Tell me if you’ve heard this before: “Former New Jersey Devils player is now in a leadership role for (insert team here).” There are literally dozens of former Devils players who have either coaching or front office roles across the world. Scott Gomez and Jay Pandolfo are head coaches on teams focused on the future of hockey. John Madden and John MacLean have both been assistant coaches in the NHL. Martin Brodeur and Sergei Brylin still hold jobs with the Devils. And Patrik Elias just got the general manager’s job for the Czech national team.
This time, former NHL player Pascal Rheaume was named coach of the Toronto Sceptres.
Of course, Rheaume wasn’t a huge part of the Devils’ history. In fact, he only played two games for the Devils in his original run. But he spent four years with the Albany River Rats. In true Lou Lamoriello fashion, Rheaume was back with the Devils after he was traded by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2003. He ended up playing 24 games with the Devils on their run to the 2003 Stanley Cup.
After that, he signed with the Devils’ main rival, the New York Rangers. However, they traded him to the Blues, his second stint there. In the 2004 offseason, the Devils signed him again, adding to his third stint with the Devils.
He’ll always have his name on the Stanley Cup with the Devils, but now he’s going for a different Cup. Rheaume was just named the head coach of the Sceptres, taking over for Troy Ryan, who took on the dual role of head coach and general manager for the expansion PWHL franchise in San Jose.
Another former New Jersey Devils player takes on a head coaching position
Rheaume has been coaching since 2010, and he’s finally getting another shot in the big chair. He’s coached in junior leagues like the QMJHL and eventually got a head coaching job with Val-d’Or Foreurs. That only lasted two years, and Rheaume apparently learned he was fired on social media.
He held roles in the AHL and ECHL prior to his head coaching position in the PWHL. He’s been around, but now he gets a chance to take a Toronto team to a championship. It’s not like the Maple Leafs are going to win a Cup anytime soon.
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