Fitzgerald agreed with Keefe’s assessment and was clear that he was not looking for a coach who would come in and try to make the roster fit his style rather than design a system that best fits the team as currently assembled. The new coach praised the organization’s resources, citing Blitzer’s support and investment in the sports science and analytics departmentsthe toronto maple leafs news. He said he would lean on those departments to ensure the players are fully taken care of, which would allow him to maximize the players’ potential daily.
For a team stocked with elite talent, players like Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier will surely benefit from Keefe’s philosophy of high-pressure, fast hockey, and he believes the pieces are largely in place. “To be able to work with that (skill and competitiveness) and lean on that but also get the work itself and the necessary competitiveness and physicality and structure required to have any level of success available as a team. I believe those things are all in place here.” Keefe also cited the need for developing leadership throughout the lineup in layers and building a culture of accountability that begins with players holding each other accountable, which he believes is the mark of teams that win.
The main demerit on Keefe’s resume is his inability to advance past the first round of the playoffs in four of his five seasons at the helm of the Leafs. While an obvious concern, Devils fans should not be concerned once Keefe’s record is taken as a whole. In his 18 years of coaching, he has never failed to qualify for the playoffs. He possesses the highest career points percentage of any coach in Maple Leafs history. He is the second fastest in NHL history to amass 200 career wins. Keefe has won a Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and multiple rounds of playoffs at his other stops along the waywinnipeg jets attack zone. There is no doubt that the pressure is different in New Jersey compared to Toronto, but New Jersey has proven that it can win a Stanley Cup in the modern era. Every year that the Leafs don’t win the Cup or even a round, the pressure on the team ratchets up, applying more and more pressure, leading to an environment that is not conducive to winning in the postseason.
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Keefe acknowledged that the playoffs are a challenge, “winning in the playoffs is extremely difficult. It’s very hard to do. So, every detail matters, and that’s why it’s so important to focus on what’s right in front of you on a daily basis. And look to master every day that you have and capitalize on every day that you have so that when the tough moments come you are confident and you can just go out and play, and trust yourself and your ability to execute in those moments.” He later mentioned that you have to make the playoffs before you can win a round, and you have to win a round before you can win a Cup. He indicated that he is encouraged by his initial conversations with the players and their desire to get back to work, which is motivated by the failure of the past season.
When provided a chance to tamp down expectations, Keefe took the opposite tact and declared that he believes the resources and talent are present in the organization in sufficient abundance to win in New Jersey. “The expectations only come when they are earned, and they have been earned here.” He repeatedly said that every time his players put on their gear, they will expect to win. He stressed accountability and competing every day to maximize whatever the day presented. “You have to foster accountability. Making ambitions clear and the actions match that on a daily basis. It’s on me to police that and enforce it.” He talked about how to foster that accountability individually and with the team.
Keefe recalled a conversation with Auston Matthews shortly after he assumed the head coaching duties in Toronto. That conversation taught him that star players need to be pushed and challenged as much as, if not more, than lesser talented playerswinnipeg jets custom jerseys size guide. He also mentioned several times that he had already been in contact with current members of the Devils, and even though the conversations were mainly conducted at a “surface level,” he quickly recognized that the players were unhappy with last season’s outcome and were prepared to put the work in to remedy the team’s deficiencies.
He also indicated that accountability is ideally a two-way street, “it’s just about making sure that we hold one another accountable as we go through (the season) because myself, as the coach, I expect the players to hold me accountable as well. I have a job to do. And I want their communication and their feedback. And if I’m not holding up my end or any staff member is not holding up our end, to give them what they need. We will work together towards making sure that our actions match our ambitions daily.” Keefe knows that he will ultimately be judged on whether he can foster the environment necessary for the team to take those next steps and realize their championship ambitions. He believes the organizational components are in place and will work with Fitzgerald to ensure he has the necessary roster pieces to qualify for the postseason and thrive there.
Devils’ management felt fortunate that Keefe became available just as their search wound down. Fitzgerald had declared at the end of the regular season that he would not make a coaching decision until after the first round of the playoffs concluded. He wanted to allow himself to see if any coaches shook loose. After a late-night call from Blitzer inquiring whether Fitzgerald believed Keefe might be available, the general manager advised the team’s Governor that he already had Keefe’s number on speed dial and would move quickly should the chance arise. Less than two weeks after the coach with the best winning percentage in Leafs history was let go by that organization, he was texting Fitzgerald that he was prepared to accept his offer and work towards bringing New Jersey its fourth Stanley Cup. With the introductions now out of the way, the work now begins.
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