Gulitti: MacLean's time has arrived

Mac is the man per Gulitti. Thanks to CJRichey for the fanshot below to the Devils site.

Updated 2:45 PM EST: Gulitti reports via Twitter: http://twitter.com/TGfireandice
that Larry Robinson will be MacLean's top assistant.

Updated 1:45PM EST: No word on a press conference audio or video link yet, but if something pops up I will be sure to post it.

Updated: Press conference is at 2pm EST, I will try to update with a video or audio link if the press conference is streamed anywhere.

InstantReaction: I really like this and I thought the Devils needed a certain level of continuity to the staff and I am hopeful Stevens and Albelin will be around.

The question I am sure Lou asked him that I am most concerned about is: What will he bring to the table that will get the Devils past the 1st round?

This is certainly going to be an interesting new chapter in Devils history, with the window closing on the Brodeur/Elias/White/Langenbrunner era and the opening of a new era with Parise and all of our young prospects.

over 1 year ago Tom Stivali 31 comments 0 recs |

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Johnny Mac

As advertised on TSN as well, Official Announcement later this afternoon. No terms yet. Hope its for 3 years as to get some continuity in the Devils organization.

by Skuba7 on Jun 17, 2010 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

Well, agree or disagree with the decision, at least a coach is being named and we can move forward.

I was personally liking Haviland more and more and would have liked MacLean to have gotten some more experience in Albany, but it is what it is. Hopefully he can show me and the rest of us doubters how wrong we all were.

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." -Mark Twain (?)

by elesias on Jun 17, 2010 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

Praying that Johnny Mac does the Devils right

I believe he could. Best choice for me.

by vincent enrique on Jun 17, 2010 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

I’m pretty pumped about this. I wanted MacLean to be coach last year but I’m sure the year in Lowell helped a lot.

I wonder who he’ll pick to be his assistant. Maybe Stevens will join him, that would be pretty sweet.

by C.J. Richey on Jun 17, 2010 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

Ditto

I’m guessing Lou had some interviews after the finals (Haviland), and concluded that Mac is the best possible person for the job. I feel more happy about him finally getting his chance. I really felt if he wasn’t chosen now, it was never going to happen and he was going to coach elsewhere. Good for him, good for the Devils, now let’s get some FA signings done!

In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
"Hockey is the only job I know where you get paid to have a nap on the day of the game." - Chico Resch

by Matthew Ventolo on Jun 17, 2010 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Signings

Yes, hopefully now we can get the ball rolling on our FA’s and then the League’s. Boullion signed in Nashville for two years, perhaps Hamhuis is more available than ever.

by Skuba7 on Jun 17, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

My quick reaction: thumb middle. No other candidate knows the organization or his role like MacLean. But his inexperience makes him a question mark for a team whose main goal should be getting past first round after a good season.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Jun 17, 2010 12:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think MacLean’s experience with the players makes up for his lack of head coaching experience. He doesn’t have to learn about the team and the players like an outside coach would have to do.

by C.J. Richey on Jun 17, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

i was thining that thumb sideways is about right,i like it but oim not excatly jumping up and down about it.

by Imperator_Celtic on Jun 17, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

better than therrien or hitchcock for sure. haviland might’ve been nice – certainly would’ve gotten people excited about the team – but he’s more of an unknown quality than maclean.

by Triumph44 on Jun 17, 2010 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

Either this or Haviland would have made me extremely happy. Thank god we’re finally not getting the same type of coach again.

Players Currently in My Doghouse: Brian Rolston, Andrew Peters

by thejerseydevil on Jun 17, 2010 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

Huge sigh of relief...

No Therrien, no Hitchcock.

Johnny Mac’s a hero for the Devils, and has spent some time being prepared for this. Hopefully this will end the revolving door of coaches.

by DrWhizBang on Jun 17, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions

Good choice. I hope his time with the team will prove valuable. IMO it’s why Lou chose him over any other candidates.

by fearloathing13 on Jun 17, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions

Ahh...Stability

There were other more proven choices. The Devs are a solid team, and it’s already been said that a new coach wouldn’t mean a change in direciton or style. I whole-heartedly believe that a moderately capable chimp could take this team to the playoffs.

Good or bad, Mac is in it for the haul. Inexperienced, sure. Familiar with the young guys and the “system”, oh yeah.

