The New Jersey Devils are finally showing some signs of optimism. Despite a record of 4-5 during the month of February, the Devils led the entire NHL in goals per 60 minutes with 4.47. While the team is still over 20 points out of a playoff spot, it’s clear that something is clicking up and down the lineup, especially offensively.
With dominant victories over the Penguins, Canucks, and other squads since the start of the New Year, maybe it’s time for the ‘Fire Lindy Ruff‘ demands to calm down a little bit.
In Coach Ruff’s first season with the Devils to begin the 2020-2021 season, there was a severe lack of expectations for the team to go anywhere. With Jack Hughes still developing and Nico Hischier being in and out of the lineup with different injuries, it was really hard for New Jersey to gain any sort of momentum, especially in the division they are playing in.
While fans were hoping for a more competitive team and want to blame Ruff for the losing streaks that sometimes hit double digits, there has to be at least a remote amount of sympathy for the sixth-winningest coach in NHL history. For starters, let’s take a look at all the significant Devils who have missed at least a few games in 2021-2022.
- Jack Hughes – 20 games (dislocated shoulder)
- Dougie Hamilton – 20 games (broken jaw)
- Miles Wood – all season (hip injury)
- Mackenzie Blackwood – 20 games and counting (heel)
- Nico Hischier – 6 games (COVID/lower body)
- Jonathan Bernier – rest of season (hip surgery)
All the frustration this season is comprehendible. However, it’s really hard for any coach to see any major progress when the main pieces to the puzzle are not all on the ice at the same time. New Jersey’s best and most prominent victories have come when the team is at full health.
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Keep in mind, the Devils have started a grand total of six goalies since opening night and are currently relying on AHL journeyman Jon Gillies and 21-year-old Nico Daws to keep the team in every game. While Daws has shown some promise that is a tough ask for someone who still could very likely use more time in Utica.
Even if there are some annoyances with Coach Ruff, what good does it do young stars like Jack Hughes to give him his 4th coach to start the 4th season of his career. It’s vital that this young Devils core gets used to a specific coaching style that they can develop in and not continuously have to hit the reset button.
To reiterate, Ruff is not inexperienced, he’s made the Stanley Cup final, has won a lot of games, and has a very good all-time record. It would be a disservice to the New Jersey Devils if the franchise decided Lindy was the problem this season and decided to go elsewhere.