The New Jersey Devils are making a change to their General Manager. As NHLRumors.com has documented, this position will be an attractive one given the core of the team with Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Simon Nemec, and others. That is a good group any hockey person can build around to get them back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In addition, they can make they into a consistent Cup contender.
As Dave Pagnott of the Fourth Period said on TSN Radio in Montreal, the Devils are similar to the Buffalo Sabres coming into a great situation with a team that just needs a few tweaks.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
The Writing Was on the Wall for Tom Fitzgerald To Lose His Job in New Jersey
Host: “It’s funny, just as you’re describing the situation in New Jersey. I almost feel like whoever takes that job, they’re in a similar spot to the one Jarmo Kekäläinen was in, once hired by Buffalo, right? A really good place to go, considering all the talent that is on that team.”
Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, it’s a good point. Yeah, absolutely, because it just hasn’t clicked. Now, Buffalo was frustration over frustration and a bit of a different circumstance. But in terms of what the new guy coming in is going to be left with, a lot, it is absolutely a lot, and they can be in a position to make a couple of changes this summer.
Whether it is moving Dougie Hamilton or making another type of move. And is that type of move involving some of their key assets? They’ve got (Simon) Nemec, who’s due for a contract. The Devils were listening to trade inquiries about him. Will the new guy want to do that, or is he going to hold tight and keep him part of the organization?
Anton Silayev is going to be coming over from Russia at some point this offseason. He’s looking to sign his entry-level contract with the Devils and then join the organization and be part of it. How’s that going to impact their plans moving forward? So there’s a lot of riches that the next GM is going to have to play with and work with.
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So it might be a quick turnaround in terms of getting this team back on track. A lot of people view this club as a cup contender going into the season, or at least, the very least, a contender for first in the metro. Couple tweaks here and there might put them back into, into that position, notwithstanding who the head coach is, because whoever comes in is going to have to dictate the future of Sheldon Keefe as well.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The New Jersey Devils have the talent to be better than this. If they bring in the right person from outside of the organization, they can get to where they are supposed to be. The goal has always been to be a consistent Stanley Cup-contending team. With the right insulation, they can be that.
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