5:20pm: The Sharks have officially announced the hiring of MacLean, noting that his primary responsibilities will be the team’s forwards and powerplay. Boughner released a statement explaining why MacLean was hired:
John’s experience speaks for itself, and he checks a lot of the boxes we were hoping to fill with this role. He has won the Stanley Cup as a player and a coach and knows how to relate to today’s player. In doing our diligence for this role, I spoke with many people, and everyone had great things to say about John as both a coach and a person. I’m excited to add him to our staff and look forward to having a great training camp as we prepare to start our season.
3:47pm: After associate coach Rocky Thompson announced last week that he would not be able to fulfill his duties this season for the San Jose Sharks due to the new COVID-19 vaccination protocols, the team has brought in a replacement. As reported by Craig Morgan of AZ Coyotes Insider and confirmed by Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, the Sharks will be adding John MacLean to the coaching staff for the 2021-22 season.
MacLean, 56, spent the last three seasons with the Coyotes staff and has plenty of experience at the NHL level. A veteran of nearly 1,300 games as a player, MacLean spent most of his career with the New Jersey Devils, setting highs of 45 goals and 87 points.
He even spent a short period of time with the Sharks as a player, scoring 13 goals and 32 points in 51 games during the 1997-98 season. He served as an interim head coach with the Devils in 2010-11 and has experience on the Carolina Hurricanes bench as well.
MacLean will join John Madden–a former Devils great himself–on Bob Boughner’s staff this season.
The just released protocols have some leeway for people who have legitimate medical or religious exemptions — as Thompson supposedly did.
They have exemptions, but they also essentially isolate the player or coach who claims the exemption. This is especially difficult for a coach to function in that environment.
Madden was a great player for the Devils?
As a devils fan he was. Always recognized as one of the best defensive forwards in the league.
Yes
Welcome to the party, Pal.