The New Jersey Devils are still reeling after getting bounced out of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games. Now, the Devils will be on the lookout for a new head coach as well.
According to the team’s official Twitter page, Jacques Lemaire has announced his retirement just a year into his second stint in Newark. The 64-year-old Lemaire previously coached the Devils from 1993 to 1998, including their 1995 Stanley Cup championship team.
Lemaire was inducted into the NHL’s Hall of Fame for an illustrious playing career in 1984. He began his coaching days with the Montreal Canadiens in 1983, before moving on to the Devils, and later the Minnesota Wild from 2000 to 2009. Lemaire also served as an assistant coach for Team Canada, which won the gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Lemaire retires with an aggregate 588-441-124 coaching record and has guided his teams to the playoffs in 10 of 16 seasons.
