The New Jersey Devils are making changes after a rough 2025-26 season. New GM Sunny Mehta is shaking things up, but head coach Sheldon Keefe is staying put. 

The Devils announced on Tuesday that goaltending coach Dave Rogalski has been let go. Assistant coach Sergei Brylin is also moving on from his coaching role. He will reportedly take on a different role within the organization. 

The search for replacements has already started. But Keefe is locked in for his third season behind the bench in 2026-27.

His numbers tell a mixed story. Through two seasons, Keefe has gone 84-70-10 with the Devils.

But the 2025-26 season ended without a playoff spot. It was the first time in his entire coaching career that Keefe missed the postseason at any level.

Letting Rogalski go was not a shocker. Many felt the move was long overdue.

The Devils signed goalie Jacob Markstrom to a two-year extension last October. The plan was to lock down the crease for the future.

Instead, Markstrom had the worst statistical season of his career. In 44 games, he posted an .883 save percentage.

He also ranked 88th out of 98 goalies in goals saved above expected at -11.9. That kind of regression made a change behind the scenes feel inevitable.

Rogalski has been in the NHL since 2017-18. He joined New Jersey from St. Louis in 2020-21 and moved up from development coach to goaltending coach.

Brylin's history with the organization runs much deeper. He started as a team consultant with the Albany Devils back in 2012-13.

He worked his way up to assistant coach the next season. Then he joined the New Jersey staff as an assistant in 2022-23.

For now, no other changes are coming to the staff. Brad Shaw and Jeremy Colliton will stay on alongside Keefe.

Sheldon Keefe Called Devils' Playoff Miss 'Embarrassing'

The Devils were officially knocked out of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff race on April 7. And Keefe did not sugarcoat how he felt about it.

A 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers sealed their fate. Around the same time, the Ottawa Senators beat the Tampa Bay Lightning to bury New Jersey's hopes.

Keefe was honest about the pain of missing out. "It's difficult, it's embarrassing, I don't like it," he said, via Devils reporter Amanda Stein.

He also reflected on what the moment meant for his career. "I've coached for 20 years; this is the first time I won't be participating in the playoffs at any level. It's not fun. ... But we've earned this. It is what it is."

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Written by

Sahil Prashar

Edited by

Sahil Prashar