Toronto should have former Leaf Tom Fitzgerald on its shortlist for GM
Photo credit: Tom Horak-Imagn Images
With the New Jersey Devils parting ways with GM Tom Fitzgerald, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to be proactive and reach out to the former player for their GM vacancy.
The front office and coaching changes keep coming even late into the NHL season as the New Jersey Devils announced they were going to be parting ways with GM Tom Fitzgerald as the team looks towards a new direction:
The Devils also put out a statement on the matter courtesy of Managing Partner David Blitzer:
Tom and I had a thoughtful conversation today and agreed it was time to move in a new direction. Tom changed the trajectory of our team here, including setting a franchise record for points in a season and helping make New Jersey a hockey destination.
He is a well-respected leader across the Devils’ organization and NHL, and I am grateful for our friendship. I wish Tom and his family all the best.
He is a well-respected leader across the Devils’ organization and NHL, and I am grateful for our friendship. I wish Tom and his family all the best.
The Tom Fitzgerald fallout and why a former Maple Leaf is the ultimate value reset
Fitzgerald spent six seasons with the Devils since being named interim GM in 2020, then transitioning into the full-time position that summer and became President of Hockey Operations in 2024.
But he would be the exact person Toronto needs to target not only because of his resume, as he turned New Jersey into a perennial powerhouse and managed to draft some pretty impressive names — but because he's a former player who knows the importance of playing for the crest.
He spent two seasons with the Maple Leafs to finish out his NHL career, and also managed to play in his 1,000th game with the club; coincidentally alongside Gary Roberts who was also celebrating his 1,000th NHL game.
But he was a part of a Maple Leafs team that was at least moderately successful in the postseason and his name harkens back to a time where Toronto wasn't exactly full of tension and criticism; it was there sure, but it was masked by the positives.
The territory of fear and why Toronto needs to act quickly
Teams are afraid that whoever they have in charge may not be enough to get them over the top and they are cutting ties before taking the risk.
Toronto is a team with nothing to really lose in terms of a management standpoint, as they are on the hunt for a new front office leader as well as potentially an entire coaching staff.
But as we've seen with them not being proactive in making a move for Peter DeBoer (which may or may not have been a good idea in the first place), the team can't afford to slack.
Reports earlier stated that Keith Pelley and MLSE were hoping to have someone in place by the end of May, and with an executive like Fitzgerald now available, they could accelerate that even quicker by signing him.
There has been heavy interest from the Nashville Predators regarding Fitzgerald, as he could take over for Barry Trotz and also was the first captain in franchise history — he's got the name value there too.
Which is why Toronto can't wait to see what they could find if they truly want to expedite the process. You have a successful and now available leader who knows why winning matters for the Maple Leafs.
Stop wasting time, go out and get him.
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