John MacLean looking forward to new challenge as head coach in Lowell

New Lowell Devils head coach John MacLean was in the running for the New Jersey Devils head coaching position and lost out again, but is excited about getting the chance to be the head coach of the team's AHL affiliate.

"I think it's a good move for me, an opportunity to be a head coach and go down and get some learning experience as far as handling my own team," he said today after the morning sessions of the Devils' rookie camp at Prudential Center..

MacLean, 44, had been an assistant coach for the Devils since 2002. He was passed over for the third time to become the head coach when Jacques Lemaire was hired on Monday. MacLean said he met with general manager Lou Lamoriello "a couple of times" about the head coaching position after Brent Sutter stepped down on June 9, but hesitated to call the meetings an "interview."

"I'm sure I was considered, but it didn't happen," he said. "It didn't happen for me, but I think the organization is set up pretty well with the coaches they have right now."

MacLean said he knew ending up in Lowell was one of his options.

"I was aware that different scenarios could have happened and this was one of the scenarios and that's the way it played out," MacLean said. "Now, we move forward and look forward."

Did MacLean ask for the head coaching job in Lowell?

"It was just a combination of things," he said. "Jacques is going to run it up here. There were different scenarios, whether I could come back (as an assistant with the Devils) or take over in Lowell. For me, at this point, going to Lowell to be head coach is a good thing. It's taking another step forward in my coaching career."

MacLean, who remains the Devils' all-time leader in goals with 347, asked to be traded during Lemaire's final season as the Devils head coach in 1997-98 and now is leaving again when Lemaire is returning. MacLean said that is only a coincidence and he has a good relationship with Lemaire.

"Different times, different sitautions," he said. "One has no bearing on the other. We're fine. It's not a big deal. Even then (in 1997-98), we were fine. You're in different situations. You can't compare them. Jacques is going to be a good coach here and they're going to have a great staff. I want the New Jersey Devils to do well. One thing that he brought in when he came here: when the team does well, everybody does well. If the Devils do well, the Lowell Devils are going to do well, everybody is going to do well and we'll all benefit from it."

MacLean believes the experience of being the head coach in Lowell will help him progress as a coach.

"I don't think it's going to hurt me to have it," he said. "I've been an assistant coach here for a few years. This is something that people look at who measure you by head coaching experience. Well, I have the head coaching experience. It's just another thing to have and it will be a positive."

How different will it be to be the person in charge or running the bench in games and running practice?

"It will be different," MacLean said. "It will be something that I will have to learn. I'm confident I can handle it, but I'm sure I can make mistakes, too. That will happen anyway, so I'm just looking forward to the opportunity."

MacLean said it was "definitely a possibility" that he could have remained in New Jersey as an assistant under Lemaire.

"It was one consideration to keep on and the other consideration was to be the head coach in Lowell," he said. "I just felt that if I got that opportunity that this was a good move for me. It was talked about what direction I wanted to go and what direction the organization was going to go and I think it's a positive direction for everybody."

MacLean pointed out several of the team's former players have come back to the organization to help out in some capacity. Kevin Dean and Chris Terreri will be his assistants in Lowell. Tommy Albelin will remain an assistant in New Jersey. Scott Stevens will be a roving special assignment coach. Sergei Brylin is around this week helping out with the rookie camp.

"This organization is not as young as it once was, but it's starting to build some character as far as older players coming back," he said. "We have Sarge here today and different players coming back to this organiztion. So, it's starting to get some history to it which is a good thing."

MacLean said he is looking forward to working with the young players in Lowell.

"It's fun," he said. "I liked working with the young players here as an assistant coach. Now, you get to work with them in a different environment and I look forward to that. I enjoy it. I enjoy the day-to-day interaction with the guys and it will be something that I will be able to continue to do."

MacLean said he will soon start thinking about his plans for opening the season in Lowell.

"You get focused in on what you're going to do," he said. "You start thinking about things. Now, I'm thinking about the team in Lowell. Who's going to be there? All the different things that go with it. I'm glad it's happened now and it didn't drag on any longer."

MacLean said his wife, Adrienne, and their two sons will remain in New Jersey while he's in Lowell.

