Michel Therrien and John MacLean appear to be the favorites for the Devils’ coaching job, and Craig MacTavish and Mike Keenan are no longer in the running.
Therrien, the former Canadiens and Penguins coach, is the likely choice if general manager Lou Lamoriello goes outside the organization. MacLean, the coach of the Devils’ AHL Lowell affiliate, is the promote-from-within candidate. Other possible candidates have included Ken Hitchcock, Kirk Muller and AHL coach Guy Boucher.
Passing over MacLean would devalue organizational loyalty, particularly if it was for another AHL coach, and especially since MacLean went to the bushes to get head coaching experience and gave the Devils’ farm team its first playoff berth in ages.
MacTavish, who coached the Oilers and led Team Canada this spring at the World Championships, was one of the most attractive younger candidates, but he is not in the running. Keenan is the ultimate veteran coach, and he remains the only man in 70 years to coach the Rangers to the Stanley Cup.
Lamoriello likes to avoid making major announcements while the playoffs remain underway, so he could name his coach in a few days.