Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours! The playoffs are getting closer and teams have already punched their tickets! However, the buzz around the league is still swirling and there are storylines coming through the pipeline. Players generate the traction but today’s Rumours focus on the head coaches.
NHL Rumours
New Jersey Devils
Rumour: Pierre Lebrun on Insider Trading talks the Devils coaching situation
What a carousel it has been behind the bench for the New Jersey Devils. A slow start to the 2022-23 season, saw the boo birds and “Fire Lindy” chants rain down from Prudential Center. However, the team went on to have a historic season for the franchise and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2018. The path to being on the right track was evident but this season has gone wildly different.
The Devils decided to part ways with Lindy Ruff and promote Travis Green as the interim head coach. Despite the injuries and inconsistency in the goal crease, the Devils sit five points out of a playoff spot and have been playing better hockey as of late. With that being said, Lebrun sheds light on the future of the Devils bench boss.
He states that Green could be in the running for the next head coaching job. Although, despite the better play and being a different team than under Ruff, he is not a slam dunk for the position. A few key names have been brought up such as Todd McLellan, Gerard Gallant, and Craig Berube. With this core group together for the long haul, hiring the right head coach is crucial to future success. It has to be a slam dunk, as the team currently has the team to make a run.
Buffalo Sabres
Rumour: Chris Johnston on Insider Trading discusses the future of the Sabres head coach
The next set of NHL Rumours keeps us in the East. One team that was pegged to take the next steps forward is the Buffalo Sabres. In a shocking turn of events, the Sabres remain in the playoff race but whether they get in or not remains to be seen. Like the Devils, this is a core group that is signed for the long haul and will be together for a good while.
The time has come for the Sabres to return back to being a playoff team but the question remains behind the bench. Is Granato the guy to lead them to the promise land? Can they get there?
Kevyn Adams has done a good job of assembling the pieces to ice a competitive team. According to Johnston, the Sabres are not of a mind at this time to make a change behind the bench. It will be interesting to see what plays out and what they do going into next year.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
