El Diablos have a new head coach

At noon today the New Jersey Devils will name former AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach John Hynes as head man at the Prudential Center. New Devils GM Ray Shero, who came from Pittsburgh was well acquainted with their top affiliate's head coach and picked him to coach the Devils.

Imagine that, the Devils with a real NHL coaching staff behind the bench and not some "It'd be funny if the results weren't so sad" triumvirate like last year with GM Lou Lamoriello, Adam Oates and Scott Stevens. We hope the new management can rescue the Devils not just so they can be competitive and try and get back in the playoffs and one day win another Stanley Cup for their fans. The real issue is winning now and filling the coffers as no matter how badly Devils fans think it can't happen, they ARE candidates to move if they continue this downward spiral. Don't think so? Where did the Devils come from and why?

There's your answer...

The Devils have made a very good choice as GM

Earlier today Devils President, sometimes GM, sometimes head coach, most times organizational gadfly Lou Lamoriello has hired former Penguins GM Ray Shero to the same post in Newark. Shero is a smart GM who managed to keep the Penguins competitive over the last decade winning one Stanley Cup in 2009. Sure, winning the draft lottery for Sidney Crosby in 2005 can make any GM's life easier but Shero also surrounded Crosby with smart draft picks and good value free agent signings. Johnny wishes him well and the stakes on this are high indeed. There are viable cites with viable NHL arenas waiting for franchises to fail. The Devils attendance has them on that precipice even during good regular seasons. Shero needs to work some magic here, and quickly.