Devils reward head coach Lindy Ruff with multi-year extension

The New Jersey Devils announced a multi-year contract extension for head coach Lindy Ruff on Wednesday.

Ruff's new deal comes after New Jersey exceeded expectations in 2022-23, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with 112 points. The Devils were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the playoffs.

The club is well-positioned for an extended run of success thanks to a talented young core led by superstar Jack Hughes.

“I’m thrilled to commit here to this situation and couldn’t be prouder of the great progress that our group made last season,” Ruff said in a release. “We have a special group in Jersey and there’s an opportunity to accomplish long-term success, make a lot of positive memories and give our fans a lot to cheer about – because our Devils’ fan base is one of the best in the league and they deserve to see a winner.”

The 63-year-old was one of three finalists for last season's Jack Adams Award, given annually to the league's top head coach. Ruff earned the honor in 2006 when he was at the helm of the Buffalo Sabres.

The Warburg, Alberta native is best known for his 15 seasons behind the Sabres' bench, but he also served as the Dallas Stars' head coach for four seasons from 2013-17 before joining the Devils in 2020. He has coached 1,713 games over his career, amassing an 834-652-78-149 record. Those 834 wins rank him first among active coaches.

“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,” Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. “I’ve always believed that Lindy was, and continues to be, the right man behind the bench for this team.

"From the beginning, he’s done a tremendous job piloting our young group, and we’re excited to see this team’s continued success under his watch as we take the next steps.”

New Jersey opens its 2023-24 campaign on Thursday when it hosts the Detroit Red Wings.