The hockey world is still reeling from the report detailing sexual abuse allegations against members of the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks team. There were reports of a cover-up and disgusting allegations of continued abuse against players. It was very, very disturbing. It forced Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman to resign from his posts with the team and with Team USA. Now, Team USA is looking for a new GM.
There are reports that the Olympic team is considering Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin because he was already working with Bowman on building the roster, but now there is a report he’s also under investigation for his handling of an unrelated sexual assault investigation. That seems like something Team USA wants to avoid at all costs. It seems like they will have to look at a GM who has avoided this issue entirely, even if the issue with Guerin is still in its investigation stage.
New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is an American who is eligible to take over as Team USA GM. Obviously, he’s been with the Devils for six years, and he’s been the team’s GM going on two years. He’s been an assistant GM for almost a decade, so he has plenty of experience in the front office. He’s led AHL guys, been an assistant coach, and worked with just about everyone during his time in Newark.
Fitzgerald has a past with Team USA. He was on the 1987 World Juniors team that finished in fourth place in Czechoslovakia. He also played in the 1989 and 1991 World Championships.
Fitzgerald was an assistant coach for the Americans back in 2007 when the team was going for the Deutschland Cup, an international tournament held by the German Ice Hockey Federation. He helped the team get second place in the tournament.
Former Devils GM Ray Shero was on the U.S. Men’s National Team management group starting in 2017, and he likely worked with Fitzgerald on his decisions for Team USA. Shero also ran Team USA in 2014 for the Sochi Olympics when Fitzgerald had been Shero’s assistant for five years. Shero was taking over for David Poile, so who knows how much he had to do with the picking of players, but it was an experience he likely shared at least slightly with Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald has been around American hockey all of his life, and he has a chance to help it in its time of need. It will distract him slightly from his role as the New Jersey Devils GM, but it’s not like things will be incredibly busy from now until the Olympic break. The small possibility there could be a trade from now until then shouldn’t take away from this experience for him.
Of course, another option would be for Team USA to ask Lou Lamoriello to lead USA into the Olympics. He’s the perfect guy to get this team back on track after a major controversy. Still, if he doesn’t want it, Fitzgerald would be a great choice.