Brent Sutter's Resignation and A List of Future New Jersey Devil Coaches

Brent Sutter, head coach of the New Jersey Devils decided to resign.

Sutter resigned via a conference call from his home in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Sutter who, during the season had stated a desire to be closer to home, made that decision permanent by resigning today.

I cannot say I am all that surprised. I am surprised that in Sutter’s press conference he did not thank the players or the fans. This was a cowardly way to resign and as a Devil fan, but you cannot be too upset about it. He said he was not a quitter. Ok, maybe he is just a resigner.

Sutter was a very good regular season coach, and possibly the best regular season coach in Devil history after this season’s Atlantic Division title without having Martin Brodeur for most of the season.

The only thing to be upset about is the timing. The Devils have been off for the last six weeks and if Sutter knew he was staying in Red Deer, he should have made it easier for the organization to find his replacement.

But in the NHL, it is all about the last two months of the season, not the first six.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs were not kind to Sutter. Two first-round exits were embarrassing. In the 2008 playoffs, the rival Rangers knocked the Devils out in five games. The Devils had home ice in the series and lost all three games at the Prudential Center.

In the 2009 playoffs, the Devils blew a three games to two lead, and in game seven gave up two goals in the final 90 seconds of game seven and lost the series and the game 4-3.

In the past, Devils CEO, President and General Manager, Lou Lamoriello would have fired a coach after two straight first round exits. But, he did not this time.

Noted penny pincher, Lamoriello is probably doing back flips that he did not have to fire Sutter and now does not have to pay him.

The possible list of candidates looks something like this:

(Let me know if there is a candidate you think I missed. But, knowing Lou, the next coach of the Devils is not on my list.)

1. John MacLean

The Devils all-time leading scorer until he was passed by Patrik Elias this year has been on the Devil bench for six seasons and was a candidate two years ago, but the job was given to Sutter.

This move is probably the most likely because of MacLean’s rapport with the players on the team. But, knowing Lou Lamoriello, it is probably the one that will not happen.

If it is not MacLean’s job, can he stay on the bench and be an assistant again?

ODDS: EVEN

1. John MacLean

The Devils all-time leading scorer until he was passed by Patrik Elias this year has been on the Devil bench for six seasons and was a candidate two years ago, but the job was given to Sutter.

This move is probably the most likely because of MacLean’s rapport with the players on the team. But, knowing Lou Lamoriello; it is probably the one that will not happen.

If it is not MacLean’s job, can he stay on the bench and be an assistant again?

ODDS: EVEN

2. Jacques Lemaire

Devils fans love Jacques. He took this team from mediocrity to greatness in a season. He took the Minnesota Wild to the Western Conference Final in 2003. He stepped down as Wild coach at the end of the 2008-09 regular season after failing to make the playoffs.

Lemaire’s trap style of play does not really fit in well with the state of the Devils defense. It was much easier to play this style when you had a once in a lifetime player in Scott Stevens, a young Scott Niedermayer, and good role defensemen.

This to me is a step backwards. The post-lockout NHL is a different league than it was in the expanding 90s.

Lemaire excels at taking teams from the bottom to being competitive. This Devil team coming off the Atlantic Division title is not at that point.

Lamoriello tried to be nostalgic in the 2008-09 bringing back three former Devils in Brian Rolston, Bobby Holik, and Brendan Shanahan. Like Lemaire, they did not get any younger.

ODDS: 3 to 1

2. Jacques Lemaire

Devils fans love Jacques. He took this team from mediocrity to greatness in a season. He took the Minnesota Wild to the Western Conference Final in 2003. He was

Lemaire’s trap style of play does not really fit in well with the state of the Devils defense. It was much easier to play this style when you had a once in a lifetime player in Scott Stevens, a young Scott Niedermayer and good role defensemen.

This to me is a step backwards. The post-lockout NHL is a different league than it was in the expanding 90’s.

Lemaire excels at taking teams from the bottom to being competitive. This Devil team coming off the Atlantic Division title is not at that point.

Lamoriello tried to be nostalgic in the 2008-09 bringing back three former Devils in Brian Rolston, Bobby Holik and Brendan Shanahan. Like Lemaire, they did not get any younger.

