After the uneasy departure of Brent Sutter, the New Jersey Devils were left the entire month of June with no leader behind the bench. However, that at all changed this week when Devils GM Lou Lamoriello went to a familiar face and tapped Jacques Lemaire, 63, the winningnest coach in Devils history to become part of the team he once led to Stanley Cup greatness.
With the hiring of Lemaire, the Devils, of course, face critics who question whether or not this will signal a return to the slow-paced neutral zone trap that typified the Devils style during the 90s. That style could stifle the progress of young offensive stars like Zach Parise.
However, Lamoriello is adamant that Lemaire’s return will not equate to less offense. He even pointed to the 1993–94 season when, under Lemaire, the team was second in scoring and was also among the most offensive clubs the following year when they won their first Stanley Cup in 1995.
Lemaire himself admitted that he has no plans on changing what works for the club, telling www.newjerseydevils.com, “You look at the team, and it’s very stable. You look at the past years, and the team has done pretty well. I’m not the coach that will stop any of the guys from doing what they’re good at and what they excel in.”
Lemaire coached the Devils from 1993–98. After winning the Stanley Cup in 1995, his Devils failed to advance far in the playoffs and it ultimately cost him his job.
After being fired by the Devils in 1998, he spent nine seasons as head coach of the Minnesota Wild and led the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2002–03. That accomplishment earned him the Jack Adams Award as the league’s best coach for a second time. His first came with the Devils in 1994.
Dispelling fears that Lemaire’s return might stunt the offense, one need only to look at the career of Devils veteran winger Brian Rolston. Rolston started playing for Lemaire in New Jersey (1994–1999) and then later played for him as a member of the Minnesota Wild (2005–2007).
In 2005, he had one of his most productive seasons with 34 goals and 79 points and has become one of the league’s better power play scorers ever since.
The Devils sniper told NJ.com last month that many young players would benefit from the old master’s tutelage, “I have tremendous respect for him. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, no question about that. He’d be great for our young players.”
In addition to sustaining and improving the offense, equally as important is the discipline that Lemaire will bring back to New Jersey. Throughout the 90s the Devils were one of the league’s least penalized teams.
Considering the defensive meltdowns and bad penalties that have plagued the team over the past few seasons during the playoffs, smart disciplined play is just what this team could use to get it over the top.
After years of experiencing a coaching carousel, it seems New Jersey finally has that issue solved. Now playing under one of the league’s most intelligent coaching minds, the Devils chances look pretty good.
With the hiring of Lemaire, the Devils, of course, face critics who question whether or not this will signal a return to the slow-paced neutral zone trap that typified the Devils style during the 90s. That style could stifle the progress of young offensive stars like Zach Parise.
However, Lamoriello is adamant that Lemaire’s return will not equate to less offense. He even pointed to the 1993–94 season when, under Lemaire, the team was second in scoring and was also among the most offensive clubs the following year when they won their first Stanley Cup in 1995.
Lemaire himself admitted that he has no plans on changing what works for the club, telling www.newjerseydevils.com, “You look at the team, and it’s very stable. You look at the past years, and the team has done pretty well. I’m not the coach that will stop any of the guys from doing what they’re good at and what they excel in.”
Lemaire coached the Devils from 1993–98. After winning the Stanley Cup in 1995, his Devils failed to advance far in the playoffs and it ultimately cost him his job.
After being fired by the Devils in 1998, he spent nine seasons as head coach of the Minnesota Wild and led the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2002–03. That accomplishment earned him the Jack Adams Award as the league’s best coach for a second time. His first came with the Devils in 1994.
Dispelling fears that Lemaire’s return might stunt the offense, one need only to look at the career of Devils veteran winger Brian Rolston. Rolston started playing for Lemaire in New Jersey (1994–1999) and then later played for him as a member of the Minnesota Wild (2005–2007).
In 2005, he had one of his most productive seasons with 34 goals and 79 points and has become one of the league’s better power play scorers ever since.
The Devils sniper told NJ.com last month that many young players would benefit from the old master’s tutelage, “I have tremendous respect for him. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, no question about that. He’d be great for our young players.”
In addition to sustaining and improving the offense, equally as important is the discipline that Lemaire will bring back to New Jersey. Throughout the 90s the Devils were one of the league’s least penalized teams.
Considering the defensive meltdowns and bad penalties that have plagued the team over the past few seasons during the playoffs, smart disciplined play is just what this team could use to get it over the top.
After years of experiencing a coaching carousel, it seems New Jersey finally has that issue solved. Now playing under one of the league’s most intelligent coaching minds, the Devils chances look pretty good.
