New Jersey Devils president and common supervisor Tom Fitzgerald met with the media Tuesday morning after relieving head coach Lindy Ruff of his duties Monday night.
The Devils’ last stretch, particularly their journey via California, was key to why he let go of the top coach. Nonetheless, he held all the staff accountable for his or her shortcomings this season. However the actuality of the scenario was that the Devils wanted change.
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Fitzgerald admitted it was as much as him to make the staff higher. It begins between the pipes. He is aware of the Devils’ goaltending hasn’t been ok this season. Fitzgerald admitted throughout the press convention that the Devils are searching for a goaltender.
“Our goalkeepers are listening to me now, and that’s tough for me. However the actuality is: sure, I’m out there. Is the correct individual there on the proper value with out mortgaging the long run however understanding the brief sport right here? To be sincere, I am not ignoring that,” Tom Fitzgerald stated throughout his media presence on Tuesday.
“I am not sitting there considering, ‘Oh, it is all nice.’ No, our goaltending wasn’t ok. Sure, it is as much as me to attempt to improve. I want it was as simple as stated then carried out. However I attempt to do the correct factor for the group within the brief interval, however with the large interval in thoughts.”
The Devils have been linked to a number of goaltenders this season, together with Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, Nashville’s Juuse Saros, Columbus’s Elvis Merzlikins, Anaheim’s John Gibson together with Jake Allen, Kaapo Kahkohnen, Linus Ullmark and Marc-Andre Fleury.
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The fact of the scenario is that the marketplace for the Devils has shrunk. As NHLRumors.com has identified, the Devils and Flames had a deal in place for Markstrom earlier than it fell via. The Devils and Nashville Predators have additionally mentioned Juuse Saros. They’d their eye on Connor Hellebuyck, however could not shut the deal.
May the Flames and Devils revisit this commerce after Calgary’s loss to Seattle on Monday night time? Probably. Nonetheless, if one thing would not work out throughout the subsequent three days, they’ll talk about it throughout the offseason.
Whereas Fitzgerald believes in his goalies, the fact of the scenario is that he has to deal with them, whether or not that is within the brief time period or the long run, the following little stretch will decide that.
Nonetheless, Tom Fitzgerald is aware of he’ll enhance that place this offseason.