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The New Jersey Devils have yet to hire a full-time head coach. While they may not name one for some time, we’re starting to get a sense of what might happen when they do.
Darren Dreger reported on TSN’s Insider Trading that Peter Laviolette, most recently of the Nashville Predators (coach swap!), is the front-runner for the job.
I understand why the Devils, or any team, would be interested in a general sense. Laviolette’s resume is quite impressive. He has won a Stanley Cup, made the Final on three occasions, and finished with a record below NHL .500 only once since 2001-02.
I see why Laviolette would catch the eye of a team that’s been irrelevant for the better part of a decade and is looking for a real shot in the arm.
I think it’s fair to say he would be a clear upgrade over Alain Nasreddine. He’s not exactly my top choice, though.
Put simply, Laviolette is an aggressive, in your face coach who likes his teams to play with that mentality. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think it’s a fine approach to give a team on the brink of Cup contention the jolt it needs to get over the hump.
I don’t think he’s a great match for a rebuilding team – with a *long* way to go – that is still trying to get off the ground. I don’t think he’s a great match for the personnel the Devils have either.
They’re not a physical, veteran team that can excel playing Laviolette’s style of hockey. I could be wrong – I would love to be – but I don’t think Laviolette preaching jam to Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and co. is going to get results. The Devils are building as a smaller, skill-based team and I just don’t think Laviolette is the guy to maximize that kind of roster.
His shelf life can also be small. Laviolette has only spent more than three full seasons (so, 4+) with an NHL team once since 2001-02.
That happened in Nashville and the way things ended were not all that great. I’m not saying Laviolette is completely at fault. The roster did have some flaws and, in his defense, a lot of voices can get stale after five years – not just his.
With that said, this is the same coach who gave Filip Forsberg ~two shifts more per night at 5v5 than Austin Watson in 2018-19. This is the same coach who had nine forwards average more time on ice per game than Kevin Fiala, a predictable breakout star in Minnesota, in 2018-19. This is the same coach who gave a noticeably declining Kyle Turris big minutes (nearly 16 per night) despite limited returns.
Considering some of that poor usage, it’s not hard to believe Laviolette’s impact on his team’s offenses is not good. Ever. And, no, I’m not exaggerating.
One knock on Laviolette in Nashville was his team’s tendency to take low percentage shots. That wasn’t just coming from upset fans. It was coming from beat writers who cover the team for a living.
Excerpt from Adam Vingan of The Athletic below:
Predictably, the offense has regressed, and the Predators’ reliance on low-percentage attempts appears to be a systemic issue, though Laviolette disputed the notion that the team isn’t generating enough high-quality looks Thursday morning.
I realize the Devils have had defensive issues for a while now but they’re not exactly great at developing offensive players either. I, for one, have had enough of coaches neutering the offensive talent they do have in order to try – and fail – playing defense-first hockey.
I want somebody who can help maximize the potential of Hischier, Hughes, Bratt, and the lottery pick(s) to come. Unless he has changed significantly, I don’t think Laviolette is or will be that guy.
I’d much prefer Gerard Gallant, Bruce Boudreau, and some of the other candidates available. I hope – in the end – the Devils do as well.
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