Lindy Ruff Continues To Take Responsibility For Devils Shortcomings

It is only two games into the season, but there is definitely pressure on head coach Lindy Ruff and the New Jersey Devils to perform. This was evident Saturday night during the Devils’ second loss of the season to the Detroit Red Wings. The team’s first came last Thursday against their division rival the Philadelphia Flyers.

With the BOOO birds reigning down from the faithful at the Prudential during the Devils home when Lindy Ruff was introduced as head coach to the “Fire Lindy!” chants at the end of the game, Devils fans expected more from the team this year and so did their head coach. But like a man Ruff owned it after the game.

“I take full responsibility for when this team loses,” Lindy Ruff said to reporters post-game on Saturday night following the 5-2 loss to the Red Wings.

But it is an all too familiar tune with Ruff and the Devils. Go back to last season and listen to Ruff speak. He talks about the same mistakes leading to turnovers and pucks in the back of the net.

“The same things happen to our club over and over, ill-advised mistakes that turn into goals against. Careless decisions with the puck that turn into goals against,” Ruff said. “All that’s on me. That’s my responsibility. The way this team plays is my responsibility.”

That quote was against the Detroit Red Wings on December 19th, 2021. However, that could very well have been taken from Saturday night or last Thursday night’s loss as well. Clearly, something is not clicking for the Devils and it needs to quickly.

As Ruff pointed out, the fans deserve better than what they are getting on the ice right now.

“We have passionate fans here and they are used to winning. Ruff added post-game. “That is part of my business and part of my job. There is a great history here [meaning New Jersey]. The fans want Ws up on the board it is simple as that.”

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Expectations were a lot higher for this team considering the work general manager Tom Fitzgerald did during the offseason to improve areas of weakness. Did anyone expect this team to make a giant leap and make the playoffs? No. But they certainly expected this team to be in the mix until the very end. At least playing “meaningful games” in March and April and not having the season over in November. But yet again it is Groundhog’s Day as the Devils are in an all too familiar spot.

Entering the season Ruff’s seat was already warm. Now his seat is getting even hotter. Especially with Andrew Brunette on the coaching staff. Brunette took over head coaching duties for Joel Quenneville last season with the Florida Panthers. The situation in Florida was tough and so is the situation in New Jersey as Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek of Sportsnet discussed on the Monday edition of 32 Thoughts Podcast.

With the Devils looking to take the next step and already out of the gates slow and Brunette potentially in waiting, the Devils organization is opening themselves up to some tough questions. Most notably if they fire Ruff right away, many will wonder why they did not do in the off-season. Most are asking that question right now. And pardon the pun, but Ruff is already feeling the heat from the flames that is burning his seat right now.

And while it is early, things could slip away fast if the results do not come. Not to mention with Ruff’s assistants were fired in the off-season, the next domino to fall is always the head coach. Especially if the losing continues. A tense situation could be made even worse if the Devils have similar performances to the one this weekend.

“At the end of the day, there’s one thing that matters here. The expectations were high, and again, it’s early but we say this. We all looked and said, if New Jersey doesn’t have a good year, there could be consequences. And this is a really tough spot for an organization to be in because you want to give your coach time to find his way and the teams way, and if you make a change, people are going to look at you and say, ‘why didn’t you just do it last year? You didn’t give him a chance, two games for example. But if this doesn’t turn around fast, You can see it coming.” – Friedman on 32 Thoughts

But you have to wonder if Ruff was the right choice for such a young team that had defensive issues to begin with. Lindy Ruff did not exactly shout defensive hockey when he was with the Dallas Stars. In fact, the Stars were one of the worst defensive teams in the league. And with the Rangers, things did not get much better.

Now there is still time to turn the corner since the season is only two games young, but it has to happen right away, or else not only is Lindy Ruff’s seat hot, but general manager Tom Fitzgerald’s as well.