New Jersey Devils Fire Head Coach Lindy Ruff

New Jersey Devils Fire Lindy Ruff

The Lindy Ruff tenure in New Jersey was as up and down as it can get. The initial hiring surprised many, but he was a player-friendly coach tasked with shepherding a young team through a rebuild. After two horrid years to start his tenure, it all did a 180-degree turn in 2022-23. The Devils went 52-22-8, broke the franchise record with 112 points, and beat the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. However, even that season had its low points. The fanbase turned on him not even two games into the season when “Fire Lindy” chants rained down from the crowd. Still, he navigated the team through a tremendous season and earned himself a new contract.

This past season went as bad as it could have though. The team never found their footing and their lack of fight through adversity likely played a role in his termination. The Devils went 30-27-4 thus far. Despite injuries and porous goaltending, the team was never able to fight through it. Spats with reporters, questionable lineup decisions, and a lack of fight from his team for most of the season diverted what was supposed to be another step forward toward a Stanley Cup.

What This Means

The Devils were on a great trajectory heading into this season. Things went sideways and now Tom Fitzgerald will have to make the biggest decision he’s had to as Devils GM. This season did open up a few questions surrounding the roster, but the nucleus for a championship team is in there. Fitzgerald will undergo a very extensive search to find the coach that will define his tenure as GM. With Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier the two pillars of the organization, the Devils job should be a highly sought-after gig. It’s a massive off-season for the Devils and one that will shape the future of the organization and league. Main photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports