Chris Taylor

Taylor, started his professional coaching career with the Rochester Americans (AHL) as an assistant from 2012-16. After the 2016-17 season as an assistant with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he returned to Rochester to serve as the club's head coach. Taylor reached the playoffs in his first two seasons and was on pace in his third with the Americans, finishing with a career record of 116-65-33 in 214 games. His points percentage (.620) was the fourth best in the AHL during the three-year span. He served as head coach of the North Division All-Star team for the American Hockey League All-Star Classic this past January. Taylor also served as an interim assistant coach with Buffalo for two months last season.

Born March 6, 1972 in Stratford, Ont., he began his professional career as a Development Coach for Rochester in 2011-12 before moving to a coaching position the next season. As a head and assistant coach, Rochester posted a 239-204-57 record for 571 points in 518 games. In his lone season with Wilkes-Barre as an assistant, the Penguins recorded a 43-27-6 record for 92 points, going to the Conference Semi-Finals in the Calder Cup.

The center was drafted in the second round, 27th overall, by the New York Islanders in the 1990 NHL Draft. Taylor's NHL playing career spanned eight seasons with three teams (Islanders, Boston and Buffalo), tallying 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 149 games played. While in Buffalo, he played under current Devils' Head Coach Lindy Ruff for parts of four seasons.

Taylor played 11 seasons in the AHL, finishing with 167 goals and 393 assists for 560 points. Taylor appeared in 41 post-season games, recording 10 goals and 26 assists for 36 points in the post-season. Taylor was awarded the 2004-05 Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award, which is awarded annually to the player best exemplifying sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.

Taylor spent his junior career in the OHL playing for the London Knights, tallying 150 goals and 228 assists for 378 points in 259 games played. The left-handed shot took his Knights team to the playoffs in all four years playing in 38 games, posting 15 goals and 28 assists for 43 post-season points.