Sutter Out as New Jersey Devils Coach
Two-Year Stint Over, Returns to Alberta for Family Reasons
The New Jersey Devils have largely been the hallmark of consistency in the NHL, producing competitive hockey teams on a perennial basis since the early 1990's. In recent years, however, consistency has been limited to the on-ice product, while the head coaching position has been analogous to a carousel.
Once again, the Garden State is seeking leadership on the bench, with Brent Sutter resigning his post with a year remaining on his contract.
Next Flames Coach?
Citing personal reasons, both family and business-oriented, Sutter heads back to Alberta to be close to family. The return allows him to more closely manage his oil ranch, as well as his ownership in the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels.
Speculation exists that his move opens the way for Sutter to take the vacant Calgary Flames head coaching job, however Sutter's contract ties him to New Jersey through the end of next season. Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello has the power to grant Sutter's release from that contract.
Next Behind the New Jersey Bench
Nostalgia or a "Back to the Future" approach may very well be the order of the day for the next Devils coach. Front-runners for the job, to the naked eye, would appear to be assistant coach and New Jersey hockey icon John MacLean, and Jacques Lemaire. Lemaire led the Devils to their first Stanley Cup in 1995, and just exited as the Minnesota Wild head coach. MacLean was a team leader from the Devils' earliest days in New Jersey, and a noted goal-scorer during his career.
Both are well-suited to the position based on their past New Jersey ties, knowledge of the organization, and their continuation of the Devils' mantra of solid two-way hockey and team-before-player commitment.
Need for Continuity
New Jersey has remained moderately successful since its 2003 Cup-winning campaign, but has not been able to make significant headway in the playoffs in recent years. Blame cannot be wholely placed on the head coaches for these failures, but nevertheless the franchise could use some stability and hope that the man behind the bench will be there for more than a couple of years. Building upon missteps from past seasons, with steady leadership, is often a formula for better success in the following campaign.
The stark reality is that the Devils have not had a coach last more than two full years since Lemaire completed his fifth and final campaign in the 1997-98 season. Since then, the Devils have seen Robbie Ftorek, Larry Robinson, Kevin Constantine, Pat Burns, Claude Julien, Sutter, and a couple of stints with Lamoriello himself behind the bench after firing a couple of coaches late in the season.
New Jersey needs to find someone for the long-term, and while Lemaire would be the perfect short-term solution, MacLean, as the younger and more player-relevant option, would seem to be the best choice.
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