EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils have gone from the best home record in the NHL to utter futility at home -- to a new coach.
With the Devils' hopes of making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history faltering, New Jersey President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello fired Coach Doug Carpenter Tuesday and gave the job of salvaging the season to Jim Schoenfeld.
'I just decided it was time to get back to the game,' Schoenfeld said of his decision to return to coaching. 'I've spent the last two years doing radio and television commercials, and I enjoyed it very much. I'm still drawing hockey salaries through 1991 from the Sabres and Red Wings. I did't come back because I had to pay the grocery bill.'
He will be expected, however, to stem the tide of Devils mid-season collapses. New Jersey has developed a pattern of starting the season with a flourish, then dropping out of contention by the All-Star break.
This season, the Devils got off to a 12-0 start at home and had been near the top of the Patrick Division standings until recently. After the team lost five straight, Lamoriello made his move.
'What I expect is hard work from the players,' said Schoenfeld, 35, a defenseman for 13 years in the NHL. 'I expect them to play the game like I did. They should never expect to take a night off.
'Sometimes, for a lot of reasons, a player in a given game can only give you 80 percent. Well, then I want that 80 percent.'
Schoenfeld coached Buffalo to a .500 record in the 1985-86 season (19-19-5) when he was relieved by then-general manager Scotty Bowman in mid-year.
Carpenter served as Devils coach for 3 1-2 seasons. He was fired after the club struggled through a 3-9-1 tailspin. They have dropped three games under .500 and into fifth in the division.
'In this business, difficult decisions must be made, regardless of personal feelings, for the good of the franchise,' Lamoriello said. 'At this time, it is my belief that the personnel on the Devils is good enough to make the playoffs and that Jim Schoenfeld will coach the team to the playoffs.'
Schoenfeld will retain assistant coach Bob Hoffmeyer, but associate coach Ron Smith has been let go.
'Changes like this are very traumatic,' Schoenfeld said. 'It's like when you lose a friend when a trade is made. A bond is broken. But that's a fact of life in the National Hockey League.'
