The New Jersey Devils announced on Tuesday that they have
added former forward Ryane Clowe to the coaching staff.
The 33-year-old Clowe will join Alain Nasreddine, Geoff Ward
and goaltender coach, Chris Terreri on head coach, John Hynes staff for the
2016-2017 season.
Hynes told the team’s website, “We are looking forward to Ryane to joining our staff. His character, expertise
as a player, knowledge of the game and passion to coach will be a be a benefit
to our players and the Devils’ organization.”
The Devils signed Clowe to a five-year, 24.25 million-dollar
contract prior to the 2013 National Hockey League season. In 56 games with the
Devils between 2013 and 2015, he has put up eight goals and 22 assists.
After suffering from concussions, the Devils placed Clowe on
the long-term injured reserve list during the 2014-2015 NHL season. While he
has not officially retired, this past September he told Northjersey.com that he
did not feel he would be able to lace them up anymore.
Clowe said, “I did not
know [assistant general manager] Tom Fitzgerald or [general manager] Ray Shero,
John Hynes, or any of the coaching staff, besides Chris Terreri who was here
[when I played], so it was all new and I feel very fortunate that they gave me
the opportunity to stay around.”
He added, “Not a lot
of guys get to stay in the game right away, as soon as they are done playing,
especially for me. I was only 33 years old. To get the opportunity John and Ray
gave me right away, to be involved with the coaching staff and also do some
stuff outside like some scouting and some stuff on the management side, it was
a great resource. I got to feel out what I wanted to do and right away, I think
coaching was something that stood out. This is where my passion is.”
The fact that he is only about a year removed from the
action on the ice, will help him relate to the players on the roster. He added, “I know there is a learning curve here. It
is an opportunity to be with this coaching staff, which I found out last year
was a great staff.”
During the last lockout, Clowe did some coaching with the
San Francisco Bulls of the ECHL, which helped lead him towards a coaching
career, once he was done playing.
The San Jose Sharks selected Clowe with the 175th
overall pick, in the sixth round of the 2001 NHL Draft. Between the Devils,
Sharks and New York Rangers, he was able to put up 112 goals and 197 assists in
491 games over 10 seasons.
His career high, was when he scored 24 goals and 38 assists,
in 2010-2011 with the Sharks.
Clowe said, “I know
the commitment to coaching is something that you really got to be mentally
prepared for. Obviously, the players get to go home a little bit earlier, the
coaches grind it out a bit more, but for me I am looking forward to it. Last
year being away from the game, I wanted more, more hours, more time to be
around. I am just looking to dive in, and I am hungry to get started.”
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