Albany

Since they arrived in 2010, the Albany Devils have gone through 120 players and one head coach.

Rick Kowalsky has been the boss of them all, from Matt Anderson to Vladimir Zharkov. He has endured two ownership groups, two general managers and some lean times with talent.

Patience can be rewarded. In his sixth season in charge, Kowalsky led the current Devils to a 46-20-10 regular-season record, a .671 points percentage that is highest for New Jersey's AHL affiliate since the 1995-96 Albany River Rats went 54-19-7 (.719).

For that, Kowalsky received recognition as the American Hockey League's Coach of the Year, although he hopes the season is far from over. The Devils begin a Calder Cup playoffs first-round series against the Utica Devils on Friday night.

"It's been a long time coming," said defenseman Dan Kelly, the only player to be with Kowalsky for his entire Albany stay. "It's always good when you've been with a guy to see him get rewarded. We've got a great team this year, and he's done a great job managing it."

In his 10th season as a head coach, including four with ECHL Trenton, Kowalsky has developed a simple philosophy. "It's important that you're demanding of your players without being demeaning," he said.

More Information Rick Kowalsky profile Playing career Position: Right wing Draft: 10th-round selection (227th overall) by Buffalo Sabres OHL: 209 games (Sault Ste. Marie), 54-100-154, 259 PIM ECHL: 516 games (Hampton Roads, Trenton, Roanoke), 221-329-550, +162, 979 PIM AHL: 183 games (Cornwall, Portland, Norfolk), 35-57-92, +4, 297 PIM BISL (Britain): 2 games (Cardiff), 0-0-0, 0 PIM Coaching career AHL (assistant): 2005-06 Norfolk ECHL (head): 2006-10 Trenton, 138-122-28, .528 AHL (head): 2010-present Albany, 217-179-64, 541 Personal Born: March 20, 1972 (age 44), in Simcoe, Ontario Family: Wife Debbie; children Dylan (13), Sydney (12), Ryan (9) Devils playoff schedule Albany Devils vs. Utica Comets (First round; best-of-five) Friday: at Albany, 7 p.m. Saturday: at Albany, 5 p.m. Tuesday: at Utica, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28: at Utica*, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 30: at Albany*, 5 p.m. * - if necessary See More Collapse

The Devils may have more talent than any time in their six years in Albany, but Kowalsky has had to handle a fluid roster, normal in the AHL. A total of 45 players suited up for Albany this season, including 14 who have played in the NHL.

"He's definitely a players' coach, which is a great thing for the younger guys," said rookie Matt Lorito, who emerged as the team's scoring leader. "He's really not one to yell, but at the same time he's not shy to tell you when you've done something wrong. It's not like he's trying to single you out, he just wants to make you a better player."

"We've built a very good player-coach relationship," said Rod Pelley, the Devils' captain the past three seasons. "You can go into his room and talk to him about any concerns that you have. Where I have a question about a tough spot I'm in or how to deal with something, and he'll give me some advice on it, not tell me what to do at all."

Most of the players know Kowalsky's background. A career minor-leaguer, he played professionally for 12 seasons, mostly in the AHL and ECHL. Kowalsky didn't get his nickname "Killer" by playing passively, though the moniker was a natural given his last name. (Killer Kowalski was a Polish-Canadian wrestling star.)

He had 1,276 career penalty minutes but scored 20 goals or more in seven of his ECHL years.

"I probably didn't have good enough skating and probably wasn't strong enough, but I scratched and clawed my way and developed," Kowalsky said. "I played tough. I would not say I was a tough guy, but I played tough. I played a physical role."

Because of the way he played and his ability to quickly pick up systems and strategy, Kowalsky seemed destined to be a coach. That almost happened after his first season as a pro player.

"I had a former assistant coach in Sault Ste. Marie (Dan Flynn) contact me," he said. "He was up for the potential head job after Ted Nolan left, and he asked me if I was interested in coming back and being an assistant. That was one year out of junior. It's something I certainly thought about down the road, I was the captain in the Sault, but I'm having fun playing pro hockey and still had dreams of playing pro hockey in the NHL. It was always in the back of my mind."

