Lemaire Gone... What Now?

Well Jacques Lemaire has stepped down to take a position in the Devils organization. Now what are the Devils going to do? Many experiments have failed miserably and several first round exits in a row cannot be ignored. I swear it felt just like yesterday when Lemaire returned to New Jersey. Okay it lasted for a year and yet it felt like it went too fast. This video from Game 4 may have given an inkling that this retirement was possible. Listen to the entire thing. Yes I know it is a little over five minutes long but in retrospect, it provides much insight.



With Lemaire heading out of the Shark Tank that is the Devils coaching situation, what will Lou do now? First off I guess it is time to hit the Hockey Database. Oh lord help us on this one. First things first....here is that list.

1997-98	NJ Devils			82	48	23	11	0	0	107	0.652				Jacques Lemaire	Lost in rd 1
1998-99	NJ Devils			82	47	24	11	0	0	105	0.640				Robbie Ftorek	Lost in rd 1
1999-00	NJ Devils			82	45	24	8	5	0	103	0.628				Multiple coaches	Won Cup
2000-01	NJ Devils			82	48	19	12	3	0	111	0.677				Larry Robinson	Lost in Finals
2001-02	NJ Devils			82	41	28	9	4	0	95	0.579				Multiple coaches	Lost in rd 1
2002-03	NJ Devils			82	46	20	10	6	0	108	0.659				Pat Burns	Won Cup
2003-04	NJ Devils			82	43	25	12	2	0	100	0.610				Pat Burns	Lost in rd 1
2005-06	NJ Devils			82	46	27	0	5	4	101	0.616				Multiple coaches	Lost in rd 2
2006-07	NJ Devils			82	49	24	0	1	8	107	0.652				Claude Julien	Lost in rd 2
2007-08	NJ Devils			82	46	29	0	3	4	99	0.604				Brent Sutter	Lost in rd 1
2008-09	NJ Devils			82	51	27	0	2	2	106	0.646				Brent Sutter	Lost in rd 1
2009-10	NJ Devils			82	48	27	0	2	5	103	0.628				Jacques Lemaire	Lost in rd 1

Just for the record, there were a few games coached by John Maclean and Lou Lamoriello thrown in for good measure. Lamoriello coached most of the 05-06 season. There was a brief reign of terror known as Kevin Constantine as well. It seems hard to get a coach to stay more than 2 years in New Jersey of late. Aside from the early playoff exits since the 2003 Stanley Cup, New Jersey has a great regular season record. Hell they have ten 100 point seasons since the 97-98 season.

For whatever reason though, playoff success has always been a little distant. John MacLean seems to be the next logical guy to take the reins in the sense that he has paid his dues and hey he did guide the Lowell Devils to a playoff berth before being ousted in you guessed it, the first round (in 5 games). Now to have a little fun with this, I wanted to thank Julie Marie Halady for coming up with the idea for the Days Of Our Lives video....as seen here. Just insert Devils coaches in and it works well.



Days of our Devils Coaches sounds real catchy. This has real potential. So who could be next? I thought it might be time to have a little fun with this. Here is a list of candidates that we came up with. Some are not meant to be taken seriously and I think that most will be able to spot those in very short order.

• John MacLean (Current coach of the Lowell Devils)
• Brent Sutter (Coach of the Calgary Flames)
• The Pope (Savior of Catholics)
• Pat Burns (sentimental choice but impossible)
• Scott Stevens (in the Devils organization)
• Bobby Carpenter (Scout in Toronto organization)
• John Tortorella (Current NY Rangers coach)
• Insert Candidate Here

WHY? Why do I say that? Because there is always a feeling that a coach will come from "outside the box". The Devils have much to fix and whomever decides to take on this job has a series of hurdles to overcome that may be too daunting for most to take on. I still maintain that the next coach has to be austere but flexible and open minded. It is such a rare combination and THEN add in the patience that is required in dealing with Lou Lamoriello.

My question to every reader is can the Devils find that guy or the better question is this. Is that guy right under the Devils' noses literally? Something to ponder on this cold and rainy afternoon. I have my ideal choice and it is not the top guy on the list. I still maintain that somehow Michelle Kenneth and Kevin Weekes know the next coach of New Jersey but I cannot be sure on this. Stay tuned. The search will continue for the next New Jersey Devils coach.