New Jersey Devils Should Bring Back Scott Stevens

News came out this week that Minnesota Wild coach Scott Stevens will be leaving the team to be closer to his family in New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils should take advantage of this and bring him back.

The New Jersey Devils have been a part of a rumor every week since its season ended seven weeks ago. Between the Ilya Kovalchuk return and winning the top overall draft pick, the Devils are in an unfamiliar position; in the headlines.

The Devils are once again in the headlines, but this time it’s all speculation. Minnesota Wild coach and former Devils captain Scott Stevens stepped down on Tuesday, citing he wants to spend more time with his family. His family never left New Jersey, where he will now return.

While being a coach in any professional league in any city will take a lot of time away from families, it becomes even worse when the coach is in a different state. But, if Stevens could coach in the same state his family lives, that would theoretically work out.

Obviously, the Devils and Stevens did not break up in the most amicable terms. He was brought in as an assistant coach from 2012-2014 before stepping down. It was only a couple of months until he was back, brought on for an unprecedented move, as co-head coach with Adam Oates and sometimes Lou Lamoriello.

That all ended with the Devils hiring John Hynes to be head coach and leaving Stevens in the dust.

Under Stevens tenure, the Devils defense was better. The team ranked 14th in the lockout shortened 2012-13, and then jumped to 6th in the league in Stevens first full season as assistant coach. Obviously there was a talent upgrade for those teams, but Stevens coaching helped them keep the puck out of the net.

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In Minnesota this season, Stevens helped them jump to 7th in the league in goals against average. He helped them bring a physical presence to a team that was trying to get over the hump. His work brought them from a perennial Wild Card team, to a 106 point powerhouse.

It may not have worked out for them in the playoffs, but the improvements were obvious. Ryan Suter praised Stevens, while having one of his best seasons of his career. He brought a sense of legitimacy to the room for first-year head coach Bruce Boudreau.

The Devils ranked 24th in goals against average, and some fans might be surprised they weren’t last. At times, the Devils defense was the worst part of the team. Andy Greene looked a step slow. Damon Severson was all or nothing for most of the year. John Moore couldn’t repeat his impressive season despite having a career high in points. This team needs its defense to step up if the playoffs will be in the future anytime soon.

Stevens may not want to return to the Devils, or hockey in general, which would make this all moot. If he does want to return to hockey, it doesn’t seem likely he would want to go to the Islanders, Rangers or Flyers. The Devils are still his home. Ray Shero should give Stevens a call, and bring the captain back home.