The New Jersey Devils have moved on from general manager and hockey operations president Tom Fitzgerald, marking a significant front-office shakeup with just five games remaining in the 2025–26 season.
The decision, announced by managing partner David Blitzer, ends Fitzgerald’s tenure after multiple years at the helm of hockey operations. No interim replacement was named, and the organization is expected to begin an immediate search for a new GM.
A front office reset
Fitzgerald, 57, had been a central figure in the Devils’ modern era. After joining the organization in 2015 alongside the late Ray Shero, he steadily climbed the ranks from assistant GM to interim GM in 2020 before being named full-time general manager. He later added the president of hockey operations title in 2024.
Despite guiding the franchise to playoff appearances in 2023 and 2025, the Devils were unable to maintain momentum. After a franchise-record 112-point season in 2022–23 and a promising playoff run that included a first-round win over the New York Rangers, expectations rose — but results have since fallen short.
Missed expectations on a talented roster
The Devils entered the season with a core built around high-end talent, including Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier. However, consistency has been elusive.
With five games remaining, New Jersey sits outside the playoff picture and is effectively eliminated, reflecting a season that failed to meet internal and external expectations.
Timing and implications
The timing of Fitzgerald’s departure aligns with a broader trend across the league, where front-office changes are increasingly made before the offseason to allow new leadership time to evaluate rosters ahead of the NHL Draft and scouting combine.
The Devils’ next GM will inherit a team with foundational talent but clear questions about direction, depth, and roster construction.
Fitzgerald, who also has past ties to the Nashville Predators organization, is expected to draw interest elsewhere as other teams continue evaluating their own front-office structures.
What comes next
With a core still in place and organizational changes underway, New Jersey faces a critical offseason.
The next general manager will be tasked with stabilizing a team that has shown flashes of contention but has yet to translate potential into sustained success — a challenge that now defines the franchise’s immediate future.