Keefe Returns to Toronto, Falls to Former Team in Overtime Thriller

He simply turned left a little sooner – to the visitors locker room – than in years past. The New Jersey Devils head coach was back on familiar turf Thursday with his team in town to face the Maple Leafs. Keefe spent parts of five seasons behind the bench in Toronto, and nine total with the organization, before he was fired last spring following a final playoff failure.

“It feels similar,” he told a throng of reporters some seven hours before puck drop. “Great to see some of the familiar faces.”

The evening didn’t end as Keefe had hoped. William Nylander scored his second goal of the night in overtime as the Leafs battled back from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits in the third period to pick up a 4-3 victory.

“Once the puck dropped, I sort of forgot where I was,” Keefe, who was speaking with the officials and missed most of the video tribute in his honour during the first TV timeout, said post-game. “You’re coaching hockey, you’re in the moment. You’re so into the game that you’re not really overly aware of your surroundings.”

The Devils sit 26-15-6 on the season, but have just one regulation victory over their past nine games (2-4-3).

“Disappointed we don’t leave with two points,” Keefe said. “But I probably owe the Leafs an extra point.”

The 44-year-old had an opportunity ahead of Thursday’s tilt to visit his wife and two sons – the family stayed behind in the Toronto area for stability purposes after he got the New Jersey job – and even joked about the city’s notorious traffic.

Promoted from the Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate to replace the fired Mike Babcock in November 2019, Keefe went a combined 212-97-40 over parts of five campaigns with Toronto, but was just 16-21 in the post-season, including a 1-5 series mark.

“Forever disappointed we weren’t able to deliver and have more success in the playoffs, which is part of why change is required,” he said. “And I think change has been good.”

Keefe added he’s a better coach after being thrown into the deep end in hockey’s biggest media market.

“You experience so many things that maybe takes a little bit longer in other places,” he said. “I know the league a lot better, believe I’ve got a clear understanding of how to succeed.”

As he has repeatedly since his dismissal, the Brampton, Ont., product spoke glowingly of the organization that handed him a pink slip eight months ago.

“A lot of responsibility comes with the job,” he said. “I loved every single day I coached the Leafs.

“The organization, this community, are fortunate to have such a great fan base. That’s why so much effort goes into trying to get it right.”