Often a captain, Kowalsky continued to play until 2004-05, when he had 23 goals and 29 assists in helping Trenton to the ECHL championship.

His coach was Mike Haviland, who offered Kowalsky a job as assistant coach after the season. Kowalsky accepted, but then Haviland was hired to coach the AHL's Norfolk Admirals. Kowalsky followed Haviland there, and, after one season, was hired as the head coach at Trenton.

"I was very fortunate to step right into the American League," Kowalsky said, "and that's what got me off and running."

Kowalsky has played under several coaches who have gone on to the NHL. His coaching style, he said, is a hybrid of a few, most notably:

Ted Nolan: A former NHL Coach of the Year with the Sabres who also coached the Islanders, he guided Kowalsky through four seasons in juniors. "We had a lot of success, went to three Memorial Cups and won it the last year. They (Nolan and assistant Dan Flynn) left a lasting impression on me."

Jacques Martin, Bob Hartley: Martin coached Cornwall in Kowalsky's rookie year before 15 years as an NHL head coach (Senators, Panthers, Canadiens). Hartley replaced Martin at Cornwall and has been an NHL head coach 14 seasons (Avalanche, Thrashers and currently Flames). "My first year, that was just learning to be a pro and how important preparation is and battling every day for your job."

John Brophy: Coached 2½ seasons with the Maple Leafs before connecting with Kowalsky at ECHL Hampton Roads. "The biggest thing I took away from him: Everybody wants to win, and he taught you to hate to lose, and there was no excuse for it."

Bryan Trottier: A four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Islanders, he coached Kowalsky at AHL Portland. "There were some really interesting looks on the power play."

Mike Haviland: Kowalsky's coach in his final season as a player at Trenton and his only year as an assistant at Norfolk. "As far as preparation, and he was the most recent coach I played for, he really shaped me that way." Haviland spent four years as a Blackhawks assistant.

He was 32 when he retired and already married. By the time the Albany opportunity arose, Kowalsky and his wife, Debbie, had three children, and there was no hesitancy about where the family was going to go.

"The toughest part of this game and coaching is the instability," Kowalsky said, "and the sense that, good, bad or indifferent, you're potentially moving on. I know a lot of guys in this business do this without their family. They have a central location.

"I don't want to say it's a gamble. It's something we never thought once about. The kids have grown up here. The next move, whenever it comes, is going to be a tough one. I don't think it's ever easy, but when they're 1 and 2 and in preschool and kindergarten, they're a little more adaptable more. I have two kids in middle school now, one two years away from high school."

No one knows for sure when the next move is. New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello and his son Chris, who ran the Albany operation, were loyal to Kowalsky, even through some of the lean times, but an ownership change weakened that security.

The Lamoriellos were cast aside last spring as Ray Shero was hired as general manager.

"It was a little nerve-racking," Kowalsky said. "I knew I had another year left on my deal, but you never know what's going to happen. Then when you did see some of the changes made, you're waiting for that phone call.

"Ray brought me in for a lot of discussions. Everything sounded pretty positive. There was no guarantee right away, then he made it clear shortly after July that I was going to be back."

A long postseason run combined with what already has transpired could bring Kowalsky more opportunities.

"With success, you think about making steps to the next level," he said. "With that said, I've had a lot of fun with this group and seeing Joe Blandisi and (Vojtech) Mozik and (Scott) Wedgewood, new guys and some guys that have been in the organization, play their first NHL game. Reid Boucher hopefully establish himself.

"I really enjoy that. I watch the games a lot differently now when I watch the New Jersey Devils, and there's a sense of pride. Because of some of the injuries, the amount of guys that were up there was maybe expanded a bit. I enjoy working with guys in this league and helping them reach that dream of playing in the NHL. I'm not complacent, but I'm certainly content in the role I'm in in this organization and really looking forward with this group of players and this new group in the organization moving forward."

pdougherty@timesunion.com • 518-454-5416 • @Pete_Dougherty