TORONTO — Sheldon Keefe swore that the frenzy surrounding his return to Scotiabank Arena on Thursday would not distract him once the puck dropped on the ice.
The New Jersey Devils coach kept his promise.
So much so that he didn’t even see the tribute video played in his honor during the first television break in the 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was busy chatting with one of the referees.
“I didn’t see her,” he admitted after the meeting. “You’re in the game, and I lost awareness of what was happening. I finally noticed that I appeared on the giant screen towards the end.
“But I appreciate that they took the time to recognize my return. Most importantly, I enjoyed my time here and the way I was treated. I am so grateful.
“I’m just disappointed that we didn’t get both points. »
Keefe coached in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena for the first time since he was fired by the Maple Leafs on May 9. Hired by the Devils two weeks later, he had faced his former team twice this season, both times at the Prudential Center.
This time it was different.
It was in Toronto, where he got his first NHL coaching job and led the Maple Leafs to a 212-97-40 regular season record after replacing Mike Babcock on November 19, 2019. He is fifth for the wins by a coach in Maple Leafs history, behind Punch Imlach (370), Pat Quinn (300), Hap Day (259) and Dick Irvin (216).
But he won only one round of the Stanley Cup playoffs during his tenure, a stain on his record that led to his dismissal, he himself admits.
-When he got the job in New Jersey, Keefe left his wife Jackie and their two sons, Wyatt and Landon, behind at their home in Oakville, about 30 kilometers west of Toronto. The boys, ages 12 and 14, play minor hockey and lacrosse, and Keefe didn’t want to disrupt their lives.
At the time of his hiring, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald allowed Keefe to return to Ontario on his days off to visit family.
“I understand the importance of family,” said Fitzgerald. I still have my home in Boston, where my children were raised. I go there again. »
He burst out laughing.
“The difference is that, as GM, I don’t have to be at practice early the next morning. As CEO, you build your own schedule. And I can say this about Sheldon: when he comes to work the next day, he’s ready. »
Keefe followed that game plan on Thursday. He drove to the arena like he always did when he was with the Maple Leafs. He got stuck in traffic on the Gardiner Expressway between Oakville and Toronto, as so often before. He used the same entrance at Scotiabank Arena, however, going to the visitors’ locker room rather than the home team’s quarters.
“It was a great day,” he said. I was able to see several people I know, as I expected. But when the puck was dropped on the ice, I forgot where I was. When you lead, you live in the present moment. »
There was a very special moment that had nothing to do with being a coach. It was before the game, when Keefe took a photo with his entire family on the visitors’ bench, a photo posted by the Devils on their social media platforms.
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