Hiring Dave Lewis to replace Scotty Bowman as head coach was an absolute natural for the Detroit Red Wings. Because the Red Wings are a veteran team that knows how to win, Lewis gives them the best chance to take advantage of their window of opportunity and win another Stanley Cup.

The Red Wings had to hire someone familiar with the players. A coach outside the organization would have come with a different system and personality, requiring more of a learning curve. Lewis will make for an easier transition and offer less potential for trauma.

Besides, Lewis has provided a lot of coaching for the Red Wings over the years. Obviously, the head coach has the most responsibility and takes either all the flak or all the credit. But at the same time, every head coach will say he is surrounded by quality assistants, ones like Lewis.

The Red Wings players would tell anyone that Lewis has quietly pushed buttons behind Bowman and made things happen. He has earned the respect of the players because they know he has created things that have worked on the ice.

Lewis might have been the Red Wings' head coach when Bowman was contemplating retirement three or four years ago. In the meantime, because the Red Wings have had such a good team, one that goes deep into the playoffs, there were few job openings available that would prompt Lewis to leave Detroit.

Given his personality and his strength, I don't think Lewis will feel any pressure to win another championship. In today's NHL, one can no longer expect a team to win two or three Cups in a row. Everybody talks about how it is to repeat, and they are right. No team is ever a shoo-in to win the championship.

Lewis has a steady demeanor, one perfect for a veteran team with plenty of leadership. He has always been accessible to the media and is someone who is both articulate and confident in his coaching abilities. He is not prone to hysterical outbursts. Instead, Lewis is a level-headed person who treats people with respect. And he will treat the Red Wings like men.

Bill Clement is a hockey analyst for ESPN. He played 11 seasons in the NHL as a center and won two Stanley Cups with the Philadelphia Flyers.