Filed under: Devils , NHL Coaching John MacLean may have been the obvious choice once the Devils looked so flat in the first round against the Flyers in April, but his selection as head coach was apparently not a simple one. MacLean may be a very familiar face in New Jersey, but his hiring is unchartered territory for the Devils and general manager Lou Lamoriello. In officially — many would say finally — giving the head job to MacLean on Thursday , Lamoriello is hiring a friend to many in the organization. This could not have been an easy decision. It certainly wasn’t a sentimental one. As he always does, Lamoriello kept his hiring process close to the vest. There were reports that Kirk Muller — the former Devils captain, longtime close friend of MacLean’s and an assistant coach of the Canadiens — was under consideration. There were others who said former Habs and Penguins coach Michel Therrien was getting the job. Mike Haviland, an assistant with the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks and a former head coach in New Jersey’s minor league system, was rumored to be a candidate. While he never even confirmed any interviews, Lamoriello waited until the completion of the Stanley Cup playoffs so he could speak with anyone he deemed worthy.
Originally posted here:
John MacLean’s Hiring May Be Popular, but Honeymoon Will be Brief
