It's official: Lemaire's back in Jersey

by James Mirtle on Jul 13, 2009 1:24 PM CDT Comment 7 comments

Jacques Lemaire, the coach with the most wins in Devils’ history, who led the team to its first of three Stanley Cup Championships in 1995, was introduced today as the club’s new head coach. In addition, Mario Tremblay has been named an assistant coach.

They join a staff that includes Assistant Coach Tommy Albelin and Goaltending Coach Jacques Caron. Scott Stevens will also take on a more active role in both New Jersey and Lowell.

The announcement was made by Devils’ President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello. "Jacques Lemaire is one of the most respected coaches in the game," said Lamoriello. "He is a teacher and a communicator, and knows what it takes to have success. "Mario Tremblay brings years of experience both as a player and coach, and will be a decided asset to our coaching staff."

>> team release

Lemaire's first stint in New Jersey established him as an A-list coach and gave the Devils their identity. He arrived in 1993-94, nine years out of his last head coaching stint, and at 48, led the franchise to its first ever season with more than 40 wins in its 20th year.

In the 19 seasons prior to Lemaire coming on board, going back to the god awful Kansas City and Colorado days, the franchise had averaged 60 points a season, a .373 points percentage. In the five seasons Lemaire spent in New Jersey, they were a 99-point team (.597) and won the Stanley Cup in 1995.

Lemaire will turn 64 this September, and this is almost certainly his swan song as an NHL bench boss. And while the challenge won't be quite as great as the one he took on 16 years ago, he does have his work cut out for him given the losses the Devils have sustained in free agency.

Even so, I think it's a solid hire, one aimed at recapturing some of the franchise's glory years. On some level, it makes sense that, just as the Wild are hellbent on becoming a more exciting team, the Devils return to their roots as the most defensive team in hockey.

(One word of advice: Take Marty Brodeur in your pool this year. New Jersey won't give up many goals.)

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You think people are so fantasy illiterate that they need to be told to take Brodeur in their pools? :)

What’s the deal with coaches leaving their employers with one year left on their contract to coach somewhere else? First it happened to the Devils with Sutter, and now the Devils find Lemaire who had done the same thing.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Jul 13, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the pool tip, I was leaning towards taking Raycroft until you swayed me to Brodeur.

Out of all this, John MacLean get shipped of to Lowell. Even though he is a company guy you have to wonder if he will ever get a chance to be the head coach in NJ with a new assistant displacing him.

by cubanpuckstopper on Jul 13, 2009 2:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs