Hyman got hurt in the conference final and won't be available during the Stanley Cup Final, but when he's on the ice, he's a brilliant complementary fit in Edmonton. He's had at least 27 goals each of his four seasons with the Oilers and had 54 in 2023-24. Matthew Tkachuk or Sam Reinhart could fit in this category for the Panthers. Both are core pieces on long-term contracts and are players any team in the league would crave. The Devils have a true elite wing of their own, though. Bratt has been a point-per-game player each of the past two seasons. He has a $7.8 million average annual value cap hit — a great deal for the Devils given his production. Advertisement Oilers: Evan Bouchard Panthers: Gustav Forsling Devils: Dougie Hamilton Though prone to defensive mistakes, Bouchard has blossomed into an elite offensive player: one who can create offense even when playing away from McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Forsling is reliable and is one of the greatest waiver wire pickups in NHL history. Hamilton should currently be considered the Devils' No. 1 defenseman, but if Luke Hughes continues to develop, he could seize that crown (more on him in a bit). Hamilton is a point-producing blueliner who has finished as high as fourth in Norris voting in his career. He's also turning 32 shortly and is coming off two injury-impacted seasons, including the 2023-24 season, in which he played only 20 games. As is the case with Jack Hughes, the Devils need him on the ice and performing well if they are going to be a true contender. Bouchard, Forsling and Hamilton are not quite at the level of Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes and the very best defensemen in the league, but they are all capable of being No. 1s on great teams, especially if there are other strong defensemen on the roster. Oilers: Stuart Skinner Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky Devils: Jacob Markström At his best, Markström falls into the elite category. The Devils got a good showing from him against the Hurricanes; he had a .911 save percentage despite the series loss. He has one year left on his deal and is 35. The Devils' front office knows it can count on him for now, but it will have to decide how much longer it feels comfortable relying heavily on him when considering an extension this summer. Bobrovsky is almost 37, so it's possible for a goaltender to continue performing well into the latter half of his 30s. Skinner is only 26 and has been streaky at points for the Oilers. Calvin Pickard temporarily replaced him as the starter earlier in the Oilers' run, but Skinner played well after regaining the starter's role. Advertisement Oilers: Leon Draisaitl Panthers: Sam Bennett Devils: Nico Hischier Bennett is about to get a massive raise in free agency. This past season was only his first with more than 50 points (he had 51), but he's a perfect fit on this Panthers' team and has repeatedly shown his game translates well to playoff hockey. He could win the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Panthers capture their second consecutive Cup. Draisaitl might be one of the five best forwards in the world. Having him as the No. 2 center on a team is quite a luxury. New Jersey can't compete with that, but Hischier is a top-line level center. With Hughes and Hischier up the middle, the Devils are in a good position in terms of top-six centers. Fitzgerald will have to address center questions in his bottom six: Could Dawson Mercer fill the 3C role? Should the team re-sign Cody Glass? However, that's far easier than finding answers at the top of the lineup. Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane Panthers: Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe Devils: Timo Meier, Dawson Mercer Because the Oilers have so much money tied up in their top two centers, there is a drop-off on the wing. Still, Nugent-Hopkins is a proven top-six player who has one monster season under his belt, a 104-point campaign in 2022-23. Kane missed the whole regular season, allowing the Oilers to dip into long-term injured reserve to supplement their depth. He's been an impact player this postseason, though, with 12 points in 18 games. Meanwhile, Florida is elite at wing. Reinhart is in the conversation for Tkachuk as the team's best wing. He had 57 goals in 2023-24 and then finished second in Selke voting this season. Verhaeghe has averaged more than 30 goals over the past three seasons (96 goals in 238 games) and has five career playoff overtime goals to boot. The Devils are paying Meier like an elite winger ($8.8 million AAV) and New Jersey needs him to play to that level. He had a strong postseason, but his goal total has decreased each of the past two seasons: from 40 in 2022-23 to 28 last season and 26 this season. Mercer is a respectable 3C option but hasn't consistently risen to the level of a top-six winger. For the Devils' top two lines to compare to the Oilers or Panthers, they probably need another top-six forward to round out the group. Advertisement Oilers: Mattias Ekholm Panthers: Aaron Ekblad Devils: Luke Hughes Ekholm is a vital part of Edmonton's team: trustworthy, huge (6 foot 5) and able to chip in on offense. Ekblad fills a similar role for the Panthers. Luke Hughes is a massive