New Jersey Devils common supervisor Tom Fitzgerald didn’t mince phrases when he addressed the media throughout his end-of-season availability on Apr. 18.
“We do not need this to occur once more. We do have quite a lot of expertise on this workforce, extraordinary quantity of expertise. We’re a quick workforce after we suppose and play fast. The maturity of this workforce has to proceed to develop, and that is everybody.”
Regardless of their stunning success within the 2022-23 season, Fitzgerald understands there’s one other step his membership must take.
“There’s one other stage that now we have to get to, and I am not simply speaking about on the ice,” he continued. “I am speaking about off the ice, too. Main the way in which off the ice. Doing issues within the weight room is as essential as the additional stuff you do on the ice, whether or not it is D drills, faceoffs for facilities, or wall play for wingers. It is all-encompassing. We have to get there.”
Fitzgerald wasted little time addressing his roster, beginning along with his depth items.
Within the weeks following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, the membership re-signed forwards Shane Bowers, Ryan Schmelzer, Max Willman, Nathan Legare, Samuel Laberge, Brian Halonen, and Kurtis MacDermid.
The Devils additionally signed goaltender Jakub Malek and defenseman Seamus Casey to entry-level contracts.
On Could 23, Sheldon Keefe was introduced as the brand new head coach of the Devils.
“Discovering the precise coach to guide this workforce was our high precedence, and Sheldon impressed us throughout each step of the interview course of,” Devils’ Managing Associate David Blitzer said. “He shares in our aim to unlock the complete potential of this roster and ship a fourth Stanley Cup to our followers.”
As soon as Fitzgerald had solved his drawback behind the bench, he continued so as to add to his roster by making 5 important trades in June.
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Acquired a second-round decide within the 2024 NHL Draft (goaltender Mikhail Yegorov) and a second-round decide within the 2025 NHL Draft in alternate for defenseman John Marino and a fifth-round decide within the 2024 NHL Draft.
The primary of July marked the beginning of free company, and Fitzgerald started working to get the next gamers beneath contract.
The membership moreover signed prospect Cam Squires to his three-year entry-level contract in July. The 19-year-old accomplished his third 12 months within the QMJHL final season with the Cape Breton Eagles, the place he led the workforce with 72 factors (33 objectives, 39 assists).
Newark, NJ July 11, 2023 — Ahead, Cam Squires the second decide the Devils took on this 12 months s draft, participates within the NJ Devils 2023 Growth Camp for younger gamers and coaches at their RWJ Well being Hockey Home observe facility in Newark&interval; The camp runs by way of Friday&interval;
The Devils secured their goaltending tandem with the Markstrom acquisition, lastly acquiring a bonafide starter to share the online with veteran Jake Allen.
With Markstrom and Allen defending the aim in New Jersey, the Devils’ remaining younger goaltenders can give attention to their improvement within the American Hockey League (AHL) or ECHL. The Devils have Nico Daws (23), Isaac Poulter (22), Tyler Brennan (20), and Malek (22) all within the pipeline, with Malek spending subsequent season abroad.
The blue line was anticipated to alter after 2023-24, and throughout the 2024 NHL Draft, New Jersey despatched Marino to Utah. The 27-year-old regressed after a profitable 2022-23 season and was shortly changed by Pesce, who can be a top-four defenseman in New Jersey.
Fitzgerald made certain to have defensive depth, and along with buying Kovacevic, the membership introduced again Nick DeSimone on a one-year, one-way contract and restricted free agent (RFA) Santeri Hatakka on a one-year, two-way contract.
Up entrance, the Devils wanted to deal with their depth. After parting methods with Tomas Nosek and Chris Tierney, the Devils signed Noesen and bought Cotter.
Whereas the commerce for Cotter was criticized, as Vegas acquired two younger gamers with an upside, the Canton, Michigan native performs a sport that Fitzgerald needed so as to add to his lineup.
“Including a man like Paul Cotter, who we imagine has upside and has a bit of little bit of Miles Wood in him, he can skate, he is bodily. The items and the id that we have been in search of,” Fitzgerald mentioned.
Throughout a media availability over the summer season, Fitzgerald shared that the plan is to start out the season with Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Erik Haula, and Curtis Lazar down the center. On the wing, interchangeable gamers, together with Ondrej Palat, Dawson Mercer, and Tatar, can play first, second, or third-line minutes.
NHL.com has projected the beneath Devils lineup to start the 2024-25 season.
Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt
Ondrej Palat – Jack Hughes – Dawson Mercer
Stefan Noesen – Erik Haula – Tomas Tatar
Paul Cotter – Curtis Lazar – Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce
Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
Mar 24, 2024; Elmont, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils have fun the aim by New Jersey Devils proper wing Timo Meier (28) towards the New York Islanders throughout the second interval at UBS Enviornment&interval; Necessary Credit score: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports activities
As beforehand talked about, Fitzgerald addressed his blue line depth. Offensively, one of many membership’s choices can be Nolan Foote, 23, who was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract on Aug. 12.
Mercer, a restricted free agent, stays unsigned on the time of publication. In The Hockey Information‘ final communication along with his agent, Pat Brisson, we have been informed, “We’ve had many conversations, and we’ll proceed to talk right here this week. That is just about all I can say publicly.”
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As head coach, Keefe determined to retain the Devils teaching employees from final season, together with Ryan McGill, Chris Taylor, Sergei Brylin, and Dave Rogalski. The one addition Keefe made was naming Jeremy Colliton as an assistant.
Fitzgerald handed Keefe a roster that must be aggressive in 2024-25. New Jersey has steady goaltending, an improved blue line, and a well-rounded ahead group.
A number of Devils gamers have expressed their disappointment over final season, and Keefe is aware of that he has taken over a extremely motivated group that loves enjoying within the Backyard State.
“The gamers are obsessed with being in New Jersey,” Fitzgerald mentioned. “They know we play in entrance of a passionate fanbase that craves a winner. They usually deserve that. That is not being ignored. Our fanbase has been extraordinarily affected person.”
The Devils will open the season on Oct. 4 towards the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia, as a part of the 2024 NHL World Collection. Keefe will make his Prudential Middle debut at his workforce’s dwelling opener on Oct. 10 towards his former membership, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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