Todd Cordell: Notes on quotes from Ruff, Fitzgerald, and Devils ownership

Doesn't it make sense that the NYRangers might have had a say in the timing considering he was still on their coaching staff and preparing for a playoff tournament?
I think his name leaked for the Devils to gain leverage in the timing so they could announce/introduce him.

The more I think of this move, the more I have come to get excited. Our Defense was going to be pretty bad regardless of who was hired. We just don't have the talent. Hopefully, with Harvard cancelling the year, we can try to keep Walsh. If we can add Walsh and Smith to the back end this year, we can start the development of our next wave. Throw in a fast-paced, high scoring offense that we are all hoping for, and at the least the games will be entertaining.

I'm underwhelmed on both accounts. This is near worse case scenario. Well Milbury as GM and Pierre McGuire as coach would have been absolute worst case scenario, but this certainly isn't what I hoped we would do.

I’m having a ruff time with this news

i just don't see it

i start to get glazed over by Ruff's all-time stats, which are impressive, but then I'm brought back to the reality of the past several years. This is either a good move, or an absolute joke..

Doesn't it make sense that the NYRangers might have had a say in the timing considering he was still on their coaching staff and preparing for a playoff tournament?
I think his name leaked for the Devils to gain leverage in the timing so they could announce/introduce him.

The more I think of this move, the more I have come to get excited. Our Defense was going to be pretty bad regardless of who was hired. We just don't have the talent. Hopefully, with Harvard cancelling the year, we can try to keep Walsh. If we can add Walsh and Smith to the back end this year, we can start the development of our next wave. Throw in a fast-paced, high scoring offense that we are all hoping for, and at the least the games will be entertaining.
- ShoresideDevil

The Rangers view of the timing is that they think they are not harmed going into the playoffs and changing their defensive coach now. Which seems to say they don't think much of him....

I agree that Nas did step up and is a good guy. But the organization should not in any way pressure Ruff to keep him. While I don't like Lindy as our head coach he deserves to build his staff the way he wants. ALSO, our D has been bad and we've been playing this same system. Yes the PK has been remarkably good but 5 v 5 not so much.

I'm underwhelmed on both accounts. This is near worse case scenario. Well Milbury as GM and Pierre McGuire as coach would have been absolute worst case scenario, but this certainly isn't what I hoped we would do.
- WayneZ

Both accounts? What's wrong with Fitz? He's clearly well respected and the early returns are great. He has my confidence.

The Rangers view of the timing is that they think they are not harmed going into the playoffs and changing their defensive coach now. Which seems to say they don't think much of him....

I agree that Nas did step up and is a good guy. But the organization should not in any way pressure Ruff to keep him. While I don't like Lindy as our head coach he deserves to build his staff the way he wants. ALSO, our D has been bad and we've been playing this same system. Yes the PK has been remarkably good but 5 v 5 not so much.
- Queenie_5_hole

Right but our defensemen suck

i start to get glazed over by Ruff's all-time stats, which are impressive, but then I'm brought back to the reality of the past several years. This is either a good move, or an absolute joke..
- MartysBetter88

I think the takeaway is Ruff has a ton of experience and obviously knows how to run a NHL team. How successful his methods are going to be in 2021 and beyond are the question. The defense will suck regardless because even Lemaire couldn't build a good D with these guys.

Both accounts? What's wrong with Fitz? He's clearly well respected and the early returns are great. He has my confidence.
- willschulme

Fitz earned this chance. Guy played over 1000 games, was a captain, was a coach, was an assistant GM and was handed a poop sandwich & handled the deadline very well. He has handled everything thrown at him with class and professionalism. I think he will do very well. It will get really interesting after the playoff tourney is over and we see if he makes any moves. Hopefully the flat cap for teams like Tampa, Toronto or St Louis are in need of help to get under cap.

At least Blackwood is developing into a goalie who can hopefully steal games for us. Because he's going to need to more than ever in the near future.

At least Blackwood is developing into a goalie who can hopefully steal games for us. Because he's going to need to more than ever in the near future.
- devilspep

Blackwood has been great but nothing good happens from letting your goaltenders get shelled every game.

The Devils have played a low-event, defense-first style for more than a decade with little to no success _ Todd Codell

I have to be honest with you Todd, it never came across to me like we where playing defense first for the past 8 of thoughs 10 years.

I have to be honest with you Todd, it never came across to me like we where playing defense first for the past 8 of thoughs 10 years.
- cu45161

I think it's only because we definitely weren't playing offense first so that only leaves one option available.

