Could John MacLean Be the Next Head Coach of the New Jersey Devils?

to be with his brother, Darryl. However, Sutter has said a few times that he has not even considered the position, and is resigning to go home to his family. In addition, he is under contract with the Devils, and cannot sign anywhere else without their permission.

It seems that Darryl will be taking over the coaching duties vacated by Mike Keenan. But while Sutter's name has been linked to Calgary, could Keenan be his replacement in New Jersey? It may not be a likely situation, but Lamoriello has surprised us in the past. Kevin Constantine, Robinson's first replacement, was a surprising hire. But Constantine did not mesh with his players, and was removed after half a season, so Lamoriello may not want to bring in someone who might not click immediately. Again, this logic points in the direction of McLean, a longtime assistant, or a former Devils coach.

Lamoriello may consider hiring a former player as well. Ken Daneyko is an analyst for the Devils on the MSG network, and has a very good mind for hockey. The longtime career Devil could be an NHL coach one day, and many analysts have left the booth to coach professional teams. But while Daneyko is an interesting name to consider, it would be a shock if he is in fact hired.

He has no coaching experience whatsoever, not even on the assistant level. Plus, he is a former teammate of some of these guys (Martin Brodeur, Elias, Brian Rolston, etc.) and could be in an awkward position as head coach. However, if MacLean is promoted, I would not be shocked at all to see Daneyko behind the bench as an assistant. Like MacLean before him, Daneyko is a former player who could be a great coach one day. If Tommy Albelin can be an assistant, why not Dano?

Other names have been mentioned as possibilities, such as Peter Laviolette, and I do believe Lamoriello will take his time with the decision. Although the draft will take place at the end of the month, Lamoriello will not let that serve as any sort of timetable for a decision.

If I had to put my money on any candidate, it would have to be MacLean. He received Sutter's endorsement, and while Sutter may no longer be involved, I'm sure his recommendation will have some effect on Lamoriello.

The man has been an assistant with the team for a long time and knows the system well. He would be a natural successor for Sutter, and would be recognizable by the fan base. If it's not him, I think Lemaire is the next-best bet, with Robinson a distant third. I doubt Lamoriello reaches for a coach from outside the system, no matter how "big" his name is (even Keenan). Still, Lou could surprise us all. It's not like he hasn't done that before.

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