Sheldon Keefe is returning to Toronto for the first time since he left the team over the summer, and he was recently interviewed about it and revealed his thoughts. Sheldon Keefe will be back in familiar territory <a href='https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/gameday-keefe-returns-to-toronto-to-face-struggling-maple-leafs' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>when the New Jersey Devils visit the Toronto Maple Leafs</a> at Scotiabank Arena. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TheTorontoSun/status/1879896410369163539'> </a></blockquote></div> <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/toronto-maple-leafs-fire-head-coach-sheldon-keefe-after-playoff-exit' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Let go as the Leafs' head coach last May</a>, this is Keefe's first time returning to Toronto with his new team. A native of Brampton, Ontario, he spent five seasons as head coach of the Leafs (2019-2024) and before that, he was head coach of the AHL's Toronto Marlies (2015-2019). <h3>Sheldon Keefe admits this is a surreal moment</h3> Keefe concedes that coming back is almost surreal given his strong affinity for the city, the arena, and the passionate fans. He adds that walking into the visitor's dressing room will feel weird. «I'm excited for it, Keefe said to media Wednesday. I spent nine years there, the Leafs time, but the Marlies time too, was equally special to me and I was fortunate to essentially raise my family there, in fact, they're still living there. «It's great to get back there. I'll be able to have lots of friends and family in the building, and then also, just to see the faces around the arena, said Keefe. There's a lot of people throughout the organization and in through the building that that you are used to seeing and are such a big part of your career, that the chance to reconnect with them and see them it's gonna be a funny walk into the visiting side of things. But I fully expect that once the puck drops, it's gonna be, it's gonna be hockey. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TLNdc/status/1879932763840868543'> </a></blockquote></div> Though his Leafs tenure did not end with a Stanley Cup, Keefe says the things he learned from that high-pressure hockey market in Toronto were valuable. I grew a lot through that, Keefe said about his time with Maple Leafs. I believe I've got thicker skin as a result. I think I've been through a lot there that's helped me grow probably quicker than normal. And I think I've come out the other side of it all right and feel like I was all the more prepared coming into this job and I'm sort of ready for anything that comes up. His focus now is leading the Devils, who have been among the best teams in the 2024-25 season, <a href='https://www.nhl.com/standings/2025-01-15/wildcard' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>posting a 26-15-5 record for second in the Metropolitan Division</a>. This isn't Keefe's first meeting against his old club as <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/sheldon-keefe-makes-petty-comments-towards-the-toronto-maple-leafs-after-losing-to-them' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the Devils dropped a 4-2 game against the Leafs back in October</a>. Toronto, under new coach Craig Berube, sits atop the Atlantic Division at 27-16-2, setting up a real barnburner.