Everyone is looking for someone to blame for the New Jersey Devils‘ struggles this season. Tom Fitzgerald has taken heavy criticism for his roster construction. The latest whipping boy was Luke Hughes. However, is the head coach to blame for the poor on-ice product?
Spittin’ Chiclets and Game Notes co-host/producer Pasha Eshghi joined the latest Devils Rink Report to discuss the Devils’ disappointing season and whether head coach Sheldon Keefe deserves the bulk of the blame.
“Yeah, I don’t think he should be spared of blame,” Eshghi said. “I don’t think he is the number one problem. I think even if they were to fire him, they would still have a lot they’ve got to clean up. So put it this way, they have a lot of issues.”
Eshghi has backed Keefe from the start—but context matters. For the majority of his 1.5 years in New Jersey, he hasn’t had the luxury of working with a healthy roster most of the time.
“I’ve been a supporter of Keefe since day one, much like Fitzgerald. I don’t think he’s had a fair shake in the sense of the injuries last year, the injuries this year. It’s hard to kind of judge a body of work when the team is just not even remotely fully healthy.”
Still, one trend stands out as troubling. Under Lindy Ruff, the Devils played a far different style than they do now. The success in 2022-23 speaks for itself, just look at the Buffalo Sabres right now. However, the whole point of a coaching change was because something wasn’t working, which was evident in 2023-24.
Yet, has Keefe’s structure changed too much, hindering the Devils’ strengths?
“I am concerned that his coaching style has them playing slow. [The Devils] are a fast team. They were one of the best rush teams in the league a couple of years ago, and now they’re one of the worst, and that’s just not acceptable with this roster.”
Jack Hughes is back in the lineup now, but even if he wasn’t, the Devils have enough star power in Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, and Luke to be able to sustain a high level of play.
Yet, although there’s been injuries, finding the back of the net this season has been a struggle.
The numbers back it up.
“Being 32nd last year at 5-on-5 goals is not acceptable.”
In 2025-26 specifically, the Devils rank 29th in the NHL, scoring just 2.64 goals per game.
Eshghi sees strengths in Keefe’s approach, but questions the fit.
“I think he’s a good coach, especially defensively, but I don’t know if he’s ideal for that roster makeup, because he has a fast team playing slow, and I think that is hindering them offensively.”
If nothing else, Eshghi say’s a coaching change isn’t off the table.
“I’m not saying fire Keefe, per se. I think a massive shake-up is needed. If [firing Keefe] is the move, I would rather that than no move and just more of the same that we’ve been seeing.”
He even floated a nostalgic replacement, one who is currently unemployed and fully available.
“Especially since, like I mentioned on Game Notes, Peter DeBoer is out there, and he’s my favorite coach in Devils history, so I would love to see him back behind the Devils bench. But I don’t think firing Keefe is the one move that’s going to fix all the problems.”
Certainly, a coaching change isn’t the final answer here. The Devils came into 2025-26 with needs at forward, specifically in the top-six and up the middle, a third line center behind Jack and Hischier.
Keefe deserves more runway. He deserves a trade from Fitzgerald, and he deserves to work with a healthy roster.
Pump the brakes on removing Keefe. It’s not his time.
