New Jersey Devils: 5 Current Coaches To Keep An Eye On

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Head Coach Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators attends a post game press conference after the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at Cotton Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. The Stars defeated the Predators 4-2. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Head Coach Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators attends a post game press conference after the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at Cotton Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. The Stars defeated the Predators 4-2. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

Lane Lambert

This one is a hard one to pinpoint, since there are a dozen assistant coaches who can be here. We thought about the Dallas Stars’ John Stevens, who could be looking for a second opportunity after a failed L.A. Kings experiment. We thought about Kirk Muller, who’s a former Devils captain who was once the head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, and is now an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens. There’s also Dave Hakstol, who had a rough go of it in Philadelphia, but could learn from his mistakes in New Jersey.

We decided to go for an assistant coach that doesn’t have a failed coaching job on his resume yet. Lane Lambert is currently an assistant coach under Barry Trotz in New York. The Islanders are obviously having another really good season under head coach Barry Trotz. Lambert has been with Trotz since his days in Nashville. Lambert won a Stanley Cup in Washington before heading with Trotz to the Island.

Lambert’s career isn’t only tied to Trotz. He was a head coach with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He made the Calder Cup Playoffs in every season as head coach (four seasons in total). and even had a 67% win percentage one season. Before that, he was the head coach of the Prince George Cougars. This is a man with head coaching experience, major playoff experience in the NHL, and someone who isn’t the typical NHL retread. This is Shero taking a shot on someone who has a history of winning, and can teach these young players how to be winners.