NHL Hot Seat Radar: New Jersey Devils

Welcome to the most recent version of the THN Sizzling Seat, an ongoing collection of THN.com columns wherein we determine one member of each NHL staff who’ll be coping with main stress within the 2022-23 season. The particular person we placed on the Sizzling Seat could possibly be both an NHL participant, staff proprietor, GM, or head coach. In at present’s file, we’re inspecting the New Jersey Devils.

DEVILS HOT SEAT: LINDY RUFF, HEAD COACH

WHY: As we’ve seen this summer time, the NHL head teaching enterprise is fraught with tumult, and it doesn’t take a lot for a franchise to vary coaches within the title of bettering their speedy on-ice outcomes. And whereas there are different coaches who’ve bought to supply a constructive influence this coming season, there’s no one whose job is extra imperiled than Devils bench boss Lindy Ruff.

The 62-year-old Ruff has been within the teaching enterprise since 1997, when he was given the top teaching job of the Buffalo Sabres staff he thrived with as a participant. Extremely, Ruff’s tenure in Buffalo lasted till 2013, when he was dismissed. However lower than a half-year later, he was employed because the Dallas Stars head coach, and served in that function for practically 4 years. After being let go in 2017, Ruff grew to become an assistant coach for the New York Rangers for 3 years, he was picked to change into Devils head coach in July of 2020.

Sadly for him, Ruff has didn’t steer New Jersey out of the basement of the Metropolitan Division, ending seventh in its division in each seasons behind the Devils’ bench. Expectations for this younger staff have been excessive, however Ruff hasn’t had the depth of personnel or the construction to ice a constantly successful group.

Making issues worse for Ruff is the very fact he’s within the remaining season of a three-year contract. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald wouldn’t have been blamed if he’d reduce ties with Ruff this summer time, however with an infusion of recent expertise – together with former Lightning ahead Ondrej Palat, former Penguins blueliner John Marino, and former Capitals goalie Vitek Vanicek – there are not any extra excuses for this squad to squander one other season and miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season and the tenth time prior to now 11 years.

All of which is to say there may be huge stress on Ruff to get the Devils taking part in aggressive hockey, and to get them doing so instantly. Ruff can not afford a protracted (and even medium) stretch of unhealthy hockey to start out the season. There are too many high quality people ready to step in with the Devils and provides it their very own shot. There’s a motive why former Florida interim head coach Andrew Brunette selected to depart the Panthers and be part of New Jersey as an affiliate head coach; he is aware of in addition to anybody that Ruff has little leash room this 12 months, and it could possibly be simple for Brunette to interchange him.

Ruff is the odds-on favourite to be dismissed not as a result of he’s a foul particular person, however as a result of he’s had time to exhibit he can lead the Devils to higher days, and he’s been unable to take action. With up-and-coming stars together with Jack Hughes, Nico Hirschier, Jesper Bratt, and Yegor Sharangovich on board, there’s no good motive why New Jersey shouldn’t be difficult the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets for one of many decrease playoff berths within the Metro. Ought to they stumble at any level, Fitzgerald doubtless will pull the plug on the Ruff period in New Jersey, and there is not going to be many hockey observers outspoken in protection of Ruff. Outcomes matter, and that’s one thing Ruff absolutely has realized in his quarter-century as an NHL bench boss.