Nashville Predators executive vice president/general manager David Poile announced today that Lane Lambert has been named the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League, the Predators’ primary development affiliate.
Lambert takes the reins of the Admirals’ ship after serving as an assistant coach last season under Claude Noel, who was recently hired as an assistant for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Lambert, who will be the 17th coach in Ads history, helped guide Milwaukee to a 41-25-4-10 record, 96 points, a third-place finish in the AHL’s West Division and a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
“Our organizational philosophy has been to elevate those internally who have demonstrated the ability and potential to succeed with more responsibility, and Lane Lambert is the right choice as the head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals and a true blue-chip prospect in the coaching ranks,” said Poile.
As the team’s top assistant, Lambert was in charge of the Ads’ penalty killing unit that vanquished 86.1 percent of opponents’ power plays, good for third in the AHL, as well as the team’s defense which allowed less than three goals per game. The Admirals finished the year strong, posting a 34-14-2-10 mark in the last 60 games of the season after getting off to a slow start.
Prior to joining the Admirals, the Melfort, Sask., native served as an assistant coach for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the New York Islanders’ AHL affiliate, in 2005-06. Lambert was the head coach of the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2004-05, and in 2002-03 he was an assistant for the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL).
The 43-year-old Lambert played 105 games in the AHL during his 18-year playing career, and won a Calder Cup championship with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1986. He also captured an IHL title with the Houston Aeros in 1999. Lambert appeared in 283 career NHL games with Detroit, the New York Rangers and Quebec.
