Former NY Islanders forward named Interim Head Coach of the NJ Devils
After losing five of their last seven games and sitting seven points out of playoff position, the NJ Devils have fired Lindy Ruff, and named Associate Head Coach Travis Green the Interim Head Coach.
The Devils are battling the NY Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division or the second Wild Card position as we head into the final 20 games of the season.
Green, who's beginning his second head coaching job in the NHL, controlled the bench of the Vancouver Canucks from 2017-2022 and also has experience as a bench boss in juniors and the AHL.
βTravis has key experience running benches at the junior, AHL, and NHL levels and knows that there are no shortcuts to success," said Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald. "He is a high-demanding individual who is familiar with the group and excited about working to get us back on track.β
Green's NHL roots began on Long Island as a former second-round draft pick of the Islanders, playing some of the best hockey of his career during his time with the Isles.
Drafted 23rd overall in 1989, Green debuted with the Islanders during the 1992-93 season, playing in 61 games, plus 12 games in the postseason. During that year, he and Fitzgerald were teammates, helping the Isles to the Eastern Conference Finals. He played six seasons in blue and orange, having a career-best season in 1995-96. Finishing with 12 points a year earlier following an injury-riddled season, Green was a point-per-game player, totaling 70 points (25 G 45 A) in 69 games, finishing second to Ziggy Palffy for the team lead.
The Islanders traded Green at the 1998 trade deadline along with current assistant coach Doug Houda and Tony Tuzzolino to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for Jean-Jacques Daigneault, Mark Janssens, and Joe Sacco.
Among the three tri-state NHL teams, Peter Laviolette of the NY Rangers is now the longest-tenured of all three organizations, despite being in his first year with the Rangers.