Tom Fitzgerald 2026 Trade Deadline Press Conference

New Jersey Devils President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald speaks with the media following the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.

Fitz discusses the lack of moves across the league due to CBA changes , his belief in the Devils’ current core , and his strategy of holding onto futures instead of buying rentals. He also clears the air on Dougie Hamilton , provides an update on Brett Pesce , and reflects on Jack Hughes’ incredible golden goal at the Milan Olympics.

Timestamps:
00:00 – A quiet trade deadline & the impact of CBA changes
03:34 – Shutting down the Dougie Hamilton rumors
04:48 – Putting Clendenning, Dadonov, and Sipkov on waivers
06:03 – Believing in the core & not trading futures for rentals
07:49 – Simon Nemec’s future & potential offseason moves
10:03 – Fitzgerald on his future and alignment with ownership
12:47 – The long-term plan for Gritsyuk
13:24 – Getting back to the team’s fast, transition identity
16:08 – Brett Pesce injury update
16:46 – Pride in Jack Hughes’ Olympic performance

44 comments

  14. Fitz contradictory statements reflect his bumbling as a GM. Fitz should quit if they donā€™t make playoffs which is very likely they wonā€™t. Owners just donā€™t care and it shows by them keeping this guy as GM.

  18. Tom is a fantastic GM. Dont get why all the hate towards him. He deserves to lead this team! Future is bright and the window is just opening. Be patient y'all!

  20. Soft ball questions and brown nosing, should have had this presser in a green house with all these plants!
    Thank you Amanda and Novo for getting to the issues!

  21. This is a joke, ā€œhas this been a disappointing dayā€. Itā€™s been a disappointing three years! Iā€™m done with this team until ownership makes changes and for the sake of our sanity, firing Keefe will do nothing. We need big boys, have a surplus of d men and donā€™t make any trades, losing our goalie prospects for a couple 37 year olds. Might need a new team in a few ywars

  22. Glad nobody was moved. I don't think there is anything wrong with the team specifically. The system they are playing is the problem. Change the system to fit the players we have and they can win a lot of games.

  25. watching this interview, it seems that Nemec is a gone!!! When asked about him it's like we will see, when ask about Gritz he was like he definitely part of our team long term!!

  27. With several things needing to be fixed on this team, it's perplexing that the GM did not take any steps at this deadline to at least get a step ahead of what needs to be done in the off-season šŸ¤”

  35. When I canceled my season tickets I wondered if it would be a mistake especially with the core that was developed. I could afford it, and personally loved the idea of going. But this man has made that one of the best decisions of my life. Absolute disaster of a GM

  40. There are solid upcoming UFA's who can be that Top 6 goal scorer NJ needs w/out getting rid of a #2 OA young TWD who never eas even given a season as the Top Pair guy to fully breakout yet he still is outperforming most of NJs defenders so why did Fitz turn on Nemec with near certainty?

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