ODDS: 5 to 1

3. Peter Laviolette

At one time he was the future of American coaching in the NHL.

He led the New York Islanders to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2002 and 2003.

In 2004, Laviolette would move on to Carolina where he led the Hurricanes to their only Stanley Cup Championship in 2006. The Hurricanes failed to make the playoffs in three of the four seasons that Laviolette was coach.

Laviolette is a New England native like Lamoriello.

Laviolette is a very passionate coach, which is something that Lamoriello tends not to hire.

Laviolette will most likely find a head coaching job in the 2009-10 season.

ODDS: 4 to 1

4. Michel Therrien

The former Penguin coach was bounced in February after the Pens poor start. Therrien is known for slow starts, but strong runs towards the playoffs. But, the Penguins had a poor start in the 2007-08 season and ended up in the Stanley Cup Finals that year.

The 2008-09 Penguins have repeated that performance, but this year it was without Therrien. Was it all new coach Dan Bylsma, or is it just how Therrien builds his teams?

If Lamoriello would have the patience to sit through a slow start, the reward at the end could be worth it.

ODDS: 3 to 1

5. Larry Robinson

The Devils resident Billy Martin. Robinson led the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2000, after replacing Robbie Ftorek with just eight games left in the 1999-00. The Devils were in first place at the time.

Robinson would be fired during the 2001-02 season, but returned as an assistant coach the following season under Pat Burns and the Devils won the Stanley Cup in 2003.

When Burns left the Devils due to cancer in 2005, Robinson was named head coach. Robinson would leave in December, citing stress and his health.

But, Robinson would find a place on the Devil bench again. He would be an assistant coach for Sutter during the 2007-08 season. In the 2008-09 season, Robinson would leave Newark and is currently a special assignment coach. He works with the Devils AHL players in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Could Big Bird come back and be the head coach again for the third time?

Well, Billy Martin did manage the Yankees on five separate occasions.

ODDS: 5 to 1

5. Larry Robinson

The Devils resident Billy Martin. Robinson led the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2000, after replacing Robbie Ftorek with just eight games left in the 1999-00. The Devils were in first place at the time.

Robinson would be fired during the 2001-02 season, but returned as an assistant coach the following season under Pat Burns and the Devils won the Stanley Cup in 2003.

When Burns left the Devils due to cancer in 2005, Robinson was named head coach. Robinson would leave in December, citing stress and his health.

But, Robinson would find a place on the Devil bench again. He would be an assistant coach for Sutter during the 2007-08 season. In the 2008-09 season, Robinson would leave Newark and is currently a special assignment coach. He works with the Devils AHL players in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Could Big Bird come back and be the head coach again for the third time?

Well, Billy Martin did manage the Yankees on five separate occasions.

ODDS: 5 to 1

6. Ted Nolan

His name always comes up when there is a vacancy.

Nolan is a good coach, but is known for making just as many enemies as friends in the locker room.

Dominik Hasek ran Nolan out of town in Buffalo, despite the fact that Nolan won the Jack Adams Trophy for Coach of the Year in 1997. I do not think Nolan and Martin Brodeur can coexist in the same locker room.

ODDS: 8 to 1

7. MB30

Oh, that’s Martin Brodeur, No. 30, for those of you who have not seen the goalie’s new ego-helmet.

Let’s face it; it is practically his team anyway. Any goalie who plays in more than 70 games in the regular season calls his own shots.

ODDS: 30 to 1

8. Lou Lamoriello

Lou Lamoriello had two coaching stints with the Devils. One in 2005 and another in 2007. While he has said that he does not ever want to be the permanent head coach of the Devils, if he was, it would be cost effective.

ODDS: 100 to 1

Sometime this summer, the 18th new head coach will be named for the New Jersey Devils. This will be the 28th season for the franchise. That is an average of one and a half seasons on the bench. Lemaire holds the record with five seasons at the helm.

I would suggest for the new head coach of the Devils to rent before buying a home in the state.

Oh, and please thank the players and fans on your way out do not forget to thank your players or the fans. Who knows you may be back behind the bench here someday.

There is one guarantee with Lou Lamoriello as the CEO, there are no guarantees.