part of the Devils' future. The 21-year-old, a restricted free agent, has already demonstrated his ability to produce points and play more than 21 minutes per night at the NHL level. Defensemen sometimes take a while to develop, so the fact that he's already such a productive player with only 155 games under his belt offers plenty of reason for optimism. If he can emerge as a bona fide No. 1 in the coming years, the Devils' ceiling goes up exponentially. Oilers: Adam Henrique, Corey Perry Panthers: Brad Marchand, Anton Lundell Devils: Stefan Noesen, Ondřej Palát The Panthers' depth has shown throughout the postseason. Marchand and Lundell play on their third line, but both have been vital to Florida's success. Noesen is a solid depth player, and Palát brings playoff experience, but New Jersey is a ways away from creating a third line as capable as Florida's. In fairness, few (if any) teams can have as many top-nine options as the Panthers, including the Oilers. Florida will almost certainly lose some of that strength next season. Marchand, a deadline addition, has been a perfect fit, but the Panthers will have a difficult time re-signing him, especially if they are aiming to bring back Bennett. Regardless, the Panthers serve as a lesson that teams need depth to advance far in the postseason. It's an area the Devils will need to address. Oilers: Darnell Nurse, Jake Walman Panthers: Seth Jones, Niko Mikkola Devils: Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler The Devils stack up OK here when healthy. Along with Pesce and Siegenthaler — both good, responsible defensemen — they have 21-year-old Šimon Nemec, the No. 2 overall pick from 2022. He had a rough regular season but put together a strong playoffs that showed why he could still be an essential part of the team's future. Advertisement Walman, one of Edmonton's deadline additions, has helped round out the Oilers' blueline. Jones also moved at the deadline, and he's led the Panthers' skaters in ice time per game these playoffs. Florida should have no regrets about parting with Spencer Knight and a first-round pick to get him, mainly since Chicago retained money on the defenseman's contract. The Devils have high-end talent. No, they don't have McDavid or Draisaitl, but their best players are good enough to win in the postseason. Most teams don't have three forwards at the level of Jack Hughes, Bratt and Hischier. To make that star power matter, the Devils need two things: depth and health. This past season, New Jersey had neither in the playoffs. New Jersey relied too much on its top scorers against the Hurricanes. By the end of the series, the team was without both Hughes brothers, as well as defensemen Brenden Dillon and Johnathan Kovacevic. Brett Pesce and Jonas Siegenthaler were also playing at less than 100 percent. Tom Fitzgerald will have some reinforcements coming in this season. Prospect Arseni Gritsyuk coming over from the KHL should give New Jersey another middle-six option, and the front office has a bit of salary cap space to spend, though Luke Hughes' RFA deal will eat into that. New Jersey can also rework its fourth line; Justin Dowling, Tomáš Tatar, Nathan Bastian and Curtis Lazar are all coming off the books. Fitzgerald could consider trading players like Erik Haula or Dawson Mercer, which would free up some cap space to take a bigger swing at forward. Pending unrestricted free agent Nikolaj Ehlers could be worth a look. Adding high-end talent has a trickle-down effect on depth, too, which is a bonus. Florida and Edmonton also made significant additions at the trade deadline. With Hughes out, Fitzgerald wasn't as aggressive. If the Devils are healthy next season, perhaps he will take bigger midseason swings. Given Markström's age, the Devils are in a position to try to contend now. If Fitzgerald addresses the depth and gets a little luck in the health department, his team might not be as far away as its first-round exit this spring indicated. (Photo of Jack Hughes: Michael Martin / NHLI via Getty Images)
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Keefe siblings united by hockey despite Atlantic separation
When Adam Keefe signed up to play for the Belfast Giants in 2011, he couldn't have imagined how lifechanging that decision was going to be. He had been hoping to follow in his older brother Sheldon's footsteps and make it to the National Hockey League (NHL), the ultimate goal of every Canadian who laces up the skates. Advertisement Sheldon, four years older than Adam, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999 and went on to make his NHL debut the following season, but ultimately his playing career was curtailed because of injury. "It's hard to get to the NHL and I was lucky enough to play at least some exhibition games and play at that level and get a taste of it," said Adam. "Ultimately, I fell short and was getting a little tired. I was getting a little older and I wanted to see the world and experience something new. "With our last name being Keefe, it was always a kind of a bucket list thing to visit the homeland. Advertisement "Finally, the opportunity came through a Facebook message from the coach of the Giants, Doug Christiansen. It was my first chance and I jumped on it. "I thought it would just be a one-year