The Lowell Devils today named John MacLean as head coach, joining a staff that includes assistant coach Kevin Dean and goaltending coach Chris Terreri.
The announcement was made by New Jersey Devils President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello.
“There is no question as to John MacLean’s knowledge of the game,” said Lamoriello. “This is the next step in his bright coaching career.”
MacLean, 44, was named New Jersey’s assistant coach on September 29, 2002 after retiring as an active player on June 7, 2002. His 19-season professional career shows 413 goals and 429 assists for 842 points and 1,328 penalty minutes in 1,194 games with New Jersey, San Jose, the N.Y. Rangers, and Dallas, including a career-high 87 points in 1988-89. MacLean is the Devils franchise’s all-time leader with 347 goals, while he is second with 701 points, and third with 354 assists.
The native of Oshawa, Ont. is best remembered for his overtime tally in the 1987-88 regular-season finale April 3 at Chicago which gave the Devils their first-ever playoff berth, as well as the winning goal in game seven of the 1988 Patrick Division Finals at Washington.
MacLean is fourth on New Jersey’s all-time games played list with 934, trailing only Ken Daneyko, Martin Brodeur, and Scott Stevens. He was traded to San Jose on December 7, 1997, after having appeared in his last game with New Jersey December 2, 1997.
Born November 20, 1964, MacLean was a member of the Devils’ 1995 Stanley Cup championship team as a player and the 2003 championship squad as a coach. He participated in the 1989 and 1991 NHL All-Star Games, and represented Canada at the 1989
World Championships and 1984 World Junior Championships.
MacLean was New Jersey’s first choice and sixth overall selection in the 1983 Entry Draft.
