John MacLean hasn't found a place to live yet in Lowell, Mass. and is unsure how different his role on the ice will be in training camp when it begins -- rookies report for training camp physicals beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday. Still, MacLean is excited to get started in his first camp as head coach of the Lowell Devils -- New Jersey's AHL affiliate -- after being an assistant coach for the NHL team since 2002.
"It is going to be a little different, so I'll get a feel for some things." MacLean said today before the Devils alumni golf outing at Upper Montclair Country Club. "It will be something new. It's a learning experience. It's exciting."
It will be MacLean's first experience as a head coach, something he felt he needed after being an NHL assistant coach for six seasons. He was passed over again for the Devils' NHL job when Jacques Lemaire was hired on July 13 -- something he discussed at length during the Devils' rookie camp in July. http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2009/07/john-maclean-looking-forward-to-new-challenge-as-head-coach-in-lowell.html#more
MacLean still hopes to be a head coach in the NHL some day, perhaps with the Devils, but knows he has things learn running his own bench in Lowell. At this point, he doesn't even know what players will be on his team.
"The biggest thing for me is just to keep an open mind," he said. "There are some kids that will be there and some I don't know. So, we'll just have to wait and see. When we get underway we'll deal with who we have and what we have and go from there. To prepare, you know you're going to be more in the game plan. You know you have to be prepared each day and being prepared is all part of learning."
MacLean said he has not had a chance to talk yet with Lemaire about how training camp will go with the NHL and AHL players. "We'll get into that in the next day or two," he said.
Lemaire said that rookies and veterans will be mixed in three groups -- two of which will scrimmage on each of the first three days of camp before the NHL team's first preseason game on Sept. 16 against the Rangers at Prudential Center.
MacLean is looking forward to his new challenge.
"I'm very excited," he said. "I think it's a great opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a new experience for me and hopefully I'll be up to the challenge."
Good luck, John.
Posted by: rob | September 08, 2009 at 03:36 PM
im really surprised we dont here much about prospect vasvyuv...
he seams to have potential... i even read on a sight a few weaks ago he might be a darkhorse to make the team
Posted by: NJromano | September 08, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Vasouyev has a nasty shot from what i have seen on youtube, that said another winger is not exactly what the team needs so we shall see where it all pans out.
Posted by: Pearl Jammed | September 08, 2009 at 04:13 PM
I posted back in July that Lamporiello said Vasyunov is "not far away."
At this point, it's difficult to say where he fits because camp hasn't begun yet.
He hasn't played a full season in North America yet, so it's difficult to gauge where he is. Let's see what happens in camp.
Posted by: TG | September 08, 2009 at 04:21 PM
I hope he can get them to the playoffs.
Posted by: Maxwell | September 08, 2009 at 04:22 PM
any idea how long its been since baby devs made the playoffs or won the AHL cup.. im thinkin the last time they made playoffs they were the albany rats..
Posted by: NJromano | September 08, 2009 at 04:56 PM
when was the last time the baby devs made the playoffs or won the AHL cup?? pretty sure they made the playoffs last when they were the albany rats
Posted by: NJromano | September 08, 2009 at 04:58 PM
oops double post
Posted by: NJromano | September 08, 2009 at 05:00 PM
HAHA this is one of the comments by a fan on the Rich Chere site...."I think the NJ Devils should be the first team in NHL history to draft a midget. Can you imagine that?
People keep their distances from
midgets...unpredictable folk they are. No one would see him comin'...just awesome."
Posted by: ClarksonFan23 | September 08, 2009 at 05:02 PM
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=497922
Skoula, Backman at camp with Panthers
Posted by: NJromano | September 08, 2009 at 05:03 PM
The baby Devs have not made the playoffs in almost 10 years. 1999-2000 was the last time they were in it. They haven't won the Calder Cup since 1995.
Posted by: Neil S | September 08, 2009 at 05:04 PM
1994-95 - Albany River Rats - Bill Armstrong, Brad Bombardir, Steve Brule, Rob Conn, Kevin Dean, Bryan Helmer, Bobby House, Cale Hulse, Geordie Kinnear, Jaroslav Modry, Denis Pederson, Scott Pellerin, Ricard Persson, Curt Regnier, Pascal Rheaume, Matt Ruchty, Vadim Sharifijanov, Reid Simpson, Jason Smith, Steve Sullivan, Mike Vukonich, Mike Dunham (G), Corey Schwab (G)
Posted by: NJromano | September 08, 2009 at 05:17 PM
I watched that final game live!!!! A 4-0 sweep over the Fredericton Canadiens...Robbie Ftorek gave me a puck that game.
Posted by: carpenter | September 08, 2009 at 08:42 PM
Vasyunov is a prospect with very good potential has an offensive winger. That said the organization is pretty stacked at LW with Parise, Elias, Rolston, Tedenby, etc. I'm sure the organization is hoping that Vasyunov has a very good season at Lowell so that they can trade him in a deal for help at center or defense near the trade deadline
Posted by: mikeP | September 09, 2009 at 10:12 AM