Maple Leafs add Jacques Lemaire to coaching staff

The Maple Leafs have added Jacques Lemaire to their coaching staff as special assignment coach, the team announced Friday.

One of the originators of the “neutral zone trap”, Lemaire is the coach best known for ushering in the dead puck era in hockey; he, along then-Devils president and GM Lamoriello, was a huge proponent of the defense-first system of play that New Jersey became so famous for in the 1990’s and 2000’s.

The 69-year-old Lemaire has spent the past six seasons as part of the New Jersey Devils organization as head coach (2009-11) and later as a special assignment coach. He’s a two time Jack Adams victor, giving Toronto a third esteemed name with veteran experience to serve in a more on-ice capacity under the young, analytics-minded brain trust management and scouting group. Lemaire said he was looking forward to teaming up with Babcock again after helping him win gold in 2010. “I’ll be watching all the games, making my reports, watching certain things that he wants me to look at”. Right after, he’d check out their farm team (much easier for him with the Marlies right in Toronto). “I haven’t had the chance to talk to the new people [with the Devils]”.

Lemaire also has ties to Babcock, and despite his past with Lemaire it’s a cinch that he wouldn’t be on Babcock’s staff if the highly regarded head coach didn’t have a place for him.

Lemaire and his general manager Lou Lamoriello rolled four lines in a 1-2-2 alignment that forced foes with speed and elan into a checking wall to create turnovers.

Martin Brodeur wanted to join the Devils’ front office after his playing career had come to an end last year, but the future Hall of Famer suggested that door may have closed for the foreseeable future.