Report: Sheldon Keefe to return as Devils coach

Field Level Media|published: Tue 19th May, 19:47 2026

Jan 8, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe makes a note on the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

New Jersey Devils coach Sheldon Keefe will remain behind the bench, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

The club announced that goaltending coach Dave Rogalski was relieved of his duties and they will re-assign assistant coach Sergei Brylin within the organization.

New general manager Sunny Mehta -- who was hired on April 16 -- reportedly evaluated the staff and elected to retain Keefe, who has two years remaining on his contract.

After serving as bench boss for five seasons in Toronto (2019-24), Keefe was named head coach in New Jersey in May 2024 and led the Devils to the playoffs in his first season. They lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in an Eastern Conference first-round series.

New Jersey finished with the same number of wins (42) in 2025-26, but did not make the playoffs, breaking a streak of six consecutive postseason appearances for Keefe-led teams.

Keefe is 84-70-10 in two seasons with the Devils and 296-167-50 in seven seasons overall.

Rogalski had been on the staff since 2020-21. New Jersey gave up 3.09 goals per game in 2025-26, compared to 2.68 in 2024-25.

Mehta served as assistant general manager and head of analytics for the Florida Panthers from 2023-26 and earned a pair of Stanley Cup rings with the club during his tenure.

--Field Level Media

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