NEWARK, N.J. — Lindy Ruff is taking on the job of getting the New Jersey Devils back to the playoffs.
It's no small task. The Devils have missed the
The Devils (28-29-12) just missed that group after a 10-5-2 finish under interim coach Alain Nasreddine. They have some talent with goaltenders Mackenzie Blackwood and Corey Crawford, left wing Kyle Palmieri and young
“I want to create hope and the hope is that we have some unknowns, we have some young players that nobody has seen,” said Ruff, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant with the Rangers. “There’s an opportunity for these young players to step in and be difference-makers. We’ve added a couple of really good
If you look at Ruff's career, he took over the Dallas Stars in 2013-14 and ended a five-year playoff drought in his first season. New Jersey last made the
The players will definitely enjoy Ruff's up-tempo style if they can remember to be responsible on
“I think there’s excitement,” said
JACK HUGHES
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft had a tough rookie season. He finished with seven goals and 14 assists and was a minus-26.
Hughes has immense talent. He created a lot of opportunities. He just didn't find the net. His other problem was he was teenager playing with men. They knocked him down repeatedly.
Hughes bulked up in the long
NICO HISCHIER
Believe it or not, the 22-year-old Hischier is entering his fourth season after being taken No. 1 overall in the 2017 draft. He had 14 goals and 22 assists in 58 games last season. His faceoff rate improved to a career-best 52% last season.
The Devils are hoping Hischier will be ready for the opener. He sustained a leg injury working out in Switzerland before camp and probably won't participate in training camp.
THE START
The Devils can't afford another start like last season, when they opened 0-4-2 and never recovered.
The first game set the tone. They led Winnipeg 4-0 with less than a minute left in the second period and lost 5-4 in a shootout.
Palmieri said the start showed how fragile the team was.
“We have to find a way even if the game doesn’t go well,” Palmieri said. “You’re going to get another shot at it a day or two later the way the schedule works, probably against the same team. So being fragile as a group isn’t something that we have an option for this year.”
NEW LOOK
Lots of new faces, with the most well known being the 36-year-old Crawford, who was signed as a free agent along with
SCHEDULE WATCH
The Devils are in a brutal division with the Bruins, Sabres, Islanders, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins and Capitals. The season gets underway with consecutive home games against Boston on Jan. 14 and 16.
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Tom Canavan, The Associated Press