Was Mike Milbury or Barry Melrose not available?

Why do NHL teams insist on continuing to recycle the same old head coaches? Bring in some new talent.

Awful move.

Looking on the bright side, you didn't bring in Chia pet, and that's a win.

My boy Lindy about to take over the Tri-State!

Eklund: Lindy Ruff to Coach Devils. Fitzgerald Look like Extended as GM
- Eklund

Was Mike Milbury or Barry Melrose not available?
- GalacticStone

Ken Hitchcock turn down the job?

I’m not happy like the rest of the Devil fans but think of Lindy Rudd’s hiring kind of like Joel Quenneville.

Quenneville coached the Blues for a long time, even winning a Presidents’ Trophy.

Lindy Ruff, long-time Buffalo coach who took the team to the Finals and won a Presidents’ Trophy.

Both got jobs right away after being let go of the first clubs they coached. Both found modest success and their stunts were not as long as their previous club.

Quenneville was an assistant with Chicago but got the job after the coach was fired. Q won 3 Cups.

Ruff took the Rangers assistant job and now he has a head coaching job. Maybe he’ll follow Q’s path?

Quenneville was an assistant with Chicago but got the job after the coach was fired. Q won 3 Cups.

- CardiffGiant

Q was never an assistant with the Hawks. He was signed as a pro scout after being let go from Colorado after his DUI incident. The Hawks used that role as a placeholder until they decided Savard wasn't the answer.

Q was the assistant coach of the Avs under Hartley back in the 90s before being the head coach of the Blues, and the after that he came back to the Avs to be the head coach for 3 seasons, with moderate success.

Ruff isn't horrible, but he's not great either. I could see this as a placeholder type coach, but really, that's not what you want for a young team. You're better off with a developemental coach for 2-3 years to get your young guys in place, and then hire an experienced vet coach to take you over the top.

Fitzie played for ruff for 4 seasons
There's your reason for this
- rmccart

If this is really Fritzy’s choice then that’s on him. Not a good first move as a permanent GM.

Seguin excelled in spite of Ruff. His stars teams underperformed and were terrible defensively, just like the Rangers D he coached. Ruff's success was with a contending roster 15yrs ago. Thats long gone and the game has changes. My concern isn't the Devils sucking this year.. Its that most of the team is young and with potential...and Ruff will do more to stunt growth than anything. Owners went with the cheapest coach and the interm GM the job because he'll be a yes-man for ownership.

What a JOKE!!! Young fast team and you don't hire Gallant? You hire a guy that has proven he CANT win?!

Was Mike Milbury or Barry Melrose not available?
- GalacticStone

Come on, Ruff and Milbury great coaches compared to SmellRose 🌹

What a JOKE!!! Young fast team and you don't hire Gallant? You hire a guy that has proven he CANT win?!
- DevsgotcupS

Was Mike Milbury or Barry Melrose not available?
- GalacticStone

OK, this makes me laugh. Crying otherwise.

These 2 jokers are more focused on low balling the Wilpons and acquiring the Mets. They had the perfect opportunity to put a coach in place that plays to the strengths of the young guys.

The 1980's called and they want their Coach Back, OMFG..Ruff? What do Millbury, Hitchcock, Melrose and Ruff have in common? They are way past able to comprehend todays game and how to coach in it. The Game today is not suited for Ruff in any capacity. I was hoping for Gallant and we got an old retread that can't coach major Jr. today. I would have kept Nass over Ruff, he actually understands today's game.
I am happy about Fitzy, but not Ruff. He will ruin Hughes and Hischier and will lead this team to many more years of not making the playoffs. This proves that the only thing Harris/Blitzer are concerned about is what else they can book at the Rock. Guess the revenue of concerts and ice capades outweight the money made from a winning team. Just like they do with the 76'ers. Just waiting for the next shoe to drop that these bumbling morons win with their bid to buy the Mets, thus ruining another franchise ( they really just want to own SNY Sports Network ) They Prefer Benjamin's to Cups

Amen Brother!!!

The 1980's called and they want their Coach Back, OMFG..Ruff? What do Millbury, Hitchcock, Melrose and Ruff have in common? They are way past able to comprehend todays game and how to coach in it. The Game today is not suited for Ruff in any capacity. I was hoping for Gallant and we got an old retread that can't coach major Jr. today. I would have kept Nass over Ruff, he actually understands today's game.
I am happy about Fitzy, but not Ruff. He will ruin Hughes and Hischier and will lead this team to many more years of not making the playoffs. This proves that the only thing Harris/Blitzer are concerned about is what else they can book at the Rock. Guess the revenue of concerts and ice capades outweight the money made from a winning team. Just like they do with the 76'ers. Just waiting for the next shoe to drop that these bumbling morons win with their bid to buy the Mets, thus ruining another franchise ( they really just want to own SNY Sports Network ) They Prefer Benjamin's to Cups
- JonnyGar

Exactly.

Mother(frank)er!
- Queenie_5_hole

Lindy Ruff is responsible for ruining Tyler Myers.

Myers was fantastic his rookie year up and down the ice making plays.

Ruff and his staff saw Myers was as tall as Chara, which meant he was supposed to be Chara, and they tried to make him be Chara, which made him not good.

I liked Ruff, but man did he have his faults.

There literally wasnt a worse option for the Devils than Ruff. Just awful. Fire him now.
- MartysBetter88

Christmas in July!!
Sorry, not sorry Devils fans.

Its almost like these owners are doing everything they can to get rid of this team. Its obvious they want the building. They could give two poops about the team. Any time they put money into the team it was to enhance the building. It's like they want no one to attend these games. They honestly don't care about the New Jersey Devils. You have options for both HC and GM and more time given the circumstances and THIS IS WHAT YOU COME UP WITH!? Just move the team to Quebec or KC or whatever already.

Looking on the bright side, you didn't bring in Chias monster pet, who loves to lick salty ballS and that's a win.
- Copper n Blue

😝🤪

Absolutely Disgusted! Another 3-5 years of futility and losing.