"Thank God I have a supportive family," he said. "They understand. My wife has been great. My boys understand. They're a little bummed, but they understand. It's not that far away. You deal with it and we'll see how it goes."

{More coming}

Comments

[JPL]

I am happy for Johnny Mac. He really does need a few under his belt at Lowell before taking any type of head coaching Job in the NHL.

[Put it THIS way]

So it seems like he kind of chose to go down to Lowell to be the head coach.
That's a good thing!

Anyone else starting to feel real confident with the coaching staff of next year for the Devils? After TG'S 9-10 Topics posted yesterday, every one of them made me feel a little more confident

[Nick]

It seems to me Johnny Mac is being groomed as the next head coach of the Devils.

[LowellDevs]

It doesn't seem like he chose it to me. It's a good move for his future NHL coaching chances, but the impression I'm getting from what he said is that he was hoping to remain in NJ and now he's just trying to make the best of the situation. Even though he's going from assistant to head coach it's still kind of a demotion.

[pando20rules]

I don't view it as a demotion. I think the biggest knock on MacLean's candidacy for coaching the Devils was he has no head coaching experience. To go to Lowell, will give him that opportunity, which I think is a good thing for both sides.

[Dave]

Thanks TG - I am huge MacLean fan and was curious to hear his thoughts. Appreciate the hard work over the past few days.

[DH]

This is a move made with an eye on the future. In two years Brodeur will be 39, Lou 68, and Lemaire leaving. The 2011-2012 season will be a true "rebuilding" year that some many fans inexplicably call for. Who better to coach than a guy who knows all the youngsters already.

[JJ]

I don't think the Devils will ever accept a true "rebuilding" year. The building will be empty and the franchise will lose a ton of money in regular season sales not to mention no playoff $. I'm sure Lou will groom a very capable successor and continue on for a long time as a consultant after he is ready to step down.

[Section 8]

Anyone else have a problem with Trembly as an assistant here? I know it will be easy transition for Lemaire. If it wasn't for him driving Roy out of Montreal we would have had the cup in '01..... Bye the way all you guys talking about Lou and his successor... He already has one named Chris Lamoriello the GM in Lowell!

[lowelldevilsfan]

Chris sure has worked his magic in Lowell, no arguing that.

[DH]

I was just bringing up the point that the Devils will have some major decisions to make in a few years. The end of the Marty and Lou era will be a turning point for the direction of the franchise. Hopefully the team will not go through a 3 year rebuilding phase where the team does poorly, but there will be big changes.

[Ben]

I think Johnny should have stayed with the Devils as an assistant. He was a huge help to Zach and Travis and the rest of the offense. Now we have a coaching staff with nobody to work with the offense!

[devils worshipper]

This whole thing stinks, and this article is nothing but spin. Bringing Lemaire back is a terrible move, not signing any notable free agent is a terrible move, and moving Johnny Mac to Lowell is a terrible move.

JMcD should be the head coach in Newark.

[Brendan]

Good luck Johnny Mac, we're all behind you.

[Puckster]

I definitely think this is a good move for Johnny Mac and the franchise. DH makes a good point about two year from now, although we should still have plenty of talent then so time will tell if it's that becomes a true "rebuilding" year or not.

[BeelzeBob]

This move is definitely the best option for Johnny Mac. He is a Devils legend and to make him head coach puts the team in a very awkward position when the time comes, and it always does, to let him go. Hopefully he will get a shot in the NHL but it is unlikely to be here in NJ. Think about it, how many times does a popular player come back as head coach for his old team?

[Dave]

@ DevilsWorshipper, I disagree. I'm a BIG JMac fan, but look at Gretzky. He can't coach the coyotes out of a wet paper bag. Imagine if our organizations all time goal scorer came to coach and did so poorly?? That would look terrible for the organization. Him going to Lowell is a SMART move. He needs a few seasons as a HEAD coach to get his feet wet. He'll be fine as will the Dev's with Lemaire. Our team needs more defensive responsibility as I BLAME Sutter for the collapse against the 'Canes. I'll get into that in another post if you want, but JMac will be fine. Smart move.