New York Islanders

Brian Wiseman No Longer Joining Coaching Staff, John MacLean Comes Aboard

Published

2 years ago

July 28, 2022

San Jose Sharks assistant coach John MacLean speaking to the medai before the start of the 2021-22 NHL season. (Photo via San Jose Sharks website)

On July 5, the New York Islanders hired two assistant coaches in Doug Houda and Brian Wiseman, as they joined rookie head coach Lane Lambert’s staff for the 2022-23 season. On Thursday, the Islanders announced that they have hired John MacLean, as Wiseman is no longer joining the staff.

John MacLean was previously an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks, but when Bob Boughner was relieved of his head coaching duties this offseason, MacLean was relieved as well.

His role was working with the forward group as well as overseeing the power play.

The San Jose Sharks power play in 2021-22 was effective at just 19%, which ranked 22nd in the NHL. The Islanders were ranked 12th, at 22.1%.

MacLean has a history with New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello. Back before the start of the 2010-11 season, Lamoriello hired MacLean as head coach of the New Jersey Devils. It was an opportunity for MacLean that was short-lived, as he did not even last the entire season, being relieved of his duties that December.

But their history goes back even farther than that.

John MacLean was drafted by the New Jersey Devils sixth overall back in the 1983 NHL Draft. He played 14 years as a member of the New Jersey Devils before a short stint with the San Jose Sharks, followed by three years as a New York Rangers.

He ended his 18-year NHL career with the Dallas Stars, retiring from the NHL following the 2001-02 season.

In 1,194 regular season games, the right-winger notched 413 goals and 429 assists (842 games). In 104 postseason games, MacLean recorded 35 goals and 48 assists.

Following his retirement, he joined the New Jersey Devils coaching staff as an assistant from 2003 to 2010 before being hired as head coach.

MacLean won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, as a player, in 2003, as a member of the coaching staff.

John MacLean also has a connection with the New York Islanders, as his son Kyle MacLean just finished up his second year with the Bridgeport Islanders.