The Devils will have a new/old face behind the bench this coming season when Ryane Clowe joins as an assistant coach. He will join head coach John Hynes’ staff along with Geoff Ward, Alain Nasreddine and goalie coach Chris Terreri according to the official Devils’ website.
Clowe was signed as a free agent by the Devils back on July 5, 2013 but played only 56 games over two seasons with the team. He eventually had to retire due to concussion issues but not before scoring eight goals and 22 assists for the team. He also had 37 penalty minutes. According to the Devils’ website, “(H)e spent the 2015-16 season working closely with the coaching and hockey operations staffs in a variety of roles.”
The St. John’s, Newfoundland native also spent time in his NHL career with San Jose and the Rangers. He was drafted 175th overall in the 2001 NHL Draft (San Jose’s fifth choice – sixth round).
Moving him behind the bench gives the Devils access to a kind of player who played with grit and toughness. He should be a good influence on a team that has gotten a little bit younger, giving a bit of a “veteran presence” behind the bench a la Scott Stevens a few years back.