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By Greg Rosenstein, Shayna Goldman and Peter Baugh
The New Jersey Devils have relieved Lindy Ruff of his teaching duties, the crew introduced Monday. Affiliate coach Travis Inexperienced will take over as head coach for the rest of the season.
The Devils (30-27-4) are sixth place within the Metropolitan Division.
“I maintain our complete group to the best ranges of accountability to give attention to being a aggressive crew that expects to be a perennial playoff contender,” New Jersey president and basic supervisor Tom Fitzgerald mentioned in a press release. “Sadly, we aren’t presently at that stage, and I wanted to make this resolution.
“This was an especially troublesome dialog to have with Lindy primarily based on the connection that he and I’ve. He was the proper coach to develop our younger gamers on the ice, and above all else, he’s an incredible particular person.”
Ruff, 64, has been an NHL head coach for twenty-four seasons, the primary 15 with the Buffalo Sabres. He then spent 4 years every on the Dallas Stars and Devils. Ruff led New Jersey to the second spherical of final yr’s postseason earlier than shedding to the Carolina Hurricanes in 5 video games.
Inexperienced, 53, has been affiliate coach since June 2023. He was head coach of the Vancouver Canucks for elements of 5 seasons from 2017-18 to 2021-22 with a 133-147-34 file. Earlier than the NHL, Inexperienced was head coach for the Utica Comets within the AHL from 2013-2017.
“Travis has key expertise operating benches on the junior, AHL and NHL ranges and is aware of that there are not any shortcuts to success,” Fitzgerald mentioned. “He’s a high-demanding particular person who’s acquainted with the group and enthusiastic about working to get us again on observe.”
What’s been the crew’s largest battle this yr?
The Devils arrived before anticipated with final yr’s spectacular season and playoff run. However the crew hasn’t come wherever near following that up, with their playoff probabilities dwindling by the day — down to fifteen % going into Monday night time’s matchups.
Goaltending has been the crew’s most evident weak spot all season; in line with Evolving-Hockey, the Devils have allowed greater than 13 objectives above anticipated in all conditions, which is third-to-worst within the league. Ruff didn’t construct that goalie tandem, so the Devils’ woes don’t fall squarely on him. However there have been some points in entrance of the blue paint that do, and people had been on show in Sunday’s back-breaking 5-1 loss to the Kings.
New Jersey has always discovered themselves enjoying from behind this season, permitting the primary aim in 44 of their 61 video games to this point this season. That was an extension of their playoff run final spring, too. It’s one thing that has value them quite a few video games and alternatives over the past year-plus, and the teaching employees hasn’t had the solutions on the way to handle it. — Shayna Goldman, nationwide hockey author
Can a training swap change issues?
Questionable lineup and utilization choices have additionally burned Ruff and led to some underperformance this yr. New Jersey has not maximized Timo Meier this season at even power or on the facility play. Dawson Mercer stumbled this season after his development in 2022-23, as effectively. John Marino’s sport has plummeted, and Jonas Siegenthaler has not performed to his sturdy defensive potential both when wholesome. Plus there have been some points with the deployment of Alexander Holtz this season. All of that has contributed to the Devils’ disappointing season, together with their goaltending points and accidents.
The massive query is whether or not a training change is sufficient to flip issues round in New Jersey, after the Devils misplaced a lot floor. Ruff was not capable of, even because the crew acquired more healthy over the past month-plus. If not, perhaps this is usually a related scenario to the Canucks final yr. The crew made a training change in January 2023 to start out laying the groundwork for the following season forward. — Goldman
Tough circumstances stay
Although Ruff wasn’t capable of get probably the most out of his group this season, he confronted a troublesome set of circumstances. Veteran defensemen Ryan Graves and Damon Severson left in free company, and Dougie Hamilton suffered a torn pectoral muscle in November and hasn’t performed since. That’s put a big burden on rookies Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec. Each are promising younger gamers however doubtless needed to deal with too large a burden for a crew with playoff aspirations. Famous person Jack Hughes additionally missed time resulting from harm and Ruff mentioned lately he wasn’t enjoying at one hundred pc.
New Jersey was by no means capable of string collectively lengthy stretches of successful hockey, failing to capitalize on wins that would have constructed momentum. After beating Philadelphia in February’s out of doors sport, for instance, they dropped two video games in a row. All of it led to a middling file for a proficient crew, one which felt its finest path ahead was shifting on from Ruff. — Peter Baugh, nationwide hockey author
Required studying
(Picture: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Immediately)
