Maybe fans need to stop demanding that coaches be sent to the guillotine when players do not perform.
Sorry, Lindy indeed.
It’s hard to actually distinguish who’s at fault and if the coach can’t get players to perform he usually ends up being the sacrificial lamb whether it’s deserved or not.
Most Devils fans wanted Ruff gone in the summer (I was personally fine either way). Two loses elevated this.
But the nail in the coffin or at least what got me on the fire Ruff train was his attitude and the attitude around the team after the second game I believe.
Was all pissy in his presser and gave a pissed off answer to the devils new beat reporter (who fans love) for a perfectly reasonable question and then walked out. Just showed a terrible attitude IMO.
The combination of those 3 things are why there was fire Lindy chants going 2 games in and it wasn’t completely undeserved. Certainly wasn’t just because the devils lost the 2 opening games like a lot of people seem to suggest.
But yes sometimes coaches fall victim to players not playing their best or gm’s not bringing in a good enough team but as I said it’s hard to distinguish who’s at fault. And it’s a lot easier to bring in a new coach than a completely new team and if fans think there’s a talented roster on paper they’ll most likely look to the coach.
Edit add:
With this GM Tom Fitzgerald should get some credit for sticking with a guy he believes in. It’s so easy for GM’s just to throw their coaches under the bus to save their skin and Fitz was certainly taking on some risk bringing back a coach this season who hadn’t gotten results and everyone wanted out. Fitz stuck with his guns while finding good support and improving the team and it might be paying off.
Was one of the reasons I didn’t mind him coming back.
Fitz clearly believed in him, he’s been around for a long time and done pretty well, the young players liked him and seemed to grow under him and the devils were better than their record last season.