New Jersey Devils: If Lindy Ruff Does Get Fired, Who Are Replacement Options?

Jim Montgomery

This one would likely have to come with an explanation. As they say, time heals all wounds. Jim Montgomery was growing into one of the best coaches in the NHL when he was surprisingly fired by the Dallas Stars in December of 2019. He was fired for what the Stars called “unprofessional conduct”. We never learned what that “conduct” was, but it seems like he’s worked on himself for this entire time.

He’s now an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues. He hasn’t taken a job as a head coach for whatever reason, but it’s clear he was a man who needed time for reflection. Since his name keeps popping up for other head coaching gigs, it’s probably okay to think what he did with the Stars is purely drinking related and not something that could be considered worse.

Montgomery on the surface would be a great head coach. There are some things to work out, and the Blues would have to allow the Devils to even talk to him. That is one hurdle. Another is whether the Devils want to hire a full-time coach now or whether they want to wait until the offseason.