The New Jersey Devils hired Lindy Ruff as their new head coach this past July. Ruff is now starting to full his staff with some big names in the NHL.

Among the new staff is assistant coach Mark Recchi – a Hockey Hall of Famer and three-time Stanley Cup champion.

“Playing against [Ruff] and against his teams for so long, I have a great feel for what he does and I know he lets his players play. He lets his skill guys play and I think that’s important,” says Recchi.

Recchi spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he specialized in the power play. He says that he is excited to work with some of the younger Devils players like Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.

“I really want to help these younger layers and the New Jersey Devils – all the players - to build something special here,” he says.

Recchi says that he will also use his prior playing experience to help coach up the team. He has played more than 1,6000 games in his 22 years in the NHL and has scored 577 goals.

“It’s exciting. I think we have the opportunity to have some great set ups, some great structures and hopefully put it together where we’re going to be a threat every time we get out there,” he says.

With the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs currently in progress, the NHL has tentatively slated the next season to begin in December.