3 Devils Coaching Candidates Not Named Travis Green

The New Jersey Devils need a new head coach.

Technically, they don’t really have one. Travis Green stepped in for Lindy Ruff as an interim when General Manager Tom Fitzgerald fired the now Buffalo Sabres head coach on March 4th.

Therefore, Fitzgerald has a decision to make now that the Devils’ season has come to an end. Will he lift Green’s interim tag? Or will he decide New Jersey needs a fresh start?

One thing is certain. If Green is a serious candidate, Fitzgerald will need to seriously investigate Green’s message that’s been mixed from the start of his interim status to his exit conference.

Otherwise, the Devils need a new leader who will get the most out of New Jersey’s plethora of superstars such as Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, and Nico Hischier. All while meshing well with veteran leaders such as Ondrej Palat who are here to help provide Stanley Cup pedigree in the locker room.

Certainly, Mike Sullivan has been a hot topic of discussion among New Jersey’s fanbase as the next bench boss due to his relationship with the Devils’ GM. However, it seems unlikely the Pittsburgh Penguins part with their beloved head coach, especially with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang still under contract.

Craig Berube

The former St. Louis Blues head coach has not left the NHL environment.

He’s been in the press box working as an NHL scout since he was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Blues, found his way on TV as an analyst, and is on the record stating he’d like to return behind an NHL bench sooner rather than later.

There’s a handful of coaching vacancies that need to be filled this summer, therefore, the belief is Berube won’t be without a coaching gig for much longer.

He’d certainly be a fit behind the Devils’ bench.

Both the Devils’ GM and players spoke plenty about holding each other accountable last week at locker cleanout. Berube’s reputation proceeds him as a demanding head coach who is unafraid to hold his players accountable.

In 2019, he propelled the Blues into a worst-to-first situation, leading St. Louis to an 11-game winning streak to close out the 2018-19 season, accruing a 38-19-6 record, sneaking into the playoffs, and catapulting his team to hoist the Stanley Cup.

Berube’s release from St. Louis since has proven the Blues’ issues were less about him and more about the roster construction.

The Devils can certainly use his leadership, accountability, and tendency to give his team a swift kick in the pants when needed.

Mitch Love

When the Calgary Flames didn’t promote Mitch Love from the Calgary Wranglers to the NHL club upon firing Daryl Sutter, the clock started to tick on Love’s departure from Alberta.

Thus, he’s now behind the bench as an assistant to Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbury.

The two-time AHL Coach of the Year is certainly in line to land an NHL coaching gig, perhaps as soon as this summer.

Love led the Wranglers (formerly Stockton Heat) to a combined 96-33-11 over two seasons.

Last fall, Elliotte Friedman explained on 32 Thoughts the Blog that before he was hired in Washington, “at least five teams asked to talk to him after Calgary elevated Ryan Huska to the number one spot. Maybe 2024 is The Summer of Love.”

One of the Devils’ highest priorities this offseason will not only be to address the goaltending but will also be to address the blue line structure. That’s both a personnel and structure issue, however, Love could be the answer to the latter. Love led the Wranglers to a 2.42 goals-against per game in the 2022-23 season and they had the best penalty kill in the league at 85.1%.

As for accountability, he checks that box, as well as feedback which were two points of emphasis by Fitzgerald that he wants in a head coach.

“Love often gives out reasonable punishment for poor performance and will change up lines if something isn’t clicking,” Drew Ostmoen writes via WinColumn. “He’s reportedly great at giving players feedback on their game and will make sure it doesn’t slide. He does this in a demanding but non-aggressive fashion which goes over well with his teams.”

Certainly, Fitzgerald would love to pluck Love from his division rival.

David Carle

The head coach at the University of Denver is certainly going to be a popular candidate.

Friedman explained on a recent 32 Thoughts Podcast that Carle isn’t going to just take any coaching gig in the NHL. He’ll likely only entertain an opportunity to win in the NHL as he and his family are happy with their situation in Denver.

He’d really need to be convinced,

Well, passing up the opportunity to be the head coach of a team that deploys the Hughes brothers, Meier, Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Dougie Hamilton, and Simon Nemec, among others, seems difficult to do.

Similar to Love at the AHL level, Carle is uber-successful at the NCAA level bringing Denver two Frozen Four Championships in 2019 & 2024. After he led the Pioneers to another championship this spring, Carle has been named USCHO.com Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 season in a vote of USCHO.com staff members.

In six seasons behind the bench in Denver, Carle’s led them to an absurd 148-62-16 record which translates to an absurd .690 win percentage.

All of Carle’s success has led him to the bench of Team USA at this summer’s World Junior tournament where he’ll coach top prospects such as Devils defenseman Seamus Casey, San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith, and Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier.

Carle is considered one of hockey’s brightest young minds and has done more with less in terms of talent on his roster. Now, imagine what he could do with a star-studded lineup.

If NHL head coaching experience isn’t a factor, Love and Carle should be atop Fitzgerald’s coaching candidates list.

If Jon Cooper and Jared Bednar taught us anything, previous NHL head coaching experience isn’t a must.

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