Confirmed with Link: Devils to retain Fitz as GM, hire Ruff as coach

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

well, I hope the guys that wanted a move to be made just for the sake of making a move are happy now

 

[njdevils1982]

old thread was locked so asking again in this one

@sabremike

what your take on this?

 

[Emperoreddy]

lets be honest, it was the disappointment of what could've been that's really getting to us

if the lavi and gallant rumors/news didn't get out and we just cold-hired ruff, we wouldn't be AS upset

Specifically Gallant, people were shitting on the idea of Lav when it appeared he was the front runner and then warmed up to the idea...slightly.

I also think Gallant has been overrated on this board (which isnt surprising. We do the same thing with the top free agents. Its a natural thing sports fans do)

 

[JimEIV]

That Sabres team that did well in the mid 00s decade, almost all of those players were developed under Ruff's watch. Afinogenov, Dumont, Vanek, Kotalik, Connolly, Briere, Pominville, etc. Dallas was more of a veteran team but he was there for Seguin's first year in Dallas when he exploded offensively and Klingberg blossomed into a star under his coaching.

I vaguely remember Tyler Myers giving Ruff a lot of credit after his big rookie season also.

 

[HBK27]

Umm... I'm a bit confused. Aren't the Rags going to the play-in round? How can we officially sign one of their coaches out from under them mid-season???

Maybe the contract doesn't officially start until after this season?

Hasn't it happened in the past where NFL coaches interviewed & were hired during the playoffs and stayed with the team the rest of the playoffs?

 

[Bleedred]

Who said in the last thread that he’s 60 but at least he still has hair?

He had the second worst combover in the league back when Jacques Lemaire was still a head coach. Now it’s clearly the worst.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The age stuff makes no sense when both Gallant or Lavs aren't exactly young either.

If you wanted a young coach, you just keep Nas

 

[Emperoreddy]

Maybe the contract doesn't officially start until after this season?

Hasn't it happened in the past where NFL coaches interviewed & were hired during the playoffs and stayed with the team the rest of the playoffs?

This whole situation is bizzare due to Covid. Maybe the Rangers gave him permission as who knows how things are going to unfold.

 

[Nubmer6]

Maybe the contract doesn't officially start until after this season?

Hasn't it happened in the past where NFL coaches interviewed & were hired during the playoffs and stayed with the team the rest of the playoffs?

Not sure. I don't really watch the NFL. I'm not sure I've ever seen it happen in the NHL before, but this has been a weird season.

 

[JimEIV]

Be interesting to see who is on Ruff's staff.

 

[Davegarri]

I mean, he isn't a sexy choice, but he does have a .561 point % in the regular season. Since Hynes was .487 with us I would consider this an upgrade no matter what.

May not be the hire we all hoped, but then again we are NJ and in a rebuild, we aren't going to get a sexy hire...

 

[JimEIV]

Has there been a statement from Fitzgerald?

 

[Emperoreddy]

I wonder how much autonomy he has in selecting his staff.

I do hope Stevens comes in as an assistant.

 

[SKNJD9]

But what's Jim's take ?

 

[SKNJD9]

I wonder how much autonomy he has in selecting his staff.

I do hope Stevens comes in as an assistant.

I'm sure its Scottys job it he wants it. Who knows though

 

[glenwo2]

There's no need to overreact to this. Best case, Ruff turns our offense around and we come out swinging with breakouts from Nico and Hughes.

Worst case, the hire doesn't work out and we get another shot at Gronborg when his contract runs out in a couple years.

Knowing our luck, we hire Hynes again in the future.

 

[glenwo2]

That's not what I said.

That's what it implied when you said Pete was better at systems.


That says that Ruff isn't good at systems.

 

[glenwo2]

lets be honest, it was the disappointment of what could've been that's really getting to us

if the lavi and gallant rumors/news didn't get out and we just cold-hired ruff, we wouldn't be AS upset

I wouldn't be as upset but at the same time, i'd be like "Ownership and Fitz couldn't find anyone better? "

 

[JimEIV]

I wonder how much autonomy he has in selecting his staff.

I do hope Stevens comes in as an assistant.

I would be surprised if the organization did that. It would be like having your replacement hired already.

 

[NJDevs26]

Umm... I'm a bit confused. Aren't the Rags going to the play-in round? How can we officially sign one of their coaches out from under them mid-season???

It's a promotion, so they can't stop it although perhaps they could have denied permission to talk to him which they didn't.

 

[NJDevs26]

Anybody remember what it was like having Vanderbeek as an owner, when we didn't even know if he could pay players' salaries?

I don't get the hate for the current owners.

It's like comparing Dolan (Knicks and pre-lockout Rangers version) to Charles Wang though...just different kinds of bad. One guy who has a boatload of money but is aloof and can't manage his way out of a paper bag, and another guy who has lint in his pocket but actually cares about the team.

 

[glenwo2]

Has there been a statement from Fitzgerald?

Fitz : "I-I-I...wou-woul--would l-l-l-like t-t-to intro-troduce...the N-n-new head coach of the N-N-New Jersey D-D-Devils : L-L-Lindy Ru-Ruff.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Floored. Absolutely floored.

 

[MNDevilsfan]

Not a fan of either of these moves, honestly. Fitz did well on the Coleman trade no doubt, but I am very dubious about what he's had to say regarding the direction of the team and the needs he sees. I would've really preferred a fresh voice in here, and hopefully someone who would overhaul the scouting & development programs.

Looking at Masisak's article on the Athletic, Ruff's Buffalo and Dallas teams were more offensive than I would've assumed, but in both cases there was a lot more to work with. Doesn't exactly strike me as the coach to unlock Hughes' potential and help the other young forwards on this team reach the next level.

 

[glenwo2]

It's like comparing Dolan (Knicks and pre-lockout Rangers version) to Charles Wang though...just different kinds of bad. One guy who has a boatload of money and can't manage his way out of a paper bag, and another guy who has lint in his pocket but actually cares about the team.

Imagine that Vanderbeek had the money then that Blitzer and Harris currently have.

He would have been a terrific owner of the Devils.

But I don't like dwelling in the past too much.