Doesn't it make sense that the NYRangers might have had a say in the timing considering he was still on their coaching staff and preparing for a playoff tournament?
I think his name leaked for the Devils to gain leverage in the timing so they could announce/introduce him.

The more I think of this move, the more I have come to get excited. Our Defense was going to be pretty bad regardless of who was hired. We just don't have the talent. Hopefully, with Harvard cancelling the year, we can try to keep Walsh. If we can add Walsh and Smith to the back end this year, we can start the development of our next wave. Throw in a fast-paced, high scoring offense that we are all hoping for, and at the least the games will be entertaining.
- ShoresideDevil

It would be great to keep Walsh, but my hopes are very low at this point. A Hobey Baker nominee, who can have his pick of any team (almost all of which can afford him), and looking at PK/Severson occupying the bulk of our RD. Ty Smith plays RD also, and may be a better prospect. It doesn't look good. He could probably hop on Toronto with a guaranteed roster spot. Barrie and Ceci likely will be gone, leaving Holl the only rostered RD, and Liljegren likely playing top 4. Colorado needs a RD as well. I think we are going to watch this kid walk away. Hope I am wrong.

It would be great to keep Walsh, but my hopes are very low at this point. A Hobey Baker nominee, who can have his pick of any team (almost all of which can afford him), and looking at PK/Severson occupying the bulk of our RD. Ty Smith plays RD also, and may be a better prospect. It doesn't look good. He could probably hop on Toronto with a guaranteed roster spot. Barrie and Ceci likely will be gone, leaving Holl the only rostered RD, and Liljegren likely playing top 4. Colorado needs a RD as well. I think we are going to watch this kid walk away. Hope I am wrong.
- bikeguy99

But the question is, is he willing to sit out a full year of hockey just to walk next summer? And if he does, who would actually be interested in signing him after not playing for a full year? Lets not over-rate the guy, I dont think he'll be that coveted as a free agent, he needs AHL time before trying to make any impact on an NHL roster. Either way, its not a big deal if we lose him. His absolute peak ceiling is a #4, and will likely end up being a bottom pairing guy at best, if not a career AHLer. But we're dry on the right side in the pipeline so it'd just be nice to keep him for that reason.

Both accounts? What's wrong with Fitz? He's clearly well respected and the early returns are great. He has my confidence.
- willschulme

Fitz's first move as GM was to hire Ruff. Not a great start.

I have to be honest with you Todd, it never came across to me like we where playing defense first for the past 8 of thoughs 10 years.
- cu45161

I don't think we were trying to play defense first, but you end up playing a lot of defense when the team sucks at getting the puck back.

Fitz's first move as GM was to hire Ruff. Not a great start.
- rmdevil313

What he did in the interim does count, but yeah that doesn't look good at all. I'm guessing it was an ownership pressure because it doesn't make a lot of sense to hire the guy who clearly sucks more than the other candidates if it isn't money related.

The coach was kind of like a free agent signing in NJ. The most coveted free agent (Gallant) just wants no part of us. If we choose to we could completely overpay for a free agent (Laviollette). And then the finality sets in and we sign what is left (Ruff).

All kidding aside, Ruff is the coach. Hopefully he brings in some good assistants to assist him. Hopefully we get picks 10 and 17. Then we can hopefully put 2020 behind us, I really can't wait.

The coach was kind of like a free agent signing in NJ. The most coveted free agent (Gallant) just wants no part of us. If we choose to we could completely overpay for a free agent (Laviollette). And then the finality sets in and we sign what is left (Ruff).

All kidding aside, Ruff is the coach. Hopefully he brings in some good assistants to assist him. Hopefully we get picks 10 and 17. Then we can hopefully put 2020 behind us, I really can't wait.
- redmonsters

That UFA comparison is pretty good stuff.

I'm trying to remind myself how much I wanted Hynes outta here. Early in the season I would have gladly traded Hynes for Ruff even though I'm not a Lindy fan.
For better or worse we have a new GM and new direction. So I'm not optimistic but overall it's progress.

Fitz's first move as GM was to hire Ruff. Not a great start.
- rmdevil313

I have to imagine he made the deadline deals. Those will be my first impressions of him.

Rumors popping up that the Canucks are exploring the possibility of trading Boeser. That could be something we look into, and use our cap space to take Loui Eriksson off their hands to lower the price a bit