Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - offseason edition

[Bleedred]

When did Brooks become a shill for Claude Lemieux? That article was the equivalent of "Please hire my friend".

He really doesn't like Ruff. Like it's almost like he has a personal problem with Ruff. He first wrote a piece blasting Ruff and calling for us to fire him back in December. He wants Ruff out of here more than most of the fans do.

well if Cooper gets fired anytime soon, I wanna boot Ruff's ass and get Cooper here.



He's legit a dumbass is this is the case. I really hope not.

I don't think Cooper is getting fired any time soon. I'm sure we'll be firing Ruff LONG before Tampa Bay fires Cooper. You can bet on that. Cooper will almost assuredly outlast Ruff and maybe by years and years.

I'd be shocked if Cooper was fired by Tampa Bay any sooner than 2025 and that's at the absolute earliest. If he's no longer the head coach of Tampa Bay before that then it's because he wanted to walk away for some reason or maybe got sick of coaching or wanted to take a break.

 

[devilsblood]

When did Brooks become a shill for Claude Lemieux? That article was the equivalent of "Please hire my friend".

It's a bit of a red meat article. He knows Devils fans are unhappy with the coaching, he knows Devils fans love Lemieux, I mean what better way to win a cup then to hire a guy who was great in the playoffs for your team? Knuckle head fans should gobble that up.

Never mind it's a bait and switch with talking about firing Ruff and teams around the league hiring these other coaches, while suggesting hiring Lemieux for a front office position.

Truthfully I'll take it though. As Walt Disney once said "A dumb article about the Devils, is better then no article about the Devils", or something like that.

He's legit a dumbass is this is the case. I really hope not.

I think it probably played into it. And I'm fine with that. Hughes started to blossom under Ruff, and he likes him, if the reverse were true, ie Hughes struggled and didn't like him, then booting Ruff is the easiest of calls.

 

[Guttersniped]

Hynes did get an extension somewhere in his time here didn't he? Was that in the playoff year, or the year after?


I'd be good with a 2 year extension for Ruff if we make it next year. Can always give him the boot after one year if we follow that up with a stinker.

Hynes got it January 3rd 2019 because of this magical run:



After the 4 win start, that was the only time we won more than two games in a row that season.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Hynes got it January 3rd 2019 because of this magical run:

View attachment 560158

After the 4 win start, that was the only time we won more than two games in a row that season.

Nico's, Stafford's, Coleman's faces on the bench in that picture

 

[BurntToast]

I find it funny, that people lose their minds over the “Old Dogs” being recycled over and over (Ruff), but when Brooks gives a fresh perspective, it’s back to the experience issue. I get it, it’s Brooks, but a bunch of teams hired people with little experience. Yes, mostly office positions (Agent to GM), but St. Louis was coaching at freaking prep school.

I like Fitz, but I am starting to wonder if It would of been better to “make a clean break” from that era in Devils’ history. That season was just bizarre, in a disastrous way. Shero had his faults but his impromptu departure, feels less “about a plan” and more about a meddlesome ownership group.

(Can we prove, Ruff was really Fitz’s choice?)

 

[NJDevs26]

When did Brooks become a shill for Claude Lemieux? That article was the equivalent of "Please hire my friend".

He's not, he's just old man OLD TIME HOCKEY. Claude in a front office role without any experience is craycray...almost like Phil Jackson going upstairs with the Knicks and thinking his skillsets on the floor translated to the GM's office. Or the campaign to get Messier behind the Rangers' bench for that matter lol

(Can we prove, Ruff was really Fitz’s choice?)

I mean we can't 'prove' it since they were announced concurrently, but Fitz was here for a bit longer before that. Plus Ruff was an assistant coach in Florida when Fitz was there, and by all accounts he's always held him in high esteem.

BLOG: Fitzgerald Remembers Ruff as a Prankster | New Jersey Devils

Be sure to listen to an all new Speak of the Devils podcast with Tom Fitzgerald on Monday

www.nhl.com

 

[McDuffz88]

So if he is a rebuild coach, maybe it's more likely we keep him if we just miss, given the rebuild is not over?

But listen, if we actually get some decent goal tending next year, and the team looks good, does that not reinforce what we've all been saying the past 2 years? IE the goal tending has undermined the teams ability to win. Which would also mean goal tending undermined Ruff's positive impact as a coach.

