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Posted this in ACGM, but probably should have posted here:
Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has always been a very straightforward manager. While many of his transactions have caught some by surprise, they really shouldn’t.
When he says he wants to add “playoff experience” we should not have been shocked at Haula and Palat additions. When he says he wants a more “long but mobile defensive core”, adding Graves, Marino and drafting Hughes, Nemec should be no surprise. When he said he wants “heavier skill upfront” that leads to Timo acquisition.
Last week, he spoke to press after signing an extension. Here are his words:
On adding: “I’m always looking to improve the team, there are areas I’d like to improve, whether it’s depth defensemen, whether it’s looking in the goaltending market. I can’t force teams to trade people to me. My phone is constantly working and calling teams. That’s what we do this time of year to gauge each other’s thoughts and interests, what they’re thinking, what we’re thinking, and if there’s a match in there somewhere. That’s part of the process of being a general manager. It’s always staying connected to the other teams and what they’re trying to do and where we are at that point.”
My take: “Depth Defenseman” is top-of-mind. (Although not sure DeSimone was what he had in mind). I think a trade like Siegenthaler move is what he would be looking for.
Also….there is one Fitzgerald-critic covering NJD that has been pushing rumors for months that Fitzy has been running around the league trying to find a goalie. This reporter has claimed that NJD is calling about every goalie name that pops up. And many NJD fans have bought into it. But Fitzy has also said that he does not like to address goaltending in-season.
(Note this is the same reporter that said we knew Holtz was to be in Meier trade and it was down to whether we add Mercer or not. He is the same reporter that claimed NJD was shopping around McLeod earlier in the season, only to backtrack the following day. And same reporter that has claimed we have made offers for numerous goaltenders during this season…yet some of those teams have claimed they have not gotten offers for their goalie. Best to just ignore him.
Here are Fitzy’s own words: “I’m not going to say I’m cool with (our goaltending). I want our goalies to play better, no doubt. But we want our players to play better in front of them. We still have some areas of the game that need cleaned up. That’s a daily process with players and teams. Hockey is a game of mistakes. If we can minimize the mistakes that turn into big chances, then we’re getting better. We have some work to do there.”
My take: He isn’t looking to replace goalies, but wants to clean up play in front of goalies. Minimize mistakes, turn possession into chances for. This does not sound like a GM pinning our issues on the goalie. He also said that Schmid was down in Utica for a reset and made it sound like he will be back.
Here is what Fitzy said about our coach: “The thing I love about Lindy is his attitude never changes. It’s calm. It’s matter of fact. It’s coaching. He’s the same person he was a year ago. He’s the same coach he was 10 years ago. He’s passionate about coaching, he’s patient about teaching, he’s patient about helping players get better.”
My take: He does not sound like he is firing Lindy. (And important that he didn’t take Injuries-are-problem approach to backing Fitzy…as he clearly sees Lindy as part of solution).
On Toffoli, “I’ve had multiple conversations with his agent. We’ll sit down (at the break) just to see where he’s at, what’s he thinking and talk about is there a marriage here moving forward. I like Tyler Toffoli. I think he was a really good add to our team because of his professionalism and winning pedigree. But it is a business.”
My take: No real clarity in what happens here. To me, the timing of the talks (before deadline) and the last line about “it’s a business” tells me he may become available if he doesn’t extend in-season.
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Overall…I believe the takeaways would be:
1. Fix puck control, get back to system hockey
2. Don’t expect new goalie this year
3. Don’t expect Fitzy firing
4. No Toffoli extension in February means he probably hits market in March
(It’s gonna be a boring deadline)
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