The Toronto Maple Leafs have plucked another member of the New Jersey Devils organization as they've announced the hiring of Jacques Lemaire.
The #Leafs have hired Jacques Lemaire as Special Assignment Coach. #TMLtalk
READ → http://t.co/kZzjWliIwV pic.twitter.com/kYht7OYYvk
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 14, 2015The 69 year-old had served as a special assignment coach with the Devils since he last coached the team in 2010-11. In Toronto he will continue on in the same role.
For those not familiar with what Lemaire was responsible for in that role with the Devils: he was essentially a watchful eye from afar. He didn't travel with the team and would, for the most part, watch games from his home in Florida and share his thoughts on what he's seen when necessary. On occasion he would visit New Jersey to watch the team up close and he'd often make an appearance when the Devils were playing in Tampa Bay or Florida.
Lemaire once said it's nearly impossible for him to say no to Lou Lamoriello and that appears to have proven true here, though another pivotal member of the Maple Leafs staff likely had something to do with the hiring.
Via MapleLeafs.com: “Obviously Jacques Lemaire has a wealth of experience. We had a great relationship from the 2010 Olympics and I’ve asked him to join our staff to help me and the rest of our coaches within the entire organization be the best they can be,… said Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock.
It's also a sign that the Devils are completely moving away from the old regime as David Conte, Lamoriello and Lemaire had all been with the team a long time and have now moved on.
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