EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils fired coach Kevin Constantine yesterday and replaced him with Pat Burns.

Burns will be coaching his fourth NHL team. He said the Devils signed him to a long-term agreement, but wouldn't be specific on the contract's length.

"I was wondering if I'd get back in the league," said Burns, who has also coached Montreal, Toronto and Boston. "I wish we were starting tomorrow morning, it will be a great challenge."

Burns, 51, was fired by the Bruins in October 2000 and replaced with Mike Keenan. He had coached the Bruins since the start of the 1997-98 campaign and led the team to a 30-point improvement in his first season, winning his third Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach.

General Manager Lou Lamoriello said there wasn't a specific moment when he decided to make the move. Constantine had replaced Larry Robinson as coach in January.

The Devils finished 41-28-9-4 this season, but were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in six games in the first round of the playoffs. The team lost to the Colorado Avalanche in last year's Stanley Cup Finals.

"Pat fits the perfect description of what we are looking for in a coach," Lamoriello said in a media conference call. "He handles veterans and young players very well."