As Berube’s Maple Leafs Cope With Slump, Keefe’s Devils Exemplify Bouncing Back

Sheldon Keefe

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

As New Jersey Devils coach Sheldon Keefe makes his return to Toronto Thursday, the Maple Leafs are struggling through what most people see as their worst stretch of the regular season.

But before Leafs fans are overcome by angst, they should look at the Devils’ entire season thus far as an example of the ups and downs that every team has to work through at some point every season.

This three-game losing skid is the second time this season that the Maple Leafs have dropped three in a row. But no NHL team can escape some problematic stretches. And to see why that’s true, you need only look at Keefe’s initial stint with the Devils this season.

Indeed, after the Devils went 5-2-0 to start the year, they lost four consecutive games in late October to drop to 5-4-2. At that point, there were more than a few New Jersey supporters who were concerned about the Devils. And although New Jersey steered out of that losing skid, it wouldn’t be all that long before their fans once again saw the Devils underperforming, as New Jersey went 3-3-1 from Nov. 27 through Dec. 10.

Once again, the Devils found a way to adapt and overcome, winning six of their next seven games. But for as hot as they got at that point, another cold stretch was right on the tail of that stretch, as New Jersey posted another four-game losing streak from Dec. 28 through Jan. 4 – including losses to subpar teams in Anaheim and San Jose. And wouldn’t you know it – the Devils won two of their next three tilts to improve to 26-15-4.

“I loved every second being the #Leafs head coach.”

Sheldon Keefe talks
Returning to Toronto as visiting NHL coach for the first time.
Leaving family in the city during the transition.
Money on the board? ⤵️https://t.co/RZYbyCBc95

— David Alter (@dalter) January 16, 2025

Thus, if you’re a Maple Leafs fan, you must see Toronto’s current struggles through the prism of the macro picture. Toronto went through its first three-game losing streak from Oct. 22 to 26, and they dropped five of seven games in that span. But other than that stretch and this stretch, the Maple Leafs haven’t lost more than two games in a row all season.

That’s why before Toronto fans press the panic button, Leafs coach Craig Berube should be entrusted to pull the Buds out of their current tailspin. It’s a long season, and any number of factors – the team’s health, the difficulty of its schedule and just plain puck luck – can affect any franchise’s win/loss record.

” I wanted to make sure I am present for their life, but also felt it was really important to give them the stability to stay there.”

A few days ago, I asked #NJDevils HC Sheldon Keefe how he balances his roles as NHL head coach, father, and husband. https://t.co/PxGjSJqEop

— Kristy Flannery (@InStilettos_NHL) January 16, 2025

A three-game losing streak won’t sink a top team’s record to the point it will affect their ability to qualify for the playoffs. Of course, if Toronto loses another three games in a row, there will be legitimate cause for concern about the team. But there’s time for Berube to identify what’s going wrong and fix it now before it gets to that point.

The ebbs and flows that each organization endures will always be there – and the trick for all NHL coaches is to maximize the win streaks and minimize the tough times. Keefe undoubtedly knows that as he looks after the Devils, and sophisticated Leafs fans know that, too.