New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald did not mince words when he addressed the media during his end-of-season availability on Apr. 18.
“We don’t want this to happen again. We do have a lot of talent on this team, extraordinary amount of talent. We are a fast team when we think and play quick. The maturity of this team has to continue to grow, and that’s everyone.”
Despite their surprising success in the 2022-23 season, Fitzgerald understands there is another step his club needs to take.
“There’s another level that we have to get to, and I’m not just talking about on the ice,” he continued. “I’m talking about off the ice, too. Leading the way off the ice. Doing things in the weight room is as important as the extra stuff you do on the ice, whether it’s D drills, faceoffs for centers, or wall play for wingers. It’s all-encompassing. We’ve got to get there.”
Fitzgerald wasted little time addressing his roster, starting with his depth pieces.
In the weeks following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, the club re-signed forwards Shane Bowers, Ryan Schmelzer, Max Willman, Nathan Legare, Samuel Laberge, Brian Halonen, and Kurtis MacDermid.
The Devils also signed goaltender Jakub Malek and defenseman Seamus Casey to entry-level contracts.
On May 23, Sheldon Keefe was announced as the new head coach of the Devils.
“Finding the right coach to lead this team was our top priority, and Sheldon impressed us during every step of the interview process,” Devils’ Managing Partner David Blitzer said. “He shares in our goal to unlock the full potential of this roster and deliver a fourth Stanley Cup to our fans.”
Once Fitzgerald had solved his problem behind the bench, he continued to add to his roster by making five significant trades in June.
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Acquired a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft (goaltender Mikhail Yegorov) and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for defenseman John Marino and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The first of July marked the start of free agency, and Fitzgerald got to work to get the following players under contract.
The club additionally signed prospect Cam Squires to his three-year entry-level contract in July. The 19-year-old completed his third year in the QMJHL last season with the Cape Breton Eagles, where he led the team with 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists).
Newark, NJ July 11, 2023 –…