If the rebuild is not over yet despite having two 1st overall draft picks handed to us in Nico/Hughes, a 2nd overall pick gifted to us, signing the biggest free agent in Hamilton, having a young ppg winger in Bratt, a 25-30 goal scorer in Sharangovich plus the emergence of Dawson Mercer & Luke Hughes/Holtz waiting to join the team then idk what to tell you. As Severson said himself this off season during his exit interview the rebuild is over. What more do you expect us to achieve by "rebuilding"? No team besides the Oilers have been gifted as many top draft picks/have the talent we have yet we are still rebuilding? What are we going to become that Skelton sitting on a bench meme? It's absurd to think we don't have the talent to take the next leap. How many lottery picks do you need? You do realize Nico only has 5 years of his contract right? Do we plan to wait a few more years before we get serious? It's very obvious talent is not the issue besides goaltending. The issue is coaching. A great coach ALWAYS gets more wins then a team is usually capable of. You think Ruff does that for us? It's time to get a real coach who will make us play better & get us into the playoffs. As it stands now we have 0 team structure, have 0 edge to our game, no team identity, and we are a complete one trick pony with only scoring off the rush. Get a good goalie sure we get more wins. But get a good coach and we get many more wins that promises us playoff contention. But nah everyone from management to the fans love mediocrity. Absolutely pathetic. Before you know it Severson will leave then we'll have the excuse "we just one more top RD away", then Nico will have a couple years left on his deal living a career of being in the gutter and he leaves us in Free Agency as he should after being on basement team his entire career. Year after year we make excuses. After being handed the 2nd overall pick this year it's either put up or shut up. There is 0 reason to stay with a "rebuilding coach" with our talent. All that is, it's an excuse to be terrible for another year.

 

[McDuffz88]

 

[SKNJD9]

Bratt, Hughes, Nico are all playing well personally I think that is a big part of keeping Lindy along with the whole he's really only been here 1 season thing. Maybe with Fitzy feels Ruff has nothing left to teach those 3 he moves on idk

 

[njdevils1982]

He's not, he's just old man OLD TIME HOCKEY. Claude in a front office role without any experience is craycray...almost like Phil Jackson going upstairs with the Knicks and thinking his skillsets on the floor translated to the GM's office. Or the campaign to get Messier behind the Rangers' bench for that matter lol


I mean we can't 'prove' it since they were announced concurrently, but Fitz was here for a bit longer before that. Plus Ruff was an assistant coach in Florida when Fitz was there, and by all accounts he's always held him in high esteem.

BLOG: Fitzgerald Remembers Ruff as a Prankster | New Jersey Devils

Be sure to listen to an all new Speak of the Devils podcast with Tom Fitzgerald on Monday

www.nhl.com

piss on old time hockey!

 

[MadDevil]

The kids produced under Ruff this year, and if it wasn't for terrible goaltending and dipshit Recchi running the PP we'd have been more competitive. Maybe not a playoff team but at least showing some positive progress in the standings. The obvious upgrades on Ruff most likely aren't all that interested. Trotz isn't coming here. Cassidy wasn't going to choose us over Vegas. Cooper isn't getting fired coming off 3 straight Cup Final appearances even if they end up losing to Colorado. Did anybody really want Pete back? Or Torts? Which leaves coaches who may be different, but probably aren't much better. I don't think Ruff is the long term guy, and I wouldn't shed any tears if he was fired, but I also don't think there is an obvious coach available that excites me. Even Trotz, while a great coach, I'm not sure really fits this team and it's timeline. Boudreau was the guy I wanted who I think does fit the team and it's timeline, but obviously that's not happening.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

The kids produced under Ruff this year, and if it wasn't for terrible goaltending and dipshit Recchi running the PP we'd have been more competitive. Maybe not a playoff team but at least showing some positive progress in the standings. The obvious upgrades on Ruff most likely aren't all that interested. Trotz isn't coming here. Cassidy wasn't going to choose us over Vegas. Cooper isn't getting fired coming off 3 straight Cup Final appearances even if they end up losing to Colorado. Did anybody really want Pete back? Or Torts? Which leaves coaches who may be different, but probably aren't much better. I don't think Ruff is the long term guy, and I wouldn't shed any tears if he was fired, but I also don't think there is an obvious coach available that excites me. Even Trotz, while a great coach, I'm not sure really fits this team and it's timeline. Boudreau was the guy I wanted who I think does fit the team and it's timeline, but obviously that's not happening.

Jim Montgomery

 

[McDuffz88]

The kids produced under Ruff this year, and if it wasn't for terrible goaltending and dipshit Recchi running the PP we'd have been more competitive. Maybe not a playoff team but at least showing some positive progress in the standings. The obvious upgrades on Ruff most likely aren't all that interested. Trotz isn't coming here. Cassidy wasn't going to choose us over Vegas. Cooper isn't getting fired coming off 3 straight Cup Final appearances even if they end up losing to Colorado. Did anybody really want Pete back? Or Torts? Which leaves coaches who may be different, but probably aren't much better. I don't think Ruff is the long term guy, and I wouldn't shed any tears if he was fired, but I also don't think there is an obvious coach available that excites me. Even Trotz, while a great coach, I'm not sure really fits this team and it's timeline. Boudreau was the guy I wanted who I think does fit the team and it's timeline, but obviously that's not happening.

I would of taken Torts in a heartbeat over Ruff. I guarantee you the flyers drastically improve now that they signed him despite having an awful on paper roster. He's a coach that will get more wins then the team is normally capable of & will develop good habits among the players. Can I ask you something. What is your view on what fits this team & what do you define as ourtimeline? People keep saying timeline but never say what they mean by that. One year? 2 years? 3 years?

 

[LeedsMonster]

Jim Montgomery

As a fellow person who has struggled with alchohol issues most of my life, I would love to see Montgomery get another chance and succeed. However, is he actually any good at being a head coach?

