Report: Devils pause coaching search with list down to 4 candidates

The New Jersey Devils have put their head coaching search on hold, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.

New Jersey is down to four final candidates - including interim bench boss Alain Nasreddine - after speaking with at least eight coaches, LeBrun added.

Nasreddine took over for John Hynes following a 9-13-4 start and led the Devils to a 19-16-8 record. Despite selling at the deadline, New Jersey just narrowly missed making the playoffs in the expanded format - the Montreal Canadiens grabbed the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference with a .500 points percentage, just ahead of New Jersey's .493 mark.

It's unknown who the other three final candidates are, but Gerard Gallant, John Stevens, and Peter Laviolette were all reportedly interviewed for the vacancy.

The organization's search for a general manager, however, remains ongoing, LeBrun added.

Former assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald was promoted to the interim role after Ray Shero was fired in January. Fitzgerald has been conducting the coaching interviews despite the interim tag and remains a candidate for the permanent position. The team also reportedly interviewed former Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis.