The New Jersey Devils announced on Sunday prior to the team’s game they have fired general manager Ray Shero. The Devils named Tom Fitzgerald as interim general manager.
Ray Shero is no longer General Manager of the New Jersey Devils.
— Steve Cangialosi (@CangyManMSG) January 12, 2020
Devils Fire Ray Shero
As the Devils continue to struggle, ownership decided to make a change at the general manager position effective immediately. In a statement released Sunday night, managing partner and chairman Josh Harris felt the team needed to move in a new direction.
“Ray is a talented hockey executive and I am confident he will have great success in the future,” Harris said in a statement. “However, Ray and I are in agreement that the Devils need to move in a new direction and that this change is in the best interest of the team.”
Shero took over as general manager back in May of 2015 from then-general manager Lou Lamoriello. He came in with a different vision than Lamoriello as he was trying to rebuild the team through the draft. This was a similar concept he had when he was the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2006-2014. He made the Penguins into perennial playoff contenders leading them to the 2009 Stanley Cup Championship along with back-to-back Eastern Conference titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
His tenure with the Devils was not as successful. Outside of the Devils playoff appearance in 2018 losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the first round, the Devils missed the playoffs in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. During his tenure with the Devils, he was able to acquire notable players via trades and free agency. Some of those players include Taylor Hall, Will Butcher, Kyle Palmieri, Sami Vatanen, and P.K. Subban. Not to mention getting the number one pick twice in the draft. Selecting Nico Hischier first overall in 2017 and Jack Hughes first overall in 2019.
Prior to his tenure in Pittsburgh and New Jersey, Shero was an assistant general manager with the Ottawa Senators (1993-98) and Nashville Predators (1998-2006).
Tom Fitzgerald Promoted
With Shero being let go, the Devils announced that Tom Fitzgerald will be the interim general manager going forward. In addition, Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur will serve as an advisor as part of the hockey operations department. Before returning to New Jersey the executive vice president of business development, Brodeur was hired by the St. Louis Blues as a special assistant to general manager Doug Armstrong. Then in May of 2015, Brodeur signed a new deal with the Blues as he was promoted to assistant general manager of the Blues.
Along with his experience with the Blues, Brodeur has experience constructing a team as he was part of the management team for Canada’s men’s team for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Recall earlier in the season, Fitzgerald was a part of the coaching staff prior to the team firing John Hynes.
Going Foward
In the coming weeks and months, the Devils will launch a formal search for their next general manager.
“We are very optimistic about our future and have a lot of talent, both on and off the ice, Harris continued in a statement released to the media. “Our organization remains deeply committed to creating a sustainably winning franchise. Our fans deserve nothing but the best hockey. We thank them for their continued support as we work toward our goals.”
It will be interesting to see what other moves the Devils make going forward.
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