Lemaire continues to wait while Devils still have not hired a head coach

All remains quiet on the Devils' coaching search, even for Jacques Lemaire.

Lemaire, who's name has come up the most often in the coaching rumors (partly because he's the only candidate who has spoken to the media), said this afternoon, "there is nothing going on" with the head coaching position that he has been interested in.

He admits that he thought something would have happened by now.

"As a matter of fact, yes, but I guess I've got to wait," he said from his cottage in Montreal.

When I asked him if he is willing to wait, Lemaire replied, "oh yeah."

For how long?

"For a while,"Lemaire said.

Although he has had to wait, Lemaire said he believes that he is still in the running for the job (he still would not discuss the Devils specifically, but they are the only NHL team without a head coach right now).

He also still has an offer on the table to be a consultant for another NHL team -- believed to be Montreal.

Lemaire sounds as if he wants to coach in the NHL in 2009-10 if he receives an offer --  a source said he was expecting one to come before the draft nearly 11 days ago -- but said today he has not made his final decision, yet.

"For the coaching (job), I'm still waiting on that and if the offer is fine, it's good for me, and the situation is good for me, I might lean towards that (coaching)," he said. "If not, then I'll go to consulting."

While Lemaire remains patient, the Devils continue to go without a head coach -- though a decision could be coming any day now. The Devils' development camp begins one week from today, so it would make sense for them to have hired a head coach before that. But if general manager Lou Lamoriello did not have a coach in place for the draft or the start of free agency, it's also possible he wouldn't worry about not having one for the development camp.

There are two possible explanations for why Lamoriello has left Lemaire hanging this long. One is that he has been talking to other candidates and has yet to make up his mind who he wants to hire. The other is that the tight schedule in the last week and a half with the draft, free agency, and the holiday weekend, has made it difficult for him to find the time to finish his coaching search. It also might be a combination of the two.

Possible candidates that have not yet been eliminated include Kevin Dineen, Guy Carbonneau, Mike Haviland, Craig MacTavish and a long shot, Don Lever. An NHL source said that former Dallas coach Dave Tippett is not a candidate. Tippett apparently is taking a step back after being let go by the Stars last month.

Peter Laviolette told me two weeks ago that he is not a candidate for the job.

***

Lemaire, who will turn 64 in September, said he is confident that he can handle the responsibilities of being an NHL head coach next season while also preparing to be an assistant on Canada's Olympic team.

Comments

[Scotty K]

Keep up the great work TG.

The longer and longer the search goes though It just becomes more and more evident it's going to be Lamaire

[Steven]

Wouldn't surprise me if one is named tomorrow, Tuesday sound more ideal than Monday.

[Pat]

Scotty, I was thinking the exact opposite thing.

[2P]

My buddy's parents grew up with Haviland. He's a Jersey guy that worked his way up and hasn't been on a losing team yet. I think he might be overlooked as a candidate, as I can see Lou getting a Jersey boy after Sutter fled to Calgary after only two years.

[Maxwell]

TG - do you know what the process is internally to hiring the head coach? Does Lou have a team draft a contract, or does he have all of those on file? The only reason I ask is that a lot of people that I work with are still on vacation, so I'm just thinking that it's possible the memo "Draft Lemaire Contract" is sitting on some Front Office guy's desk, waiting for tomorrow AM's post-coffee sitdown.

[pando20rules]

I agree with Pat, I would think if Lemaire was definitively the guy, there would be no reason to wait. I agree, the longer this goes, the less sure Lou is its Lemaire (even if he is thinking Lemaire could be his guy all together)

[Jeff O.]

TG, have you talked to any of the other candidates for the Devils' coaching vacancy? I kind of wonder how they feel about the situation.

[RickyM2]

Yeah, just our luck, we'll get the Jersey boy coach, and in May he'll announce "im sick of my wife and kids, I need to get away from them, truth is, they arent even my kids!!" then take a job in Pheonix

[Pat]

He's not an ex-Governor or US Senator, is he Ricky?

