The New Jersey Devils have announced that Head Coach Lindy Ruff has signed an extension. The new multi-year deal ties down the 2023 Jack Adams nominee. After a few bumpy seasons, Ruff helped orchestrate the biggest point turnaround in NHL history and guide the Devils to the postseason.
Coach is here to stay!
We have re-signed Head Coach Lindy Ruff to a multi-year extension.
📰: https://t.co/fxgkJCfSVW pic.twitter.com/iT8Kg58c95
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 11, 2023
Head Coach Lindy Ruff Re-Signs with New Jersey Devils
Lindy Ruff was named the head coach of the New Jersey Devils back in the summer of 2020. He was best known for his 15-year tenure with the Buffalo Sabres. During his time in Buffalo, he cemented himself as one of the top coaches of his generation, guiding the Sabres to the 1999 Stanley Cup final. After Buffalo, he moved to the Dallas Stars before becoming an assistant coach with the New York Rangers. Ruff was tasked with navigating a struggling Devils team out of irrelevancy. And after two years near the cellar of the NHL standings the Devils pulled off a historic 49-point turnaround in 2022-23.
Lindy Ruff’s Impact on New Jersey
Lindy Ruff’s hire in the summer of 2020 was met with much skepticism from the fans. After success in Buffalo, his results in Dallas and as an assistant in New York were mixed. However, General Manager Tom Fitzgerald trusted Lindy to guide a young Devils team. In the 2020-21 Covid season, they accumulated just 45 points in 56 games. Furthermore, the following season wasn’t much better. The Devils put up an abysmal 63 points in a full 82-game schedule. Moreover, just two games into the 2022-23 season, things came to a head. After back-to-back poor performances boos and chants of “Fire Lindy” reigned down from the Prudential Center. Therefore, this became a definitive turning point that sparked the Devils turnaround.
Ruff pushed all the rights buttons during the season. The Devils rattled off a franchise-record 13-game win streak in November. In addition, he was praised by players and management for his ability to connect with the younger core of the team. Everyone would attest to Lindy Ruff’s ability to keep calm during the highs and lows, as well as being a lighthearted figure in the locker room. Going forward Tom Fitzgerald keeps his trust that the veteran coach will lead New Jersey back to the top of the mountain.
Main photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
