The New Jersey Devils are the only team in the NHL without a head coach and there is really no need for Lou Lamoriello to rush a decision. However, the Devils vacancy is also the longest open vacancy since it was made available on April 10th and is the longest vacancy in the NHL. But with the Devils prospects camp opening up tomorrow, it would be fitting for Lou to finally end the suspense and pick a coach. However, the bigger question now is not when Lou names a coach, but who?
Who the coach is will most likely play a huge roll in trying to sign star Zach Parise to an extension. So far there have been many denials like Mike Eaves and Guy Carbonneau as well as Ken Hitchcock, but until Lou names a coach, they are still in the ring. Parise has recently said that he is very fond of Mike Eaves, who coached the 2004 US National Junior Team where Parise was the World Juniors tournament MVP.
If the coach is Mike Eaves, who is still at his post at the University of Wisconsin, it would be his first NHL Head Coaching Stint. The Devils probably prefer one with past NHL experience, so Carbonneau, Hitchcock or Michel Therrien would be favored, but the question is how would Parise handle any of those situations. But, the Devils will work feverishly regardless of who the coach is to lock up Parise long-term before his August 3rd arbitration hearing.
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