[MikeR]

I don't understand the argument that Lemaire is the wrong coach because he wouldn't be the long-term solution. Since when does any coach of the Devil's last more than a few seasons? You could argue that you don't want a return to the old trapping style of play or that he is out of touch with the supposed "new NHL" but not that he isn't the long-term solution because to date no one other than him has lasted more than a few years.

[Jeff]

Hey TG,

Ever consider that after being a coach killer for the last 10 years that no one wants the job. Who with any option whatsoever would come here. Same with UFA. Lou goes into Free Agent season without a coach. Unbelievable. Its amazing this guy gets no criticism.

His handling of this teams personal, coaching, fan relations has put NJ on the bottom of anyone list to play for whether its a Coach or Player. ( Didn't we have the Adams winner Julien? That's right all he did was have the team in first place). Lemaire? has he ever made the playoffs?

You think its a coincidence Lou signs obscure players and overpays for UFA's who will play here (Zubrus, Rolston).

Lou must go!

[Bill]

Lemaire should be the coach for a myriad of reasons

1. he wants to be here
2. has the best hockey acumen of anyone in the league
3. he himself felt that he unfinished business with the devils. meaning that there should be a few more championship banners hanging from his tenure.
4. if we are going to have a youth movement what better guy to teach them lemaire.
5. there is no way we miss the playoffs with him at the helm.

[Jeff O.]

Jeff, he was our coach in the '94-'95 season. I'll let you figure out what happened that year.

[MSp]

Maybe Lou will let development camp start and see how Johnny Mac does leading the team... and then stop the coaching search with him. I know that he was out of the picture a while ago, but who knows?

[segundo]

I like Lemaire over the retreads and the unknowns. And I would be happy with 2 seasons. I would like to see Johnny Mac run Lowell for a couple seasons to see what he's got.

Anyone know why Terreri's no longer listed as goalie coach there>

[RickyM2]

BILL.. I agree Lamaire would be a fine coach. Could we get better? WHO KNOWS??? The coach doesnt shoot the puck.

Just like in poker, you can only make the best choice with the cards your dealt. If you have a full house in the final round, and someone pulls out a royal flush, that doesnt mean you were a bad player. The coach just has to make the team as competitive as he can using the players on hand at that time. Injuries play a part as well.

[Dan]

Can you say for sure that MacLean is not a possible candidate? He isn't allowed to talk to the media so it would be hard to tell what his chances are. I guess you are assuming he'd be promoted already if he had a shot?

[Just Some Guy]

Obviously Lou was waiting for Sarah Palin to resign before offering her the job.

[murph]

id be fine with lemaire if he adapts his offensive system just a little.. maybe use his defense first system and then throw in some good breakout plays and sustain pressure in the offensive zone..it was successful during our last regular season...i think he could defenitly help out our younger players

[Futureman]

I like the idea of Lemaire too. I wish Carboneau would come as the assistant. I dont want Johnny Mac, if he was the coach of our PP, Mac needs to go too. I would like a fresh start. Have Carboneau coach the PP and Lemaire and Stevens coach everyone on the team to be responsible defensivley. I agree Lemaire would be great for the younger players. We still need at least a 2nd line center. Does not sound like we will be getting a top 4 d-man

[SS]

TG,

do u have a twitter or something for quick and short updates?

[frankied]

Jeff, you make a valid point about Lou having a reputation for firing coaches. I would think that it would definitely make coaching candidates apprehensive about coming here.

But, I'd have to disagree to an extent about players not wanting to come here. Competition for free agents is fierce. A lot of players are going to be overpaid because that is what it takes to beat out everyone else. It's not that we're paying them extra because they don't really want to play for Lou.

[njhillbilly]

@ segundo,

Terreri is still listed on Lowell's site:

http://www.lowelldevilshockey.com/theteam/coaching.php

[Drew]

In all honesty, I would like to see Larry Robinson back as coach. We had some of our BEST offensive years while still being a good team defensively and he also was the biggest reason we came back against Philadelphia in 2000. I think personally he is the best fit if he was interested in moving from assistant to head coach.

[Maxwell]

Bill - I agree with you 100%. Lemaire = 14th straight postseason appearance for the NJD.