'Kovacevic Just Needs To Play Better': Coach Keefe Calls Out D-Man As Devils' Struggles Continue

Sheldon Keefe behind the Devils bench (Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images)

If you’ve followed the career of New Jersey Devils coach Sheldon Keefe, you’ll know that he’s a measured guy. There’s not much that can trigger an emotional response from him – at least when it comes to media and public consumption. However, after Keefe’s Devils got beaten for the third time in their past four games Saturday against Ottawa, Keefe was asked about a comment from New Jersey defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic – who said New Jersey needed to play with a playoff mentality – and Keefe did not waste anyone’s time with a meek response.

Instead, Keefe was extremely curt, cutting off the reporter and saying, “Kovacevic just needs to play better – that would help,” before quickly ending his media availability. The message was unmistakable – the time for words is over for the Devils, and nothing short of a strong showing is going to keep people’s jobs safe in New Jersey.

Jonathan Kovacevic said the Devils need a playoff mentality. Sheldon Keefe responded by saying Kovacevic “just needs to play better” 😳 pic.twitter.com/sQoDPjk0xl
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 23, 2025

The Devils are currently in third place in the Metropolitan Division, and while climbing higher than that is unlikely – the second-place Carolina Hurricanes are eight standings points ahead of New Jersey – it’s still possible that the Devils could be overtaken by the New York Rangers, who are six points behind them. An April 5 game between New Jersey and the Rangers will be crucial in deciding who winds up in third, but there’s also a possibility the Devils slide into one of the two wild-card spots. And that would mean a first-round showdown against either the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning or Toronto Maple Leafs.

To be sure, that’s not going to be ideal for Keefe and the Devils. New Jersey is 2-2-0 against the Hurricanes this year, so on the surface, at least, they’ve got a fighting chance against Carolina. But the same may not be said if they’re playing Washington, Florida, Tampa or Toronto. This is why a strong showing is so vital for the Devils, and this is why Keefe is feeling the strain of late.

Keefe is only in his first year behind New Jersey’s bench, but as we should all know by now, no coach’s job is truly secure – especially if a coach doesn’t have a lot of playoff success under their belt. Keefe did a solid job in the regular season with the Maple Leafs, but he’s still searching for success in the post-season. So hearing Kovacevic’s empty rhetoric rubbed Keefe the wrong way, and Keefe made that crystal clear.

If the Devils get flushed out in the first round, there could well be major changes in New Jersey. But while Keefe’s job may be secure for the moment, the Devils need to show some progress with their new direction. This is an organization that has exactly one playoff-round win since 2011-12, and even then, the Devils have one second-round game win in that span. There is much to be desired with New Jersey as a franchise, and obviously, the pressure to perform is starting to get to Keefe.

The coach is right – Kovacevic does have to be better, and so do his Devils teammates. And if that doesn’t happen this year, the ramifications could affect more than a few New Jersey employees. The Devils are under the gun, and Keefe knows full well his team has to be significantly better than it’s been of late.

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