New Jersey Devils part ways with general manager and president Tom Fitzgerald

The New Jersey Devils made the move many expected, but some didn’t believe would happen. They parted ways with general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

After a really promising start to his career at the top of the front office, Fitzgerald’s tenure as the Devils' general manager was soured by multiple mistakes over the last few years. After breaking a franchise record for points in 2022-23, the Devils seemed to move away from the impactful philosophy that made them a scary team for the next decade. 

The 2023-24 season was impossibly bad, with everything that possibly could go wrong going in the toilet. After that, it was overreaction city. 

The Devils had issues in net, so they traded a bounty for Jacob Markstrom. Despite a soft goalie market, Fitzgerald gave up a first-round pick and a young defenseman in Kevin Bahl. That wasn’t the most egregious part. It was the extension that Fitzgerald gave Markstrom that had everyone scratching their heads. He gave his starting goalie, despite dropping statistics and rising age, a two-year deal worth a total of $12 million. Now, because the contract is new, the Devils cannot buy the deal out.

The New Jersey Devils say goodbye to Tom Fitzgerald after a few years of big mistakes

There are multiple other issues at hand, including a second head coach that seems to be headed to the chopping block with multiple seasons still on his contract, a focus on “grit” that has the team still behind the Carolina Hurricanes, and a very expensive defensive core that is now blocking the young defenseman Fitzgerald took in the draft.

Speaking of the draft, Fitzgerald’s issues at the NHL Draft likely hurt his standing as GM, as well. He has way too many failures, including in the first round. He’s had seven first-round picks since taking over for the late Ray Shero. Three of those first-round picks are no longer on the team, one is floundering in the KHL, and former second-overall pick Simon Nemec is struggling to find his game consistently.

The Devils' brass was never going to be okay with what the last three years produced. With this version of Jack Hughes on the roster, even with his injury history, missing the playoffs cannot be acceptable. Shero left a really good core in place for Fitzgerald to build from, but he hasn’t done enough to make it last long term. 

Despite their late-season run, Fitzgerald’s Devils team wasn’t making the playoffs. They need a miracle, and that might not even be enough. That’s why Fitzgerald is on the unemployment line on Monday evening.

Well, that and the fact that other teams are trying to cut the line for GM candidates. Right now, Nashville and Toronto are actively looking at candidates. Devils ownership didn’t want to miss the boat on their top candidate. And a GM would be happy to handle Jack Hughes’s prime, even with so many no-trade clauses on this roster.