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Devils coach Sheldon Keefe calls out his own GM after bad loss to Penguins
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Devils coach Sheldon Keefe vented his frustrations after his team lost 4-1 to the Penguins last night, and he appeared to call out his own GM.
Situated in the middle of a three-game losing streak, in which they were outscored 16-2, the New Jersey Devils are feeling the heat, and the pressure is hottest on head coach Sheldon Keefe.
A beat writer pushed him on the blunt question of whether he fears for his job following a 4-1 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins, putting the spotlight on the second-year Devils coach.
What Sheldon Keefe appeared to say about his team's GM
He appeared to call out his GM, Tom Fitzgerald, in the process, by saying he knows what this team needs, indirectly challenging Fitzgerald's recent decisions.
"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."
"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."
- Sheldon Keefe
"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."
- Sheldon Keefe
Earlier in the week, New Jersey suffered a 9-0 defeat at the hands of the New York Islanders, the worst shutout loss in franchise history.
Why Sheldon Keefe had a good first year as coach of the Devils
Keefe, who led the Devils to the playoffs for the first time in the 2024-25 season before they were eliminated in the first round, now faces his toughest challenge to date.
Before signing with New Jersey, Keefe spent the last five years in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs, guiding the Original Six club to six consecutive postseason berths from 2019 to 2024, though they won only one playoff series in that span. He joined the Devils on May 23, 2024, and signed a four-year deal.
The Devils will also look to bounce back on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg comes off an 11th straight loss on Thursday, so both teams arrive hungry for answers and a spark.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 9 | 63 ANSWERS Devils coach Sheldon Keefe calls out his own GM after bad loss to Penguins Will Sheldon Keefe be fired for his comments? | ||
| Yes | 33 | 52.4 % |
| No | 30 | 47.6 % |
| List of polls | ||