deal and I'd probably go back home and do ultimately what I did here, probably in Toledo." However, the younger Keefe sibling would never make that trip to Toledo. He won Elite League in his first season with the Giants and captained the side to another title victory in 2014. By then he was well established as a leader and a fan favourite, a team-mate that you could rely on to drop the gloves and defend his brothers on the ice. Advertisement Keefe's transition to coach in 2017 was a seamless move for the Giants. It kept the line of succession in place, despite no prior experience in the role. What followed has been the most sustained run of success in the club's twenty-five-year history. Ten trophies - four league championships, five Challenge Cups and a Play-off title - in six full seasons (two were lost due to Covid-19), including a Grand Slam in 2023. "I just fell in love with the city and winning and the fans here. Obviously, I met my wife and have two girls, so I'm locked into Northern Ireland. "It's been a great experience for me and a fun one." Advertisement Giants' fans echo mutual support for 'the heartbeat' of the Belfast side and they recently showed their appreciation at Adam's testimonial when his number 47 shirt was retired, the ultimate honour for a player. 'I wasn't going to mess with him much more' Sheldon made his first trip to Belfast for the event. Since his playing days came to an end, Adam's older brother made his way up through the coaching ranks all the way back to the NHL. He was head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019-2024 and has just finished his first season in charge of the New Jersey Devils, leading them to the play-offs. Advertisement Sheldon's first impressions of Belfast have been favourable. "I love the city, just walking around and being here in the building and getting a feel for the hockey part of it. "You can see why there's so much passion here for Giants hockey and why Adam fell in love with the city and the team." Growing up together just outside of Toronto, both Keefe brothers were soon on the hockey pathway. "I don't know about brotherly rivalry so much," explained Sheldon. "I mean, there's maybe enough separation with four years that I think I had my way for a lot of the time. Advertisement "But it maybe contributed to some of the edge that he ended up developing in playing. "Certainly, as Adam got older, it was very clear I wasn't going to mess with him much more. "We were playing hockey, fighting in the basement, competing in the driveway and on the street and he quite often was playing with my friends and having to try to compete." Adam agreed, "A lot of times it's him and his friends playing street hockey and you're four years younger than those guys. "You got to work extra hard and sometimes you're going to get knocked down. "So, if you want to stay in there, you got to learn to fight back and I certainly did that. Advertisement "Obviously, he's provided a great example for me and set a very high standard that is difficult to try to keep up with. "He took care of me through critical years when I was a teenager and set me on a good path. "Then to follow his career while I was trying to make the NHL, to follow his coaching career and see that he just kind of kept winning right from the time he started. "Then ultimately to claw his way back to the NHL as a coach becoming one of the youngest coaches in the league and then to coach arguably the biggest hockey club in the world. That's very special." 'His life is all about the hockey' Adam's success as a coach has come as no surprise to Sheldon. In his words, "life's been all about hockey". Advertisement "I think we can both say we would be a little lost without the game. "If I look at my own transition into coaching, when you maybe first get into it, for me, at least, I didn't know what I was doing at all. "But you're relying on your competitiveness, your passion for the game, your work ethic, all the things that help you play at a high level, and that gives you a strong foundation. "I knew Adam was going to commit and be all in on everything that he's doing and while learning and refining any skills that you need as a coach, you're going to have the respect of your players because of everything that you put in to help them and the team. Advertisement "He's been an absolute competitor and a guy that will do anything to win for his entire life." Sheldon has helped Adam out with player recruitment and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Belfast as a playing destination. "I've followed enough to know the standard of the Elite League and that it just continues to improve and get better and better. "Seeing the arena and seeing the city and community, it would be a great draw for players to come and get the life experience but still play great hockey. "As I watch the young kids playing as well, there is lots of excitement about growing the game here too." Advertisement Despite enjoying his Testimonial weekend where the Giants once again gave back to the community raising over £109,000 for the Northern Ireland Hospice, the new season is never far from Adam's mind. "Champions League is right around the corner. "August is going to come around pretty quick, and nobody cares about last year.'
