Devils Coach Sheldon Keefe Excited To His Former Team

The New Jersey Devils face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, Oct. 10 at home at the Rock.

This is the first game for the Devils back in North America, and it comes as a bit of a special one for the club's head coach, Sheldon Keefe.

Keefe was a guest on The FAN Hockey Show on Sportsnet, where he reflected on his time as the head coach of the Maple Leafs as well as his short time with his new club.

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Keefe served as the bench boss for the Maple Leafs for five years prior to his dismissal after yet another first-round loss to the Boston Bruins. During his time there, he had a record of 212-97-40, and he went 16-21 in the playoffs with just one series win.

He said that he was "very much uncertain" that he was going to be fired after another disappointing season in Toronto.

The Devils came calling Keefe when they parted ways with Lindy Ruff. Keefe talked about that and said the more [Keefe] spent talking with the Devils and general manager Tom Fitzgerald, the more convinced he became that it was the right move on all levels.

The two teams are set to meet Thursday night in a game that will surely be bittersweet for Keefe but one that he definitely would want to win.