This signing is deeper than “We got a head coach.” Its a huge vote of confidence in the younger talent, an appearant commitment to stability at the top, and kicks in the emotional charge that the team lacked at the most important part of last season.

Now the fun part begins…watching the FA action and seeing what direction the team will take. Are we going to go for another “plug-and-play” year where a few holes are filled in and we try to ride the Devil Norm to more than a first rounder, or is there something bigger happening on the FA or trade front that will finally make that last push over the top from playoff to cup contender.

In Lou We Trust.

Grats Mac! Show us we weren’t wrong!

by Murdoc on Jun 17, 2010 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

TG has a Langs interview up here
also in that article he says a source told him Lou never contacted Haviland.

by C.J. Richey on Jun 17, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Some really good comments by Langs too. I think they’re going to get along well. I’m a little excited at the potential for a bit of a rebirth in Langs after the death at the end of last year. I think the stuff TG gave us from Langs is exactly what folks needed to get a little bit of confidence that the Cap’n will actually perform in the role, rather than that of a distraction.

by Murdoc on Jun 17, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Langenbrunner seems happy. From your link:

"It’s definitely that I’m looking to move forward and get another opportunity at it." he said. "I don’t really have much to say about (his relationship with Lemaire), but I’m definitely looking forward to a fresh start so to speak."

In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
"Hockey is the only job I know where you get paid to have a nap on the day of the game." - Chico Resch

by Matthew Ventolo on Jun 17, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Langs keeps the C

by Murdoc on Jun 17, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome. Johnny Mac was always one of my favorites as a player. Best of luck to he and the Devils!!

Go Jets
Go Devils

by FrankG929 on Jun 17, 2010 12:53 PM EDT reply actions

I’m hearing there having a press conference at 2pm today to announce it. Glad to see Johnny Mac get the job hope to see Scotty get the assistant’s job.

by KingHellfire on Jun 17, 2010 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

Win or lose...

at least this a man we can all stand by as NJ Devils fans…and more importantly I am fairly sure the current roster will agree with the sentiment.

by HELLAWAITS on Jun 17, 2010 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

Chere Article

Couldn’t provide this in the fanpost but here is an article from Rich Chere with some positive David Clarkson quotes.

by Tom Stivali on Jun 17, 2010 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

Poll shows support

The poll on Chere’s article is currently showing 80% of readers think Johnny Mac will be a good coach.

by DrWhizBang on Jun 17, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I have on MSG/MSG+ just in case they put it on their. I’ll let you know.

In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
"Hockey is the only job I know where you get paid to have a nap on the day of the game." - Chico Resch

by Matthew Ventolo on Jun 17, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

robinsion comming back as assistant coach is also very very good news.

by Imperator_Celtic on Jun 17, 2010 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

I think that’s nearly the bigger story here – I love Johnny Mac; I think he could ultimately become a great coach for the organization, but Robinson makes a FANTASTIC safety net. I feel a lot more comfortable with a rookie coach knowing there’s a Cup winner backing him up behind the bench.

by richer44 on Jun 17, 2010 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice!

John was one of my favorites. I hope this goes well for him

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Jun 17, 2010 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Besides his inexperience, I think it’s a liiiiiittle awkward that he actually played with some of these players, albeit early in their careers. That said, I think that picking Johnny Mac is a commitment to coaching stability of sorts. It would be hard to imagine a situation in which Johnny Mac would resign/retire and I have to imagine Lou will not be all that quick to give Mac the hook. I’d expect him to be at the helm for at least three years, hopefully more, but hey – three years is an eternity for a Devils head coach.

by dr(d)evil on Jun 17, 2010 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

Joe Girardi played with some of the players (Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Pettite, etc) that he now coaches. He also won a championship with them.

"We aim above the mark to hit the mark." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

by Tim G on Jun 17, 2010 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Into the Fire.

I’m a fan of this decision, as MacLean was inevitably going to take over the role of the Devil’s head coach. Might as well throw him into the fire now so he can gain some practical experience sooner rather than later. It might be a bumpy road for him at first but I’m confidant that he will find his groove towards the end of next year.

LETS GO DEVILS

"We aim above the mark to hit the mark." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

by Tim G on Jun 17, 2010 4:54 PM EDT reply actions