A split after more than a decade
It’s a major shake-up in New Jersey. The Devils have officially parted company with Tom Fitzgerald, ending a partnership that lasted more than 11 years.
Fitzgerald arrived in 2015 as assistant general manager, climbed the ladder step by step, and became general manager in 2020 before adding hockey operations president to his title in 2024. It was a long run, a defining one. And it ends now in a tricky sporting moment.
#BREAKING: New Jersey Devils Managing Partner David Blitzer announced today that Tom Fitzgerald will depart the organization.
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 6, 2026
For now, no replacement has been named, leaving the club’s next move up in the air.
Results all over the place
Under Tom Fitzgerald, the New Jersey Devils have had their highs and lows.
The peak came in the 2022-2023 season, when they set a franchise record with 112 points. It lit the fuse again, gave the club real hope, and hinted at a proper return to the elite.
But they couldn’t build on it. For all that progress, the Devils were dumped out in the second round of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes, then slipped backwards in the seasons that followed.
All told, Fitzgerald’s record as general manager stands at 218 wins, 204 losses and 39 overtime defeats — solid enough, but not enough to lock the team in among the league’s serious contenders.
A disappointing 2026 season
The decision comes in a brutally frustrating spell for New Jersey.
With a current record of 40-34-3, the franchise sits seventh in the Metropolitan Division and is heading for another playoff miss. If that holds, it would be their sixth failure to qualify in eight seasons.
That’s a hard pill to swallow for a club that wants to be taken seriously as a Stanley Cup threat.
Bold calls, but not enough
In recent months, Fitzgerald had tried to kick-start the whole operation.
He brought in Sheldon Keefe as head coach and pulled off a major trade to land goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames.
Big swings on paper. Didn’t really pay off on the ice. The Devils were knocked out in the first round after those changes anyway.
A mutual decision
According to the official line, the split was agreed by Fitzgerald and the club’s hierarchy, led by David Blitzer.
Blitzer praised Fitzgerald’s work, pointing in particular to the way he reshaped the team and made it a more attractive place to do business.
Fitzgerald, meanwhile, said the change was “the best decision for the team”, and thanked the organisation and its fans.
A strategic reset for the Devils
This departure opens a new chapter for New Jersey.
The next off-season is being billed as crucial, with the club saying it will explore every option to rebuild a competitive side that can aim high again.
Even with the recent setbacks, the Devils still have a young, talented core to build around. That matters. A lot.
What now?
The big question is succession. The next general manager will shape where this franchise goes from here.
Rebuild, tweak, or go for it now — all the doors are open.
One thing is clear: the New Jersey Devils are entering a defining stretch in their recent history, with one blunt aim — getting back among the NHL’s best.
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