BOSTON — However it ends, record miracle or three-month tease, Jacques Lemaire will deserve consideration for a second Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year (the first in 1993-94). That wouldn’t do it, by itself, but don’t be surprised if the Devils’ Preposterous Dream is enough to bring him back next season.
He was more interested in the Bruins — whom his Undead Devils visit tonight — than in himself, but he still told The Post yesterday he’s considered returning, although he hasn’t made a decision.
“Not yet,” the 65-year-old Hall of Famer said. “At times, you think about it, but it’s got to wait until it’s over.”
Then Lemaire described what would keep him from coming back when the Devils have gone 25-12-2 since he replaced John MacLean Dec. 23.
“It’s the energy that it takes,” Lemaire said. “When you’re winning, it’s fun because you don’t spend that much energy.
“But when you’re losing, you spend that energy. You’re trying to find the problem and trying to fix it. You’re thinking and thinking and you don’t stop.”
And these days?
“We’re having fun,” Lemaire said. “It’s a fun game.”
It’s also another must game, just as they all are now. With the 11th-place Devils seven points behind the eighth-place Sabres with 10 games left, the Devils must win at least eight and perhaps all of their remaining games to reach the playoffs for the 14th straight season.
Lemaire said he has no regrets about retiring last year, despite what the Devils went through in the first half, and how they’ve rebounded since.
If they fall short, general manager Lou Lamoriello will receive blame for not making his coaching change earlier, before the Devils were 9-22-2, although anything less would not have been giving MacLean a full shot.
“I never look back,” Lamoriello said. “Anyone who thinks, ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda’ doesn’t belong in this business.”