Fitzgerald confirms Ruff will return as Devils head coach
Lindy Ruff isn't going anywhere.
New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald confirmed the veteran bench boss will return as the team's head coach next season.
"I've always said that Lindy Ruff was the right coach for this group," Fitzgerald said Wednesday, per team reporter Amanda Stein. "So here we are today. He's still the right coach for this group, he's earned that right. He deserves that, we deserve him to be quite honest."
Fitzgerald added: "Those kids love him."
Ruff's contract expires June 30, but he's already in the midst of negotiating a new deal, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
The veteran bench boss guided the Devils to their first postseason appearance since 2018 with a 52-22-8 record. New Jersey defeated the rival New York Rangers in Round 1, marking the team's first playoff series win since they went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. They fell in five games to the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2.
Ruff was named one of three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, given to the coach of the year, for his efforts. He won the award previously in 2006 with the Buffalo Sabres.
The 63-year-old owns a 98-98-24 record in three seasons with the Devils. He ranks fifth on the NHL's all-time coaching wins list with 834 career victories.
Signing Ruff to a new deal will just be the first order of business for Fitzgerald. He has lots on his plate this offseason, including new deals for restricted free-agent forwards Jesper Bratt and prized trade deadline pickup Timo Meier.
Fitzgerald is optimistic a deal will get done with Bratt.
"We paused the talks prior to the playoffs which I think was the right thing to do," Fitzgerald said regarding Bratt. "There's definitely progression for sure. There's framework for a deal long-term if Jesper wants that. Jesper knows exactly what that framework looks like. I know Jesper wants to be a Devil long-term and so do we."
The GM has already reached out to Meier's agent about an extension.
"Meier knows that I believe this is the right place for Timo," Fitzgerald said. "He and his agent and I will talk and go through this and hopefully figure something out long-term."
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