Just back from Slovakia and the World Championships, Ken Hitchcock told The Post last night that he is very interested in the Devils’ head coaching job.
“I’d like to get back into the NHL in a head [coaching] position,” Hitchcock said. “I haven’t had any contacts. Nothing yet.”
Hitchcock, who coached Team Canada in the Worlds, won the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999, lost to New Jersey in the 2000 finals, and has also had runs with the Flyers and Blue Jackets. The 59-year-old owns a 534-350-88(ties)-70 NHL record.
Hitchcock is probably the top candidate for several coaching vacancies, including the Devils and Stars, where Joe Nieuwendyk is GM.
“Everybody knows the Devils and what they are. I’ve had long conversations with both [the late] Pat [Burns] and Jacques [Lemaire] about working for Lou [Lamoriello], and both had nothing but praise,” Hitchcock said. “People in the game, people whose opinions I respect speak highly of him.”
Hitchcock has coached with Lemaire in past international tournaments, and they share styles and philosophies.
“I didn’t watch the Devils under Johnny Mac[Lean] much. Jacques and I have a strong friendship, and when they played for him, they were well-organized,” Hitchcock said. “He had them playing that short-pass support style, instead of going for long bombs. Pretty soon it was a pack of five going up the ice.”
Hitchcock is believed to head the list of Devils’ candidates, which probably also includes Marc Crawford, Craig MacTavish, Kirk Muller and Mike Keenan. Lemaire retired again April 10 after coaching the Devils to a 29-17-3 record after the Devils opened 9-22-2.