The Devils may be closing in on a new man behind the bench as Nashville assistant coach Phil Housley appears to be the front-runner for their vacant position, according to an NJ.com report.

Housley comes with a lengthy NHL résumé which includes a 21-year playing career with eight teams, including a short stint with the Devils during the 1995-96 season. The 2004 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, who played on the 2002 U.S. Olympic team, also coached the United States to the gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship before helping Nashville earn a second seed in the Western Conference this season.

Hired a little more than three weeks ago, general manager Ray Shero is in control of one of just two teams in the league which remain without a head coach. The Devils have failed to reach the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.