Devils president Tom Fitzgerald on team's struggles: 'This is on me'

Tom Fitzgerald isn't looking to pass the buck on what has been a challenging season for the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils' president and general manager addressed reporters on Wednesday with the team sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference standings and 3-6-1 over their last 10 games.

"This is on me. Where we're at right now is on me. And I'm one to take accountability for myself," Fitzgerald said. "And accountability is a word that we use a lot with every part of our organization, and not witch-hunting.

"...We're all in this together. And the one thing I'm trying to do is find solutions to help this organization move forward to become the team that we believe we can be."

Fitzgerald framed the season not as a singular breakdown but as an organizational shortfall, one that starts with him. While he emphasized collaboration across coaching, scouting and hockey operations, the message was clear: accountability begins at the top.

Fitzgerald stopped short of pressing the panic button and still expressed belief in the core he’s assembled and pushed back against the notion that wholesale change — or trading out of trouble — is the solution.

“You can’t trade your way out of this,” he said. “This has to come from within.”

The Devils entered the season believing they were ready to build on recent progress and contend annually. Instead, inconsistency, injuries and uneven execution have left many wondering if changes are coming with head coach Sheldon Keefe being on the hot seat.

Fitzgerald reaffirmed that he and his head coach remain in lockstep on the team's long-term vision.

When asked if he believes in the plan that he has put together, and if he can help the team overcome their struggles, there was no hesitancy on his part.

"I'm very confident in where I've taken this team to and how we've built through the core and added the pieces that we wanted to add to become a contender every year," Fitzgerald said. The passion I have for New Jersey, the Devils ownership, and, more importantly, the fans. I love this. I love New Jersey. It's my. It's been my home for the past 11 years. I do think I can be the one to help move this organization forward. And the goal has never changed to be a Stanley Cup champion. And that's not going to change. And I believe I can do that."

Not only has Keefe's future with the team been in question, but so has defenceman Dougie Hamilton, who was a healthy scratch with Johnny Kovacevic returning from injury.

The decision to scratch Hamilton did not sit well with the defenceman or his agent, J.P. Barry.

“Barry feels this is a business decision to try to force Hamilton to accept a trade,” Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said during the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada. “Now, Hamilton did move to a partial no-trade clause this season. He can be traded to only one of 10 teams; the other 21 he can block."

When Hamilton did return to the lineup, he recorded a pair of assists despite skating just 19:08 below his season average of 21:37.

Fitzgerald addressed the relationship between himself and Hamilton and whether he had to do any damage control with the situation.

"Dougie and I have been in constant communication about where we're at when we're fully healthy," Fitzgerald explained. "I give Dougie a lot of credit. He was a healthy scratch the other night for no other reason but his current play. And he played really well. He came back strong and talk about the character of the person. Sheldon told him, 'you have to be ready,' and he was."

While New Jersey remains in a tough position to get into the playoffs in a tight Eastern Conference, Fitzgerald said that standards will not be lowered.

While Fitzgerald is open to making moves, he made it clear that accountability — personal and collective — remains the foundation.

“I look in the mirror,” he said. “I want everybody to do the same.”