After six seasons as the New Jersey Devils assistant coach and one season as a head coach in the American Hockey League, John MacLean will get his shot at head coaching in the NHL. The team announced the news on their website on Thursday morning and they’ll hold a press conference at 2 PM the same day.
Devils Set To Name John MacLean Head Coach
With the hiring, our Devils blog, In Lou We Trust, doesn’t see much changing in terms of the system in New Jersey.
If anything, this statement would be most validated if the Devils promote John MacLean to New Jersey. He’s been a player for New Jersey from 1984-85 through 1997-98. After retirement, he moved onto being an assistant coach on the New Jersey since 2002 up until 2009, before being assigned as the head coach of Lowell. MacLean knows “Devils hockey” better than any of the candidates. MacLean has been groomed as a head coach under the ways and means of “Devils hockey.” I don’t think he would stray from what he’s been a part of for so long of his career as a player and a coach if made head coach of the New Jersey Devils.
For those who think he’ll change how the Devils play so drastically, let me ask you this: Why would MacLean deviate from what he’s been taught from management (Lou) and other head coaches (who bought into/preached the Devils philosophy) all along?
While things might not change too much on the ice, the Die Hard references are going to be excellent (and yes, we realize it’s a different spelling).
Below, a few videos from MacLean as a player with the Devils in the 80s and 90s, as well as more recent clips from his head coaching days in Lowell. In the last clip, in fact, filmed prior to the 2009-10 season with Lowell, MacLean talks about his style and what the fans in Lowell should expect. It’s a good primer on what fans of the big club should think.
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