 

[Setec Astronomy]

As a fellow person who has struggled with alchohol issues most of my life, I would love to see Montgomery get another chance and succeed. However, is he actually any good at being a head coach?

He led the Stars to a first round playoff win in his first season. He’s credited with dramatically improving the Blues power play as an assistant.

 

[MadDevil]

I think a coach that can coach skilled young players and add some structure without killing their offensive creativity is what we need, and while I think Ruff probably goes a little too far in terms of loose or no structure, I'd rather that than somebody like Torts, who is "tough and instills discipline" because he yells at people. While I think that can be good for some players, and those are the ones who speak highly of him, I don't think it would have been right for this group. I also think he's more of a "win now" coach who is going to "squeeze everything out of the roster" for 2 years before the players get sick and tired of him and you start getting lesser returns. He's kind of like Pete in that you bring him in for an immediate kick in the ass, which seems like a bad decision for a team like Philly that should be thinking more long term IMO. It's also why I don't think Trotz really fits. These are the types of coaches you bring in once you're actually in "win now" mode. I don't think we're there yet. We've got some really good pieces, but don't have the depth and certainly not the goaltending.

 

[Andre Palot]

He led the Stars to a first round playoff win in his first season. He’s credited with dramatically improving the Blues power play as an assistant.

Then let's hire him to replace Recchi

 

[Emperoreddy]

I think a coach that can coach skilled young players and add some structure without killing their offensive creativity is what we need, and while I think Ruff probably goes a little too far in terms of loose or no structure, I'd rather that than somebody like Torts, who is "tough and instills discipline" because he yells at people. While I think that can be good for some players, and those are the ones who speak highly of him, I don't think it would have been right for this group. I also think he's more of a "win now" coach who is going to "squeeze everything out of the roster" for 2 years before the players get sick and tired of him and you start getting lesser returns. He's kind of like Pete in that you bring him in for an immediate kick in the ass, which seems like a bad decision for a team like Philly that should be thinking more long term IMO. It's also why I don't think Trotz really fits. These are the types of coaches you bring in once you're actually in "win now" mode. I don't think we're there yet. We've got some really good pieces, but don't have the depth and certainly not the goaltending.

They need someone to teach them how to play and win as a team. Ruff needs to go

 

[JimEIV]

In his article Brooks says: "Lemieux, an agent, has no front-office experience. But he has a lifetime of championship experience in the game, having won four Cups with Montreal (1986); New Jersey (1995 and 2000) and Colorado (1996). "

This is incorrect. Claude was the President of the Phoenix Roadrunners for two years in the ECHL.

 

[MadDevil]

In his article Brooks says: "Lemieux, an agent, has no front-office experience. But he has a lifetime of championship experience in the game, having won four Cups with Montreal (1986); New Jersey (1995 and 2000) and Colorado (1996). "

This is incorrect. Claude was the President of the Phoenix Roadrunners for two years in the ECHL.

And his team won 47 out of 144 games over those two years. Clearly he's the man to turn things around here.

Although I'm not necessarily against having former Devils as part of the organization in some capacity. I'd just prefer not to have them in important positions because they played for and/or won Cups with us.

 

[Guttersniped]

A nice moment in Pepe’s Wikipedia entry:

And it was just Father’s Day!

 

[JimEIV]

And his team won 47 out of 144 games over those two years. Clearly he's the man to turn things around here.

Although I'm not necessarily against having former Devils as part of the organization in some capacity. I'd just prefer not to have them in important positions because they played for and/or won Cups with us.

I wasn't advocating for Claude... just noting Brooks incorrect statement.

 

[MadDevil]

I wasn't advocating for Claude... just noting Brooks incorrect statement.

I know. I was mostly taking a shot at Brooks and the "well he won Cups as a player so he must be a good executive/coach" stuff that still gets bandied about like it's the 90's. I'm still not really sure what he was even advocating. He mentions front office stuff, then goes on to talk about coaching. So was he advocating him going into the front office or coaching? Or, and probably more likely, was he just talking out of his ass like he does half the time when it comes to the Devils?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Brooks has zero idea why this, or any hockey team is good or bad. He constantly shills intangible culture nonsense while never watching a single game or looking at one actual statistic. Also yeah he seems to be begging for someone to give Claude a job for some reason.

Wasn't he all in on the Rangers upending their roster for goons due to Tom Wilson?

Idk why he covers hockey because he doesn't actually understand this sport at all

 

[Guttersniped]

Brooks has zero idea why this, or any hockey team is good or bad. He constantly shills intangible culture nonsense while never watching a single game or looking at one actual statistic. Also yeah he seems to be begging for someone to give Claude a job for some reason.

Wasn't he all in on the Rangers upending their roster for goons due to Tom Wilson?

Idk why he covers hockey because he doesn't actually understand this sport at all

He’s better than Mark Everson. This little article haunts me to this day. Well one specific line has haunted me for two decades. (Good lord I feel ancient.)

SYKORA DEALT TO DUCKS FOR FRIESEN, OLEG