5 Coaches Currently In Jobs New Jersey Devils Must Keep An Eye On
The New Jersey Devils most important decision this offseason is to hire a new coach. There are five coaches who might be available if things don't go right in the playoffs.
Things have not turned around for the New Jersey Devils since Lindy Ruff was fired. The Devils have tried things with Travis Green, but it hasn’t gone well. It’s clear the Devils and Tom Fitzgerald need to prioritize hiring a coach this offseason over anything else, even getting an upgrade in net.
Devils fans want a big name. They want someone who is going to upgrade this roster immediately. They want a coach who is going to take one of the most talented forward and defensive groups and turn it into a winner. Most of all, they want a coach who can win a Stanley Cup or five.
The easiest way for the Devils to do that is hire someone who is ready to go right off the bat. There are some championship-level coaches who might see themselves available for hire. It seems unlikely today, but as we saw with Barry Trotz and the Washington Capitals, anything is possible when a contract isn’t in place. With that said, let’s go to one who seems more unlikely as the days go by, but a change at the end of the season could make him available.
Mike Sullivan
Current Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Everyone is hoping that Mike Sullivan is going to be available when the Penguins season ends, but the Metropolitan’s ineptitude and a run by Pittsburgh has them squarely in the playoff race. As of this writing, it appears that Pittsburgh is going to make it at the last moments. However, what if the Penguins fall out of the playoffs at the last moment?
This would be the second year in a row that the Penguins controlled their own destiny and failed. The Penguins have a new president and GM in Kyle Dubas, an aging superstar in Sidney Crosby (among others), and a city with high expectations. They traded for Erik Karlsson, another expensive asset, last offseason.
It seems like the Penguins will keep Sullivan in place if they make the playoffs. If they don’t? Now, that’s when it gets interesting.
Andrei Tourney
Arizona (?) Coyotes
The situation with the Arizona Coyotes is awful. The ownership there seems to have bungled this situation terribly, and now the team appears to be moving to Salt Lake City. While that can usually take time, the Yotes seem intent on moving to Utah next season. Reports say this is pretty much a done deal.
This can't be good for the players, coaches, and employees of the Coyotes. After years of promises, it appears the Coyotes were feeding the city, its fans, and even those who worked for them a can of beans so they could stall. That can't sit well.
There's already speculation that players are not happy with the situation. Can Andrei Tourney be happy? If he's avalable, this is absolutely something the Devils should explore.
The issue here is how petty the Coyotes have been about everything here. The ownership group has been holding out for every dime, every asset, and every piece of PR. If Tourney wants out, we could see the Coyotes calling his bluff and forcing a team to trade for him. They will drag him kicking and screaming if they don't get an asset for Tourney.
Jim Montgomery
Boston Bruins
This probably sounds insane, but the Boston Bruins were once again one of the best teams in the NHL. However, what happens if they fail in the first round of the playoffs again? Jim Montgomery led the Bruins to one of the best records of all time last season. Then, the Florida Panthers, who barely made the playoffs, dispatched the Bruins in the first round.
This year, the Bruins are likely playing the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ah, this rivalry. The Bruins and the Maple Leafs have played quite a few playoff series in their time. If they do face off, this will be the 16th time they meet in a win-or-go-home series. The Leafs haven’t sent the Bruins home since 1959.
If the Bruins were to lose to their rivals in the first round, would the seat get hot for Montgomery? He’s clearly hoping to get the Bruins over the hump, something that they haven’t done in 14 years. This is a city that demands greatness, and while the Bruins have done that in the regular season, they’ve failed in the playoffs.
It’s been two years since the Bruins fired Bruce Cassidy and hired Montgomery. Cassidy won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. Montgomery went home after the first round. Even a first-round exit shouldn’t cause a firing, but we’ve seen crazier things.
Rod Brind'Amour
Carolina Hurricanes
This one seems almost impossible, but this should be number one on the Devils list if it's even remotely possible. Rod Brind'Amour is one of the best head coaches in the NHL. He's led the Carolina Hurricanes to this new era where they are constantly a contender in the Metropolitan Division. Why could it be even remotely possible the Hurricanes would let a franchise legend who happens to be a coaching phenom go when he's been successful?
Money. The only reason is money. Brind'Amour deserves to be one of the highest paid coaches in the NHL. However, that's never been how the Carolina Hurricanes have done business. They never want to be at the top of the food chain.
Reports say Brind'Amour makes about $1.8 million per season. Brind'Amour himself said it wasn't going to be an easy negotiation. If the Devils came over the top and made it clear they would be willing to pay the right coach $5 million per season, would that rock the boat for Brind'Amour? Maybe this is already finished, but there is no concrete report that Brind'Amour has signed an extension.
The Devils should spend what it takes if it means RBA behind the Devils bench. Just think about much he would save on wardrobe alone. The color scheme is the same. Maybe that, plus that $5 million payday, could help push the Hurricanes to a place where they let their coach find employment elsewhere.
Sheldon Keefe
Toronto Maple Leafs
This one needs some work. Sheldon Keefe seems like he should be a championship-level coach, but he hasn't won much with the Maple Leafs. Yet, when new GM Brad Treliving came in, he immediately gave Keefe a two-year contract extension despite the trepidation around his tenure. Now, he's entering another playoff race. He does that with a historic season from Auston Matthews and William Nylander looking like a top-20 player.
This is the season for the Maple Leafs to make a run. Of course, there's one issue with that. It's the same issue the Devils have had for most of the season. The Leafs never really fixed their goalie issue. Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll is their duo with Martin Jones as the emergency option. None of them have a save percentage over .910.
We've seen coaches get fired because of bad goaltending. It's very likely that's what happened to Lindy Ruff this season. Even if the Devil got normal below-average goaltending, they would be in a playoff spot. Keefe can make that excuse if goaltending costs them in their likely playoff matchup with the Bruins, but excuses only go so far.
The question then should be, do the Devils want Keefe? It could very well be that the spotlight of Toronto is not worth it, and it's impossible to succeed as a head coach. The Devils have a much easier media landscape, and Keefe could focus on being a good coach and not answering strange media questions. However, it does matter what else is out there. The Devils should be shooting for the very best coaching option available.
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