After six years without a Stanley Cup title, the New Jersey Devils are handing over the team to the coach who led them to their first NHL title.
Jacques Lemaire, who coached the Devils for five seasons in the mid-1990s and led them to the Cup in 1995, is New Jersey's coach again. He was hired Monday, five weeks after Brent Sutter resigned and eventually took over as coach of the Calgary Flames.
"I never thought I would be back," the 63-year-old Lemaire said in a conference call. "I said at that time when I was leaving after five years, and it was five great years, I wanted to cherish this for the rest of my life and the rest of my career, but I never thought one day I would come back."
The deal reunites Lemaire with General Manager and President Lou Lamoriello and goaltender Martin Brodeur, the combination that turned the Devils from a contender to a champion in 1995.
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PRO BASKETBALL
Magic matches offer to center Gortat
The Orlando Magic has retained backup center Marcin Gortat, matching the $34-million, five-year deal offered by the Dallas Mavericks to the restricted free agent.
Gortat averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game last season as a solid backup to Dwight Howard. Dallas was targeting Gortat as a backup to Erick Dampier or possibly his eventual replacement because of Dampier's expiring contract.
The Phoenix Suns have reached a contract agreement with free-agent center Channing Frye.
The team scheduled a news conference today to introduce the former Arizona star.
Frye agreed to a two-year contract with the second year at his option. He will earn about $2 million next season. He averaged 4.2 points a game last season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Atlanta Hawks announced they have re-signed unrestricted free agents Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia. . . . The Denver Nuggets acquired Arron Afflalo and Walter Sharpe from Detroit in exchange for a future second-round draft pick. The Nuggets also received cash in the deal. The Pistons freed up close to $1.8 million in salary cap space.
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JURISPRUDENCE
Ex-NFL lineman pleads guilty
Reed Diehl, a former Tennessee Titans offensive lineman and Santa Ana Mater Dei High assistant football coach, pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges related to a $5-million Ponzi scheme.
