Sheldon Keefe has a shiny new toy, one that a lot of playground rivals will be jealous about.
asserted
lot → have → rivals
But it will take the New Jersey Devils’ coach a bit longer to see how to best show off Connor Hellebuyck.
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it → take → Hellebuyck
The three-time Vezina Trophy holder and 2024-25’s Hart Trophy winner has triumphed in all four of his starts following his self-directed departure from the Winnipeg Jets to a new East Coast home and what Keefe and company hope is a Stanley Cup playoff path.
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Keefe → triumph → home
Keefe started him Sunday in Toronto, and not in Saturday’s Metropolitan Division game on Long Island, as part of ramping up his activity, two starts in three games in four nights.
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Keefe → start → nights
It’s also a logical set up to keep Hellebuyck warm for what’s sure to be a hot reception Tuesday in Winnipeg.
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what → ’ → Winnipeg
The American-born Hellebuyck penned a letter to Jets fans last week to try and explain his holdout and trade stance, mentioning extenuating family circumstances that contributed to his decision.
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that → bear → decision
Keefe was not saying a word about Tuesday’s assignment just yet, only that Hellebuyck’s been everything advertised to date.
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Hellebuyck → say → date
“We’re still in the phase of getting him up, running and conditioned, all those things,” Keefe said before the Toronto game.
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Keefe → ’re → game
“He’s played well, fit in and is just excited to be playing games.
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He → play → games
“Big picture, it gives the group tremendous confidence, the optimism of each game that you have a guy back there with his pedigree.
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you → give → pedigree
He’ll play even better the more of a rhythm he gets into.
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he → play → rhythm
But we have to be careful how we manage all that.”
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we → have → that
How has Hellebuyck fit in with the team?
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Hellebuyck → fit → team
Since the trade, Jersey had won six of seven and before Sunday, with a record of 12-5 that only Cup champion Carolina has bettered in the Metro.
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Jersey → win → Metro
“That’s hard to pinpoint because of the trade and when it happened, but I felt we were trending in a really good direction just prior,” Keefe said.
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Keefe → ’ → direction
“Honestly, I think it’s part of the reason the trade was made.
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trade → think → reason
(New general manager) Sunny Mehta just recognized things were falling into place and it could improve the group.
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it → recognize → group
It’s given us greater reason to push and have the buy-in.
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It → give → in
“(Hellebuyck) wasn’t just sitting around waiting for something to happen, but being prepared to play.
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something → sit → ?
We haven’t practised much in the time he’s been here, so the only thing we can provide him is the games.”
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we → practise → him
Headlining the package that went to Manitoba for Hellebuyck were forwards Dawson Mercer and Nick Bjugstad, goalie Nico Daws, the draft rights to unsigned Swedish centre Alexander Command, a second-round pick in 2029 and a seventh-rounder next year.
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Mercer → headline → 2029
Winnipeg has won its last two games before Sunday, but faces a hard climb up the Central Division sans Hellebuyck.
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Winnipeg → win → Hellebuyck
What does Keefe think of Auston Matthews and the Leafs?
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Keefe → think → Matthews
Toronto is always a homecoming for Keefe, born in the GTA and the franchise’s best points percentage of .665 as coach between 2019-24, even if the new-look Leafs are a headache for him to pre-scout.
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him → bear → 2019
“Many new faces, too many to know,” he said with a smile.
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he → know → smile
“Names and numbers I’m not used to seeing in Blue and White.
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I → see → Blue
But the guys I’m familiar with (Auston Matthews, William Nylander), it’s good to see them off to good starts.”
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it → ’m → starts
Matthews reached a career-best 69 goals in Keefe’s final season and has since been named team captain, while approaching age 30.
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Matthews → reach → age
“I’ve so much respect for Auston, the person and the player he is,” Keefe said.
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Keefe → ’ve → Auston
“It was pretty remarkable to be behind the bench the year he was pushing for 70 goals and at the same time playing solid defensively.
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he → push → time
“To me, that was the time he was showing the maturation to be the next guy to lead the team as captain.”
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he → show → captain
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