After adding Scott Stevens to his staff Tuesday, Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau said he thought the Hall of Fame defenseman would have "instant respect" from his players.
He thought right.
Boudreau told AP's Steven Whyno that star forward Zach Parise immediately texted his new bench boss to tell him adding Stevens was an "awesome move."
"He's the quietest and humblest Hall of Famer you'll ever meet," Parise told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune of Stevens - who he knows from his time with the New Jersey Devils. "He's going to be so good for us and our D and PK."
With Stevens locked up, Boudreau is hoping to announce the hiring of a second assistant that will help run the power play early next week. Russo reports former NHLer Steve Thomas may be among those considered.
"You don't get an opportunity to get somebody of Scott's ilk every day, Boudreau said. "If I'm starting with a team that's new, I want everybody to come in thinking, 'Wow this is a great staff.'"
