Former New Jersey Devils defenseman Joe Cirella, one of the original Devils from 1982, has returned to coaching the AHL Calgary Wranglers after missing two weeks for an eye surgery, the team announced Saturday.
The Wranglers announced on Jan. 31 that Cirella, 61, had undergone a "routine" eye surgery and was advised to step away for two weeks to allow appropriate recovery. Former NHLers Brett Sutter - ironically the nephew of former Devils head coach Brent Sutter - and Michael Stone filled in for Cirella in his absence.
Joe Cirella will return to the bench today after a successful recovery from eye surgery two weeks ago.
— Calgary Wranglers (@AHLWranglers) February 15, 2025
The Colorado Rockies' fifth overall pick in 1981, Cirella played eight years for the Rockies and the Devils, recording 50 goals, 159 assists, and 209 points in 503 games while also racking up 938 penalty minutes. The Devils traded Cirella and Claude Loiselle to the Quebec Nordiques for Walt Poddubny on June 17, 1989.
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Despite having been a star for New York and Quebec before the trade, Poddubny played just 54 games for the Devils, scoring nine goals, 18 assists, and 27 points across three seasons. Poddubny had scored no fewer than 38 goals and 75 points in the three seasons leading up to his arrival in New Jersey.
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Cirella has been coaching since 1997 after retiring from the NHL and has served as an assistant coach for the Stockton Heat, now the Calgary Wranglers, since the 2018-19 season. The 61-year-old took over the Wranglers' bench after their original coach, Trent Cull, was promoted by the Calgary Flames on Dec. 22.
Cirella's Wranglers are currently fourth in the AHL with a 29-15-2 record and 62 points, and they also lead the AHL in goals with 170.