Many New Jersey Devils fans are celebrating the first day of NHL training camp this week, but it won’t be long until all American hockey fans are looking towards the Olympics. Team USA is going to have NHL players on it for the first time since 2014.
Back then, Nashville Predators GM David Poile led personnel matters that season, and former New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero was the associate GM of that Team USA squad. That’s why it’s fitting that Tom Fitzgerald is joining the staff his mention once held.
Fitzgerald will serve as an assistant GM under Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin. He has two big roles this season, as he also has to figure out the future of Kirill Kaprozov, but building the Team USA roster will be up there with his top priorities.
This assignment won’t come as a big surprise. Fitzgerald was a part of the 4 Nations Face-Off Team USA leadership group. When that assignment was announced, along with New York Rangers GM Chris Drury and Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito, they were also announced as part of the management group for Team USA.
In addition to Fitzgerald, Zito, and Drury, Chris Kelleher, John Vanbiesbrouck, and Stan Bowman are joining Guerin’s staff.
Most expect Jack Hughes to make the Team USA roster, but with Fitzgerald in a decision-making role, it gives players like Brett Pesce and Luke Hughes a better chance to make the roster.
Fitzgerald isn’t the only member of the Devils announced as part of the staff today. Equipment manager Chris Scoppetto is joining the Team USA staff. He held a similar role for the 4 Nations Face-Off as well.