The 2023-24 season was a total disaster for the New Jersey Devils. Changes are on the way, with the first being the firing of head coach Lindy Ruff. For now, associate Coach Travis Green has been named as Interim Head Coach.
#NEWS: We have relieved Lindy Ruff of his head coaching duties and named Associate Coach Travis Green as Interim Head Coach for the rest of the season.
📰 More info ⤵️https://t.co/XdYH17w5gZ
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 4, 2024
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.
