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Today the New Jersey Devils announced that Rick Kowalsky and Mike Grier have joined the coaching staff of John Hynes.
OFFICIAL: The #NJDevils have named Rick Kowalsky as an assistant coach! https://t.co/6nSfMwCT7d
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) July 23, 2018
Rick Kowalsky has served as head coach of the Albany and Binghamton Devils for the past eight years. At 46-years-old Kowalsky led the B Devils to playoff appearances in 2015-16 and 2016-17 including a team record 46 wins and 102 points in the 2015-16 season, earning the AHL Coach of the Year award.
The promotion of Kowalsky to the NHL level will be an enormous help to any young players who get the chance to show what they’re made of in Newark. The likes of Nick Lappin, Michael McLeod and John Quenneville will be amongst some of the players likely to be given a shot at some point in the 2018-19 season.
OFFICIAL: Former NHLer Mike Grier will join the #NJDevils staff as an assistant coach! https://t.co/mfVoUqyjnn
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) July 23, 2018
Mike Grier played 1060 games in 14 seasons in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks. Wearing an “A” in Edmonton and San Jose.
He has served as a scout with the Chicago Blackhawks for four years. This will be Grier’s first professional coaching job.