The Devils named Rick Kowalsky and Mike Grier assistant coaches on Monday, filling the two open positions on John Hynes' coaching staff.

Kowalsky and Grier will fill the spots vacated by Geoff Ward and Ryane Clowe, who both left for positions in other organizations earlier in the offseason. Ward is now an assistant with the Calgary Flames, while Clowe is the head coach for Toronto Maple Leafs' ECHL affiliate.

Kowalsky and Grier join Alain Nasreddine and Rollie Melanson as assistants under Hynes.

Kowalsky has been a part of the Devils' organization for the past eight seasons, serving as the team's AHL head coach with the Albany and Binghamton Devils. He won the AHL's coach of the year award in 2015-16.

Outside of his work with the organization's top prospects in season, he also runs the Devils' development camp for prospects during the summer.

"Rick will be a great addition to our team and this is well-deserved," Hynes in a statement. "He and I have had a strong relationship over the past three seasons and he's done an excellent job in developing our young players. Rick is a high-energy, hard-working coach, great communicator and a tactician who has a great mind for the game."

Grier joins the Devils as an outside hire. Following 14 seasons as an NHL player, he served as a pro scout for the Chicago Blackhawks for the past four seasons.

"We are looking forward to having Mike join our organization," Hynes said of Grier. "Having played 14 years and over 1,000 NHL games as a forward, Mike will lean on his experience in leadership roles to work with our players. He was a highly-respected teammate and had the ability to relate to all players with his personality, demeanor and experience. These attributes will be valuable in communicating and developing our players, as we continue to build a strong culture."

When Hynes talked about his goals for an assistant coach, he wanted candidates who could connect with players on an individual level. With Kowalsky and Grier, he is getting that.

Kowalsky has worked closely with Devils going through the AHL, and some of them will be competing for NHL spots this season.

With Grier just several years removed from his playing career, he can serve as another relatable voice for current players -- much like Clowe did when he became an assistant following his retirement.

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.