The New Jersey Devils announced on Monday evening that they have parted ways with General Manager Tom Fitzgerald. They will be looking for a new person to fill the position as the team looks to take the next step in their winning window.
The 2025-26 season didn’t go according to plan, and Fitzgerald is taking the fall for it. He has made some noteworthy moves since taking over in 2020, but the mistakes became too much to overcome in terms of sticking around for another year. The Devils let him go with one year remaining on his extension.
Now, a GM will take over a team that has an established core, an expectation to win, and plenty of holes that need to be filled. They will have a lot of pressure on them to have a big summer, which looks like one of the most important off-seasons in franchise history.
Of all the things that the new hire must focus on, a handful of tasks are more important than others:
1. Make sure Jack Hughes is happy and healthy
Since the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina ended with Jack Hughes scoring the Golden Goal, he has come back to the United States and dominated the National Hockey League. He is healthy, confident, and productive.
In New Jersey’s 20 post-Olympic NHL games, Hughes has 13 goals, 23 assists, and 36 points. That’s a 148-point pace, which leads the NHL in that span. These are the types of players organizations dream about when they win a draft lottery.
Hughes will be 25 next season, still ahead of his true prime. The fact that he can get even better is something that the next GM must take advantage of. That means making sure he is healthy, happy, and surrounded by good talent on his line and the team as a whole.
2. Figure out the plan for Quinn Hughes
Speaking of making Jack Hughes happy, few things would do so as much as the Devils bringing in his brother Quinn Hughes. At the Olympics, it is clear that the two feed off each other both on and off the ice.
Quinn is also a world-class defenseman. He has a case to be considered the best at his position, and he’s no lower than second at any given time. The Devils would become even more dynamic offensively if he were added.
The Vancouver Canucks traded Quinn to the Minnesota Wild in December. Missing out on him likely played a role in Fitzgerald’s eventual demise. It is up to the new GM to figure out if his plan is still to eventually play with his brothers in the NHL.
3. Add scoring depth, including a top-six goal scorer
The Devils need some help up front. They have the high-end talent in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier, but they need another top-six sniper to go with this group. Of that quad, only Meier is a “shoot first” player.
In the bottom six, they need more. We’ll see how long Dawson Mercer and Arseny Gritsyuk stick with the team, but they will need help either way. Getting more scoring from up and down the lineup will play a key role in any future success.
4. Sort out the situation on defense
The Devils have some question marks on defense. There are a handful of guys back there who make a lot of money. One of them, Luke Hughes, is not going anywhere. What about beyond that?
The Devils tried to move Dougie Hamilton during the regular season, but to no avail. That also played a role in Fitzgerald failing to get what he needed to keep his job. The next GM must sort that out.
Also, Simon Nemec needs a contract. Is he going to get what Luke Hughes got or more? Is that a mistake? Should they move on from him for help up front? There is a lot of risk involved with all of these options, but making the right decision could positively impact the Devils for the next decade.
5. Extend Nico Hischier as soon as possible
It’s hard to believe, but the New Jersey Devils are already at the point where they need to give Nico Hischier another big contract extension. He is likely going to be paid for what he is, one of the best two-way centers in the NHL.
Hischier doesn't blow you away with incredibly pretty plays or gaudy offensive statistics, but he's capable of scoring big goals, putting up tons of points, and playing a truly honest game in all three zones.
It is going to be on the next general manager in place to take care of getting New Jersey's captain and former number one overall pick signed to an extension.