Ex-Canucks head coach Travis Green hired on an interim basis
The New Jersey Devils made the playoffs last season and upset the New York Rangers in the first round before being eliminated by Carolina. The young club expected to make the postseason after adding wingers Timo Meier and Tyler Toffoli, but injuries to star centers Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and defenseman Dougie Hamilton, along with their ongoing struggles between the pipes have the Devils seven points out of a playoff spot, which resulted on Monday in the firing of head coach Lindy Ruff.
Ruff is the winningest head coach in Buffalo Sabres history, compiling a record of 571-432-78 in 15 seasons. He was hired as head coach of the Sabres in 1997, and led them to a Stanley Cup Final in 1999 and Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 and 2007, before being fired in 2013. He also had a four-year stint as coach of the Dallas Stars from 2013 to 2017 and took over in New Jersey in 2020, going 128-125-28 in four seasons.
Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green, who was an assistant on Ruff’s staff was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
“This was an extremely difficult conversation to have with Lindy based on the relationship that he and I have. He was the right coach to develop our young players on the ice, and above all else, he is a tremendous person.” Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said in a press release. “Travis has key experience running benches at the junior, AHL, and NHL levels and knows that there are no shortcuts to success. He is a high-demanding individual who is familiar with the group and excited about working to get us back on track.”
The Devils appear to be hoping that a coaching change will provide a bounce to their sagging playoff chances, but it is unknown whether the club will be able to add a goaltender before the NHL trade deadline or decide to sell off Toffoli and other pending unrestricted free agents. New Jersey was rumored to be pursuing Calgary goalie Jacob Markstrom last month, but the deal fell apart.
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