Jacques Lemaire, a Hall of Fame player and long-time National Hockey League coach, has stepped down as the bench boss of the New Jersey Devils.
The 64-year-old Lemaire made the announcement after the Devils were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers. It is the third consecutive year the Devils have gone out in the opening round.
“It’s not the team, it is not the result or the lack of result we had in the playoffs,” Lemaire said. “It’s not that at all. It’s the end of the line. I’ll be 65. It’s just time.”
Lemaire said he thought about retiring several times this season.
The team said Lemaire, who made the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984 for his playing career with the Montreal Canadiens, will stay with the Devils in a role yet to be determined.
Whoever gets the coaching position will be the Devils’ third head coach in as many years. Brent Sutter resigned after two seasons last year.
The team then re-hired Lemaire, who led the Devils to their first Stanley Cup in 1995. He had stepped down as Minnesota Wild coach after last season.
Lemaire coached 16 seasons in the NHL with Montreal, New Jersey and Minnesota, compiling a 588-441 won-lost record.
He was an assistant on Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the Vancouver Olympics.
Lemaire was part of eight Stanley Cup winning teams as a player with the Canadiens. He is known for his gentlemanly play, smooth-skating style and laser shot.
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