The New Jersey Devils officially named former Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss Sheldon Keefe as their new head coach on Tuesday afternoon, a day filled with niceties and warm welcomes, as well as some details about the screening process. As he began his second season as an NHL head coach, Keefe made a point of thanking John Tortorella, who currently leads the Philadelphia Flyers.
For those who don’t know, Keefe was a top draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning and briefly played for them between 2000 and 2003. Keefe played for Tortorella, who was still in his early days as an NHL head coach.
The two have previously coached against one other, including a Stanley Cup playoff clash between Tortorella’s Columbus Blue Jackets and Keefe’s Maple Leafs, but they will face off as Metropolitan Division rivals for the first time.
For the newly appointed Devils coach, it’s a sort of full circle moment.
“So, what are you going to do to establish your foundation and fundamental principles as a coach? And then you rely on your experiences as a player to achieve that initially,” Keefe said, reflecting on his tenure as an NHL head coach. “My time with John Tortorella in the Tampa Bay organization helped lay the groundwork for me as a coach. I learned a lot from him that I can use to coaching. Torts came in and went through some difficult moments as a team and with some people while working for an organization that was attempting to elevate the bar. Torts always challenged some of the best young players to enhance their game.”
Many Flyers fans and analysts initially viewed Tortorella as a horrible fit for the rebuilding team, noting his strict, disciplinarian style as something that does not appeal to young players. Tortorella’s age (he’ll turn 66 on June 24, just days before the 2024 NHL Draft) was also a negative factor. How could a coach with so much experience change gears and start fresh with the youthful Flyers?
They say that whatever you do once may be done repeatedly.
“Ultimately, the team got to the point where it was too good for me to play on anymore, but they won the Stanley Cup in 2004,” Keefe remarked, reflecting on his time with Tortorella and the Lightning. “And even though I wasn’t there, I was a part of the team’s improvement by seeing Torts perform his work on a daily basis and challenging the squad. It wasn’t easy. It was uncomfortable, but we eventually won.”
“That process really showed me what’s required, in terms of creating, at times, uncomfortable situations, but showing love and commitment to your players at the same time knowing that you’re in it for their best interests and you’re in it ultimately for the best interests of the team,” Keefe said. “Seeing Torts at work definitely helped build that up for me. When I first started coaching in the NHL, I got the opportunity to thank him. He’s been really kind with his time since I’ve been in the NHL. He may not be as gracious now that I am in the division, but that is where it all began for me.
Tortorella still has many detractors among Flyers fans, but it’s difficult to ignore the impact he’s had on the hockey world during his two decades in the NHL.
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