Devils Extend Lindy Ruff as Season Begins Tonight
The New Jersey Devils drop the puck on the 2023-24 season tonight at the Prudential Center, and will do so with their head coach locked up for the foreseeable future.
The Devils and Ruff came to terms on a long term extension, although details of the contract were not revealed. Ruff’s previous contract was set to expire at the end of the season.
In a press release, Devils General Manager and Executive Vice President Tom Fitzgerald said of Ruff:
“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,” said Fitzgerald. “I’ve always believed that Lindy was, and continues to be, the right man behind the bench for this team.”
Ruff’s Record!
In his first three seasons at the helm, Ruff is 98-98-24 as Devils head coach, leading the maturation of a young Devils team into a perennial playoff contender.
Last season the Devils set a franchise record for wins in a season with 52, and bounced the New York Rangers out of the playoffs in the first round.
According to the release the Devils 49-point increase from the 2021-22 season to last season marked the NHL’s lowest to highest point differential since the league established an 82-game regular season back in the 1995-’96 season.
Historically, Ruff is one of the most successful coaches in NHL history. He is currently ranked first among active coaches in wins (834), and is currently fifth all time in wins by a head coach. In fact he needs 15 wins to tie Ken Hitchcock fourth all-time.
Opening Night:
Meanwhile, there is a game and a season to be played. The Devils begin the 2023-24 season tonight at home against the Detroit Red Wings. The Devils look to capitalize off a record setting season when they host a young Red Wings team coming off a 35-win season.
The puck will drop at 7:05 from the Rock.
