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The place Sheldon Keefe’s playoff minuses had been the point of interest of the latter days in Toronto, the Unutilized Jersey Devils driven the plus signal a couple of instances in formally saying him their unused schoolteacher on Thursday morning.
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“Just bragging about the new bench boss’ was the tag on a post on X that listed Keefe’s three straight 100-point seasons with the Maple Leafs, that he was the second-fastest to 200 wins in National Hockey League history and was the 2018 Calder Cup winner with the AHL Marlies.
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There also was a reminder Keefe led the Leafs to five straight post-season appearances, though only one resulted in a first-round victory.
Still, Thursday was reason to celebrate for Keefe that he was in demand barely two weeks after being fired and replaced by Craig Berube — who also had interviewed for the Devils job.
“Speak of the Devil … Let’s go New Jersey!,” Keefe posted on his private feed.
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The 43-year-old, who had a .607 regular-season profitable share that was once 2nd best to Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour in league historical past a few of the govern 80 coaches in total victories, takes over a crew that has now not certified for playoffs in 10 of the occasion 12 years, together with a flat end this season.
The Devils completed with a report of 38-39-5 for 81 issues within the Metropolitan Section, a hotel the place the Unutilized York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes dominate and Jersey will another time need to struggle the Islanders, Flyers, Capitals and Penguins for 3rd park or a wild-card spot.
With Devils intervening time schoolteacher Travis Inexperienced resurfacing in Ottawa, the fired Lindy Ruff going back on Buffalo and previous Leafs associate Jim Hiller staying in Los Angeles, it leaves Winnipeg, San Jose and Seattle with vacancies.
Todd McLellan, who interviewed in Toronto, may proceed up the record in Seattle and Winnipeg. Maximum groups love to have their schoolteacher in park by means of the draft in overdue June.
Lhornby@postmedia.com
X: @sunhornby
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Axed Maple Leafs bench boss Sheldon Keefe assumes similar function with Unutilized Jersey Devils: File
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