The New Jersey Devils are on the hunt for a new goaltending coach, and with Dave Rogalski's departure, the search is on to find the right fit. The team's General Manager, Sunny Mehta, is tasked with identifying a coach who can help develop the team's young goalies and potentially end the revolving door of underwhelming goaltenders. With this in mind, let's take a look at three potential candidates who could be a good fit for the Devils.
Leo Luongo: A Familiar Face
One name that immediately stands out is Leo Luongo, the younger brother of Hall-of-Fame goaltender Roberto Luongo. Luongo has already worked with the Devils before, serving as a goaltending development coach for the Florida Panthers in 2020-21. During his time there, he helped Sergei Bobrovsky have a strong year and guided Chris Dreiger to a breakout performance. Now, as the Director of Goaltending for the Charlotte Checkers, Luongo is part of Florida's innovative Goaltending Excellence Department, which has helped develop netminders such as Dreiger, Joey Daccord, and Spencer Knight. If he joins the Devils, he could help establish a similar program and potentially develop Mikhail Yegorov and Jakub Malek.
Hannu Toivonen: A Keefe Connection
Another name that could be of interest to the Devils is Hannu Toivonen, a former pro goaltender turned goalie coach. Toivonen overlapped with current Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe in the Toronto organization for three seasons. He has been labeled the Toronto Marlies goaltending guru after successfully helping develop Ilya Samsonov back to NHL standard and Dennis Hildeby early in his career. Toivonen's role in Samsonov's resurgence was pivotal, and he is now molding another young goaltender in Toronto named Artur Akhtyamov. With his strong track record and connection to Keefe, Toivonen could be an excellent choice for the Devils' vacant position.
Curtis Sanford: A Familiar Face in Toronto
A third name that could be of interest to the Devils is Curtis Sanford, currently the goaltending coach in Toronto. While it seems more likely that the Devils could poach Toivonen from Toronto rather than displacing Sanford, the Maple Leafs are undergoing changes, and Sanford's position is not guaranteed. Sanford is a former NHL goaltender turned coach who has spent his coaching career in the Maple Leafs, Utica Comets, and Abbotsford Canucks organizations. In Toronto, he has worked with goaltenders such as Martin Jones, Joseph Woll, and Anthony Stolarz. Depending on his fate in Toronto, familiarity with Keefe could lure Sanford to New Jersey.
Conclusion
The search for a new goaltending coach is an important one for the Devils, and with these three candidates, the team has a strong pool of potential hires. Each of these coaches brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the table, and with the right fit, the Devils could finally put an end to the revolving door of underwhelming goaltenders. In my opinion, the Devils should consider all three candidates and make a decision based on what they believe will best help the team's young goalies develop and succeed.
