The Devils had a hard time finding consistency in defense and goaltending. They rank 26th in the NHL in goals conceded per game (3.49) and 17th in the penalty kill (79.2 percent). New Jersey ranks 31st in team save percentage (.882), ahead of only the Ottawa Senators (.880).
Goalie Vitek Vanecek, out since Feb. 10 with a lower-body injury, has a 17-9-3 record in 32 games (29 starts) with a 3.18 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. Nico Daws is 8-10-0 with a 3.47 GAA and .887 save percentage in 18 games. Akira Schmid is 5-8-1 with a 3.09 GAA and a .897 save percentage in 18 games (14 starts).
Green was hired on June 22 to coach the forwards and direct the power play after Andrew Brunette was named coach of the Nashville Predators on May 31. The 53-year-old previously coached the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 to 2021 (133-147). 34) and helped them advance to the second round of the Western Conference in 2020. He was released on December 6, 2021 after 25 games (8-15-2).
New Jersey finished 26th or worse in five of the last seven seasons and won the NHL Draft Lottery twice, selecting center Nico Hischier No. 1 in 2017 and center Jack Hughes No. 1 in 2019. It selected forward Alexander Holtz with the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, defenseman Luke Hughes with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and defenseman Simon Nemec with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Devils lost veteran defensemen Damon Severson (via trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 27) and Ryan Graves (via free agency to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1), but signed key free agents who made significant contributions in the offseason have accomplished.
Timo Meier signed an eight-year contract on June 28th. The 27-year-old forward could have become a restricted free agent, but he bought out of the Devils and everything they had to offer after being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on February 26. Before signing Meier, the Devils signed forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year contract on June 15 and forward Erik Haula to a three-year contract eight days later.
New Jersey signed forward Tyler Toffoli from the Calgary Flames on June 27 and defenseman Colin Miller from the Dallas Stars on July 1. Toffoli has one season left on a four-year contract. Miller has one season left on a two-year contract.
Striker Tomas Nosek signed a one-year contract on July 19 and defender Kevin Bahl received a two-year contract on July 31.
The core group of forwards, which includes Jack Hughes, Hischier and Ondrej Palat, as well as defenders Dougie Hamilton, John Marino and Jonas Siegenthaler, all previously had long-term contracts. Hamilton is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a torn left pectoral muscle on December 1st.
Injuries have limited Jack Hughes and Hischier to 45 and 50 games, respectively.
Ruff replaced Alain Nasreddine, who had a 19-16-8 record with New Jersey before the NHL season was suspended on March 12, 2020 due to coronavirus concerns. Nasreddine was appointed coach when John Hynes was fired on December 3, 2019.
Ruff coached in the NHL for 23 seasons, including 15 with the Buffalo Sabers and four with the Dallas Stars. He was also hired by the Rangers as an assistant on July 10, 2017. He is fourth in NHL history in wins (864) and games coached (1,774).
The Sabers reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Final, losing six games to the Stars in Ruff's second season. He won the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year in 2005-06 and finished second to Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks in 2006-07. As an assistant to Doug MacLean, Ruff helped the Florida Panthers reach the Cup Final in 1996 when they were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche.
Ruff is the seventh NHL coach to be fired this season, joining Todd McLellan (Los Angeles Kings), Lane Lambert (New York Islanders), DJ Smith (Ottawa Senators), Jay Woodcroft (Edmonton Oilers), Dean Evason (Minnesota Wild). will be Craig Berube (St. Louis Blues).