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Keefe siblings united by hockey despite Atlantic separation
When Adam Keefe signed up to play for the Belfast Giants in 2011, he couldn't have imagined how lifechanging that decision was going to had been hoping to follow in his older brother Sheldon's footsteps and make it to the National Hockey League (NHL), the ultimate goal of every Canadian who laces up the four years older than Adam, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999 and went on to make his NHL debut the following season, but ultimately his playing career was curtailed because of injury."It's hard to get to the NHL and I was lucky enough to play at least some exhibition games and play at that level and get a taste of it," said Adam."Ultimately, I fell short and was getting a little tired. I was getting a little older and I wanted to see the world and experience something new."With our last name being Keefe, it was always a kind of a bucket list thing to visit the homeland."Finally, the opportunity came through a Facebook message from the coach of the Giants, Doug Christiansen. It was my first chance and I jumped on it."I thought it would just be a one-year deal and I'd probably go back home and do ultimately what I did here, probably in Toledo." However, the younger Keefe sibling would never make that trip to won Elite League in his first season with the Giants and captained the side to another title victory in then he was well established as a leader and a fan favourite, a team-mate that you could rely on to drop the gloves and defend his brothers on the transition to coach in 2017 was a seamless move for the Giants. It kept the line of succession in place, despite no prior experience in the followed has been the most sustained run of success in the club's twenty-five-year trophies - four league championships, five Challenge Cups and a Play-off title - in six full seasons (two were lost due to Covid-19), including a Grand Slam in 2023."I just fell in love with the city and winning and the fans here. Obviously, I met my wife and have two girls, so I'm locked into Northern Ireland."It's been a great experience for me and a fun one."Giants' fans echo mutual support for 'the heartbeat' of the Belfast side and they recently showed their appreciation at Adam's testimonial when his number 47 shirt was retired, the ultimate honour for a player. 'I wasn't going to mess with him much more' Sheldon made his first trip to Belfast for the event. Since his playing days came to an end, Adam's older brother made his way up through the coaching ranks all the way back to the was head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019-2024 and has just finished his first season in charge of the New Jersey Devils, leading them to the first impressions of Belfast have been favourable."I love the city, just walking around and being here in the building and getting a feel for the hockey part of it."You can see why there's so much passion here for Giants hockey and why Adam fell in love with the city and the team."Growing up together just outside of Toronto, both Keefe brothers were soon on the hockey pathway."I don't know about brotherly rivalry so much," explained Sheldon."I mean, there's maybe enough separation with four years that I think I had my way for a lot of the time."But it maybe contributed to some of the edge that he ended up developing in playing."Certainly, as Adam got older, it was very clear I wasn't going to mess with him much more."We were playing hockey, fighting in the basement, competing in the driveway and on the street and he quite often was playing with my friends and having to try to compete."Adam agreed, "A lot of times it's him and his friends playing street hockey and you're four years younger than those guys."You got to work extra hard and sometimes you're going to get knocked down."So, if you want to stay in there, you got to learn to fight back and I certainly did that."Obviously, he's provided a great example for me and set a very high standard that is difficult to try to keep up with."He took care of me through critical years when I was a teenager and set me on a good path."Then to follow his career while I was trying to make the NHL, to follow his coaching career and see that he just kind of kept winning right from the time he started."Then ultimately to claw his way back to the NHL as a coach becoming one of the youngest coaches in the league and then to coach arguably the biggest hockey club in the world. That's very special." 'His life is all about the hockey' Adam's success as a coach has come as no surprise to Sheldon. In his words, "life's been all about hockey"."I think we can both say we would be a little lost without the game."If I look at my own transition into coaching, when you maybe first get into it, for me, at least, I didn't know what I was doing at all."But you're relying on your competitiveness, your passion for the game, your work ethic, all the things that help you play at a high level, and that gives you a strong foundation."I knew Adam was going to commit and be all in on everything that he's doing and while learning and refining any skills that you need as a coach, you're going to have the respect of your players because of everything that you put in to help them and the team."He's been an absolute competitor and a guy that will do anything to win for his entire life."Sheldon has helped Adam out with player recruitment and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Belfast as a playing destination."I've followed enough to know the standard of the Elite League and that it just continues to improve and get better and better."Seeing the arena and seeing the city and community, it would be a great draw for players to come and get the life experience but still play great hockey."As I watch the young kids playing as well, there is lots of excitement about growing the game here too."Despite enjoying his Testimonial weekend where the Giants once again gave back to the community raising over £109,000 for the Northern Ireland Hospice, the new season is never far from Adam's mind."Champions League is right around the corner."August is going to come around pretty quick, and nobody cares about last year.'
