NEWARK — There was no dramatic wake-up call. No single game, no blowout loss, no locker-room explosion that flipped the switch for the New Jersey Devils firing Tom Fitzgerald.
The Devils introduced new general manager, Sunny Mehta, on Tuesday. The 48-year-old first-time GM endeared himself to the media and fans alike, pointing to an optimistic future under a new regime.
However, it was also the first time Devils ownership was available to speak on the split with Fitzgerald.
When Devils managing partner David Blitzer sat down to explain why the organization parted ways with longtime general manager and president of hockey operations Fitzgerald on April 6, his words painted a far more human—and perhaps revealing—picture than the usual polished NHL response.
“It’s a complicated [answer],” Blitzer said. “There wasn’t a moment where I woke up in the morning and said, like, ‘this needs to change.’ I think the reality is I worked with Tom for 11 years. Tom and his team are excellent and my relationship with them was very strong, and we would talk all the time.
“This was a really difficult season, but last year wasn’t an easy season either. This year was extremely disappointing. And so there was no eureka moment. I was evaluating the organization and talking with my partner, right? So talking with Josh [Harris] and talking out loud to myself sometimes… ultimately, we came to the conclusion that it felt like this was the time that made sense to part ways.
“And as soon as that happened, I sat down with Tom to just have a really open discussion. And we sort of both left that discussion, agreeing that it made sense timing wise to make that decision [to part ways].”
Those words echo the statement Blitzer made at the time when the Devils publicly announced they were firing Fitzgerald.
“Tom and I had a thoughtful conversation today and agreed it was time to move in a new direction,” Blitzer said. “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. As we prepare to move forward, it is important I acknowledge our fans. I recognize we have not delivered in the way you expect and deserve and I understand and share in your frustration. This is a critical offseason for our franchise, and we will explore all avenues that best position the Devils to compete for a Stanley Cup once again.”
The Devils finished the 2025-26 season with a 42-37-3 record and 87 points, good for 7th in the Metropolitan Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference—seven points out of the final wild-card spot when Fitzgerald’s departure was announced with five games remaining. They were officially eliminated the next day. It marked the second time in three seasons the team missed the playoffs, despite entering the year with legitimate contention expectations built around a young core featuring Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and a roster many believed was ready to take the next step.
The Weight of 11 Years
Fitzgerald joined the Devils organization in 2015 and rose to become GM in 2020, while later assuming the duties of President of Hockey Operations duties. His tenure included genuine highs—the franchise-record 112-point season in 2022-23 that brought playoff hockey back to Newark and re-established the Devils as a relevant, exciting team. He helped build around the Hughes brothers and navigated the post-COVID roster construction.
But the last two seasons told a different story. The 2024-25 campaign was already “not the easiest,” admitting the inconsistencies prevented a deeper postseason run. The 2025-26 season amplified those issues: defensive lapses, goaltending questions, and an inability to consistently score at a championship level—as they had previously done—left the team on the outside looking in once again.
Blitzer was careful to praise Fitzgerald and his staff as “excellent” while acknowledging the bottom line: results matter. In a results-driven league, even strong relationships and competent management have an expiration date when wins don’t follow.
What makes this departure feel different from many NHL firings is the apparent lack of acrimony. Blitzer described sitting down with Fitzgerald for an “open discussion” once the decision crystallized, after which both men agreed on the timing. Fitzgerald echoed that sentiment in his own statement, noting it was “apparent to everyone that the best course of action is to move on for the benefit of the team.”
This wasn’t a mid-season hatchet job or a public power struggle. It was ownership recognizing that, after more than a decade of collaboration, fresh eyes and new ideas were needed heading into a critical offseason.
James is a fully credentialed New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on Sportsnaut and the … More about James Nichols