The New Jersey Devils have announced a multi-year extension for head coach Lindy Ruff. The details of this extension haven’t been revealed yet, although this deal will lock in Ruff for the foreseeable future. Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said, “We’re incredibly fortunate as an organization to have Lindy Ruff behind the bench to guide this group, who’ve made significant strides under his leadership”
Lindy Ruff has been behind the New Jersey bench since 2020-21 when he took over for interim head coach Alain Nasreddine. Ruff failed to lead the Devils to the postseason in his first two years with the team but, last season charged the Devils to only their third playoff berth since 2010. The team would go on to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in a five-game series but the spring hockey was an exciting sign of things to come for a Devils team that’s built out their depth in recent years. Looking at the Devils’ opening night roster for this season, only nine players from Ruff’s first year with the club – speaking to how much change the club has seen over the last few seasons.
Ruff is an absolute veteran of the NHL, playing 13 seasons as a player and going on his 30th year of coaching. A majority of his playing and coaching career has been spent with the Buffalo Sabres. He appeared in 608 career games with the Sabres – all but 83 of his career games – recording 285 points and 1128 penalty minutes with the club. When he took the helm behind their bench, Ruff led the Sabres to eight different postseasons through 14 seasons, including in each of his first four years as the club’s head coach. He’s since coached with the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers, before landing with the Devils in 2020.
This extension locks in the leader of what seems to be an up-and-coming Devils roster. Ruff will now look to earn his deal with a strong season ahead.
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