Sheldon Keefe Says His Job is on the Line At Season’s End

The New Jersey Devils no longer have a president of hockey operations or general manager, but that hasn't stopped the team from leaving head coach Sheldon Keefe believing that his job is seriously in jeopardy.

Of course, the speculation that Keefe could be done shouldn't come as any surprise after this poor Devils season. But now the head coach has admitted that he'll be under the gun as soon as the season ends.

Sheldon Keefe confirms he’s been told he’ll be under evaluation at season’s end following yesterday’s news. #NJDevils
— James Nichols (@JamesNicholsNHL) April 7, 2026

James Nichols reports that Keefe has confirmed that "he’s been told he’ll be under evaluation at season’s end." Just who will be doing the evaluating is unclear at this point. The team has begun its search for a new front office.

Sheldon Keefe takes on responsibility for Fitzgerald firing

The coach also took responsibility, in part, for the firing yesterday of team president and GM Tom Fitzgerald.

"It's not something that I feel good about, the situation that I put -- that we put -- the team and 'Fitzy' in here.

"For myself specifically, fundamentally, I believe the coach's job is to deliver on the vision of the general manager, on people that put you in a position by showing belief in you,” Keefe said. “So, we've fallen short of that, and I take responsibility for that. It's not a good feeling."

Keefe led the Devils to a 42-33-7 record and a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season in his first year with the club. This season, despite getting off to a 13-4-1 start, the team is on the verge of being eliminated from the postseason due to a vastly improved Eastern Conference. New Jersey went into a 15-25-1 slump after that strong start, and now they sit at 40-34-3, not significantly different from last year, but they have lost ground to their competition in the conference.

As is the case with most head coaches, their jobs are in question when a new GM or hockey ops boss is brought in. It will be no different with Keefe, and the team has made it clear to him. The odds are he'll be searching for a new gig come the summer.