Travis Green, the former coach of the Vancouver Canucks, is set to make his long-awaited return to the NHL after a year-and-a-half absence. However, he will take on a different role this time, serving as an assistant coach rather than a head coach.
According to a report by Elliotte Friedman, Green will be joining the coaching staff of the New Jersey Devils, working under the guidance of Lindy Ruff. The 52-year-old coach, originally from Castlegar, BC, was highly sought after for various assistant coaching positions, with both the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs expressing interest in his services.
Green’s last coaching stint in the NHL was on December 4, 2021, when the Canucks suffered a 4-1 defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins on their home ice. Shortly after that game, he, Jim Benning, John Weisbrod, and Nolan Baumgartner were relieved of their duties.
Despite not being actively involved as an NHL coach during the past year, Green continued to receive substantial compensation. The Canucks honoured his guaranteed contract by paying him $2.75 million for his final year.
During the previous year, Green took charge of Team Canada as their coach in the Spengler Cup. Additionally, he served as a senior advisor to the Swiss national team during the Karjala Cup.
Green’s tenure with the Canucks spanned five seasons as their head coach, accumulating a record of 133 wins, 147 losses, and 34 overtime losses in 314 games. Before his NHL head coaching role, he enjoyed four successful years as the head coach of the Utica Comets in the AHL. Interestingly, Green will now have a connection to Utica again, as the Comets currently serve as the AHL affiliate of the Devils.
Travis Green’s Addition Strengthens New Jersey Devils Coaching Staff
With Travis Green joining their coaching staff, the New Jersey Devils have significantly bolstered their lineup of mentors under the guidance of Lindy Ruff. Despite his absence from the NHL coaching scene, Green’s extensive experience and proven track record make him an invaluable asset to the Devils organization.
