Devils GM starts coaching search; interim Travis Green in mix

NEWARK, N.J. — General supervisor Tom Fitzgerald is in search of a brand new coach for the New Jersey Devils and interim skipper Travis Green stays in the working for the job.

Speaking three days after the Devils ended a disappointing season by lacking the playoffs, Fitzgerald mentioned he hopes to have a full-time coach in place for the NHL draft in late June.

“Travis is well aware of my intentions,” Fitzgerald mentioned Thursday. “I owe it to the organization to make sure I was following the coaching world with who I believe would be the perfect coach for this group moving forward for what’s available out there.”

Fitzgerald needs his coach to be an individual who can talk together with his gamers whereas holding them accountable.

Green checks a lot of these bins, together with being a no-nonsense coach, Fitzgerald mentioned. He mentioned there are different coaches to be thought of and others would possibly turn out to be obtainable, probably after the primary spherical of the postseason.

A 12 months after posting a franchise-record 112 factors and successful a first-round playoff sequence with the Rangers, the younger Devils took a serious step again this season, ending seventh in the Metropolitan Division and thirteenth in the Eastern Conference. They went 38-39-5 for 81 factors. Their objectives towards went from 226 in 2022-23 to 283. Their objectives for, goals-against differential went from plus-65 to minus-19.

They did not win greater than three video games in a row.

It led to the firing of Lindy Ruff in March and the promotion of Green from affiliate head coach to interim coach. New Jersey was 30-27-4 when Ruff was relieved. Green went 8-12-1, dropping eight instances by a purpose if open-net scores weren’t counted, he mentioned.

Green mentioned he has talked with Fitzgerald briefly for the reason that season ended and the 2 will discuss extra in the approaching weeks.

“I want to be the head coach of the New Jersey Devils,” mentioned Green, who beforehand was the top coach in Vancouver from 2017 by means of the early a part of the 2021-22 season.

Green mentioned he discovered lots throughout his 21-game stint and he thinks he’ll have the ability to do extra if he can take the workforce by means of a coaching camp in September.

“It’s an exciting, exciting group and I think the future is bright,” Green mentioned.

The Devils are younger and they’re loaded with expert gamers up entrance with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer, Timo Meier and Alexander Holtz. The again finish missed star defenseman Dougie Hamilton a lot of the season with a pectoral harm, forcing prospects Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec to play greater than anticipated.

Fitzgerald mentioned house owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer have given him the autonomy to make the required adjustments.

“I know exactly what this team needs,” Fitzgerald mentioned. “I know exactly what these individuals need. I know what they want and they crave. They’ve been craving.”

What’s apparent was that the Devils missed the mark this season, possibly as a result of opponents discovered how one can take care of their velocity. Struggling on protection and in purpose did not assist.

“We expected more,” defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler mentioned. “We had big goals at the start of the year, especially after last year. But in sports you win or lose and this year we didn’t reach our expectations. We have a lot to learn, but I think we have a big future in front of us.”