Report: Devils interviewed John Stevens for head coaching gig
The New Jersey Devils interviewed Dallas Stars assistant John Stevens for their head coaching job, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.
The Devils fired head coach John Hynes during the 2019-20 campaign and made Alain Nasreddine his interim replacement. New Jersey also cut ties with GM Ray Shero this season, and assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald has since been running things in the interim.
Stevens' first NHL head coaching job came with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006, two years removed from a Calder Cup title with the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms. He led the Flyers to two playoff appearances, including a trip to the conference finals in 2008, before he was fired in his fourth season on the job.
He then joined the Los Angeles Kings' bench as an assistant coach, helping guide the club to two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 under Darryl Sutter. He replaced Sutter as head coach in 2017-18 and led L.A. to a 98-point season and a playoff berth. The club was ultimately swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round, and he was fired the next season following a 4-8-1 start.
Stevens was hired by the Stars as an assistant coach prior to the 2019-20 season.