Fansided

Devils Name Scott Stevens, Adam Oates As Temporary Head Coaches

By Vinnie Criscenzo

Mar. 2, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; New Jersey Devils assistant coach Scott Stevens on the bench against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Mar. 2, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; New Jersey Devils assistant coach Scott Stevens on the bench against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Devils have brought back Scott Stevens and Adam Oates as temporary replacements for Pete DeBoer.

Well, this is a new one.

With the New Jersey Devils relieving Pete DeBoer of his head coaching duties on Friday, general manager Lou Lamoriello said that his replacement would not be named until Saturday after he addressed the team. Saturday morning, Lamoriello revealed DeBoer’s replacement, or, should I say replacements.

Lamoriello revealed on Saturday that Scott Stevens and Adam Oates will take over behind the bench for the remainder of the season. Stevens, the former captain and Hall of Fame defenseman as well as former assistant coach for the Devils, will be in charge of the defense. Oates, also a former Devils assistant and more recently former head coach for the Washington Capitals, will be in charge of the offense.

More from Miscellaneous

Assistant coach Dave Barr was also let go by the Devils with DeBoer. Assistants coaches Mike Foligno and Tommy Albelin, as well as goaltending coach Chris Terreri, will remain with the team.

Lamoriello also mentioned that he himself will be behind the bench for a short time. This will probably be to settle in Oates and Stevens until they have full understanding of the systematic changes Lamoriello wants to make to the team.

Lamoriello admitted that this situation is a very unique one, having two co-coaches, but felt it wasn’t fair to pick just one of them as head coach. He also felt it wasn’t the right decision to bring in a permanent head coach at this time. He will most likely wait until the season is over to find a new permanent head coach.

Stevens and Oates will waste no time getting into the thick of things, as the Devils play the red hot New York Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden.

More from FanSided