The New Jersey Devils come into this season with different goals for Tom Fitzgerald than they had in his first full season as GM. They spent to the moon this offseason, and they have a core of young players who should become stars. Going all in on Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Graves, Tomas Tatar, and Jonathan Bernier shows the Devils are expected to be much, much better.
So far, things haven’t exactly worked out as planned. Both Bernier and Mackenzie Blackwood are out with injuries. Jack Hughes is also down with a major shoulder injury. The team is having trouble starting games off, and the special teams still seem to be an issue. Still, their record stands at 3-2, and they showed fight in their loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.
What are Tom Fitzgerald’s goals for the New Jersey Devils this season?
Every year, general managers set personal and team goals before the season starts. The importance of those goals depends on the GM, the team, and the situation the team is facing. This Devils team isn’t facing a make-or-break season by any means, but they are facing more expectations than they are used to.
This Devils team isn’t expected to compete for a Stanley Cup like the Toronto Maple Leafs or Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s not even a requirement the team makes the playoffs with how good the Metropolitan Division is. However, it is expected to make strides, and there are a few other goals on the list Fitzgerald likely has on his list.