WEST ORANGE, N.J., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Finals were not enough for Larry Robinson to keep his job.
The New Jersey Devils on Monday fired Robinson, who guided the franchise to a Stanley Cup title in 2000 and within one win of hockey's ultimate prize last spring.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks Coach Kevin Constantine was named as Robinson's replacement.
Impatient General Manager Lou Lamoriello was not pleased with the Devils' 21-20-7-3 record. The Devils are currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final postseason berth.
New Jersey is 1-2-1 on a five-game road trip that includes losses to Atlanta and Tampa Bay. The Devils were sluggish in a2-2 tie at Minnesota on Saturday, forcing goaltender Martin Brodeur to make a series of saves to preserve the deadlock.
Robinson lost his job in circumstances similar to those that prompted his hiring. With eight games remaining in the 1999-2000 season, Lamoriello felt the Devils needed a change in order to go far in the playoffs.
Robinson replaced Robbie Ftorek, even though the Devils were 21 games over .500. The Devils responded under Robinson and defeated the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Finals.
New Jersey made it back to the finals last spring and lost to the Colorado Avalanche in seven games.
Robinson became the second coach with impressive recent success to lose his job. Ken Hitchcock was fired as coach of the Dallas Stars on Friday despite leading the franchise to five straight division titles and a Stanley Cup.
While many members of the Stars feuded with Hitchcock, Robinson appeared to be liked by his players, which might have contributed to Lamoriello's decision.
Enter Constantine, who was fired as Penguins coach 24 games into the 1999-2000 season. He coached the San Jose Sharks from 1993-96 and owns a 141-145-59 record as well as 19-25 mark in
the postseason.
Constantine, who served most recently as general manager of a junior league team in Pittsburgh, will make his debut Tuesday on the road against the New York Islanders.
Robinson was an assistant on the Devils' 1995 Stanley Cup-winning team and a member of six championship teams as a Hall-of-Fame defenseman with the Canadiens.
Robinson coached the Los Angeles Kings for four seasons and compiled a 122-161-45 record, including a playoff berth in 1997-98. But he was fired after the Kings finished 32-45-5 in 1998-99. His career record is 195-207-64.
