Minnesota Wild hire Scott Stevens as assistant coach

Minnesota Wild coach Bruce Boudreau has added a Hall of Fame defenseman to his coaching staff.

The team announced Tuesday that Scott Stevens has joined the group as an assistant coach.

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Wild had previously informed longtime assistants Rick Wilson and Darryl Sydor that they will not return to the team with Boudreau as coach. John Torchetti, who was the team’s interim coach last season after they fired Mike Yeo, has permission to pursue other opportunities.

Assistant Darby Hendrickson and goaltending coach Bob Mason are still on staff.

Stevens played 22 years in the NHL and captained the New Jersey Devils to three Stanley Cups. He’s known as one of the most feared defensemen of his era for his monstrous bodychecks. He also became one of the best two-way blueliners in league history, garnering a plus-393 in 1,635 NHL games.

The Wild’s defense has potential with talented youngsters like Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba along with veterans in their primes like Marco Scandella, Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon.

Star-Tribune Wild beat reporter Michael Russo notes that Stevens could help to better mold the group, calling him a “strong get.”

“His knowledge of defense is unsurpassed, he's a strong communicator and his resume means the Wild's D have to listen,” Russo wrote.

The 52-year-old Stevens was recently an analyst on NHL Network after spending three seasons with the New Jersey Devils on their coaching staff. Stevens acted as Devils’ co-coach with Adam Oates after the team fired Peter DeBoer late in 2014. Stevens and the Devils parted ways last summer after the team hired John Hynes as their new head coach.

His winning cred as a player could also help Boudreau, who has lost four-straight Game 7s on home ice and never made a Stanley Cup Final in spite of strong regular season win totals.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper