[Chauvancy] Devils’ Fitzgerald Once Again to Blame for Ugly Hamilton Situation
January 11, 2026
[Chauvancy] Devils’ Fitzgerald Once Again to Blame for Ugly Hamilton Situation
4 comments
So…Fitz tried to trade Dougie in the offseason, Dougie blocked it, and it’s Fitz’s fault? Dougie earned his contract here and has every right to exercise his protection
I don’t know if it’s really as bad as either side is making it out to be. Dougie is within his right to prevent trades as deemed by his clause and the team is within rights to sit him if he’s underperforming (to say the least). Fitz was in the right to get Dougie in the first place at 9 mill and NMC tbh – he was elite ranked and we needed that. But things have not gone in the right direction – this team clearly needs to shed cap and Dougie could use / needs a new situation as he continues to deal with injuries and regression. He’s getting outcompeted by younger guys and we’ve got others in the pipeline, too.
For all of the other misplays and failures to improve the team, this one isn’t one I blame Fitz for at all. It’s a business and this is the unpleasant side of it. I love Douglas got his jersey wear it on game days but I think the writing has been on the wall. Now Dougie has a choice to either wait for his chance to slot back in or accept a trade. As much as it hurts, I think the later is the most sensible situation for both parties. But I would love the Dougie comeback story.
Fitz is a tyro negotiator, he’s been flimflammed multiple times.
Sorry but a contract doesn’t guarantee a roster spot if you aren’t playing well enough. Loved Dougie, loved that he came here, but the Devils have every right to try to ice the most competitive team to win each night.
They also have a right to ask him to waive NTC as much as he had a right to deny.
We would not be talking about this situation as a “fuck up” if not for the team being so bad and Fitz on the hot seat. There is plenty of blame for things going on, but in this case people are trying to make it fit a narrative to paint Fitz a certain way but this is just business.
4 comments
So…Fitz tried to trade Dougie in the offseason, Dougie blocked it, and it’s Fitz’s fault? Dougie earned his contract here and has every right to exercise his protection
I don’t know if it’s really as bad as either side is making it out to be. Dougie is within his right to prevent trades as deemed by his clause and the team is within rights to sit him if he’s underperforming (to say the least). Fitz was in the right to get Dougie in the first place at 9 mill and NMC tbh – he was elite ranked and we needed that. But things have not gone in the right direction – this team clearly needs to shed cap and Dougie could use / needs a new situation as he continues to deal with injuries and regression. He’s getting outcompeted by younger guys and we’ve got others in the pipeline, too.
For all of the other misplays and failures to improve the team, this one isn’t one I blame Fitz for at all. It’s a business and this is the unpleasant side of it. I love Douglas got his jersey wear it on game days but I think the writing has been on the wall. Now Dougie has a choice to either wait for his chance to slot back in or accept a trade. As much as it hurts, I think the later is the most sensible situation for both parties. But I would love the Dougie comeback story.
Fitz is a tyro negotiator, he’s been flimflammed multiple times.
Sorry but a contract doesn’t guarantee a roster spot if you aren’t playing well enough. Loved Dougie, loved that he came here, but the Devils have every right to try to ice the most competitive team to win each night.
They also have a right to ask him to waive NTC as much as he had a right to deny.
We would not be talking about this situation as a “fuck up” if not for the team being so bad and Fitz on the hot seat. There is plenty of blame for things going on, but in this case people are trying to make it fit a narrative to paint Fitz a certain way but this is just business.