New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff didn't mince words while discussing the performance of his top defenseman Dougie Hamilton after Thursday night's 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

"I didn't like his game. It's not good enough for our team to win. You can't get scored against," Ruff said postgame. "I keep telling the team, if you want to play more, you can't get scored against. If you're a young player and want to play, don't get scored against.

"So, obviously I thought he could have been better."

Hamilton picked up an assist but posted a minus-three rating and took a pair of minor penalties while logging a team-high 24:51 in the contest. The 6-foot-6 blue-liner, who's recorded 34 points in 39 games and a plus-14 rating on the campaign, signed a seven-year, $63-million contract with the Devils as a free agent in the 2021 offseason.

But New Jersey's highest-paid player wasn't the only target of Ruff's criticism. With Ondrej Palat returning to the lineup, the bench boss explained the decision to make rookie forward Fabian Zetterlund a healthy scratch.

"Look at the numbers. It's got to be better than that," Ruff said. "If you're not producing, then you better be hitting. If you're not doing either one, then you've got to bring something to the table.

"Look at what (Alexander Holtz) brought the night before, he deserved to stay in. (Zetterlund) needs to bring more. You've either got to produce, or you've got to be a guy that the other team hates playing against."

Zetterlund was getting some early Calder Trophy consideration after popping off for 13 points in his first 20 games this season. However, he's tallied just a lone assist in the 13 contests since, collecting 10 hits in that span.

The Devils have come crashing down to earth after a torrid start, going 3-8-2 in their last 13 games.

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