Lindy Ruff’s departure from the New Jersey Devils was revealed on Monday night. In the interim, Travis Green, a former head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, would assume the role.
There were high expectations for the New Jersey Devils going into the 2023–24 campaign. The Devils performed remarkably poorly in 2022–23 despite posting one of the greatest records in the league. In their closest competition to qualify for the playoffs, they are now seven points behind the Philadelphia Flyers in third place in the Metropolitan Division. They trail the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning by eight points in the race for Wild Card berths.
It was obvious that someone would have to pay for this failure. The most likely candidate was Lindy Ruff, the current head coach of the Devils. The news of Ruff’s termination was made public by the Devils on Monday night at 5:00 p.m.
“To focus on being a competitive team that hopes to be a perennial playoff contender, I hold our entire organisation to the highest standards of accountability.” Unfortunately, we haven’t reached that point yet, so I had to make this choice.”
After a fairly unsatisfactory tenure as the New York Rangers’ assistant coach, Ruff was unexpectedly hired in 2020. Before that, he led the Buffalo Sabres to the 1999 Stanley Cup Final while serving as head coach of the Dallas Stars.
Ruff entered the league as a rookie left-handed defenceman in 1979, when he signed with the Buffalo Sabres. Strangely, the decline of the goalies and defensemen led to his demise. In 61 games so far this season, the Devils have allowed 213 goals. The Devils allowed 222 goals in 82 games the previous season.
Though it was made too late, this was the appropriate choice. While travelling through the Western Conference, the Devils performed terribly when they ought to have played with a particular urgency that generally results in scoring. Rather, they lost to the awful Anaheim Ducks in a game that appeared unfairly biassed from the start. Then the Devils just never showed up against the Los Angeles Kings.
For the remainder of the season, Travis Green, a former head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, assumes the role. The Devils want to finish this season as strong as possible. With a roster that is largely healthy, they have 21 games left. Can Green, who only managed to get the Canucks to the postseason in 2020 because to COVID-19, perform at his peak against the Devils today? If so, he may be qualified for the major assignment. But that’s a very hefty request.
