Devils’ Sheldon Keefe teases fate after GM firing

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said that he will be evaluated after the season following Monday’s news that the team fired general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Reacting to Fitzgerald’s firing after Tuesday’s morning skate, Keefe said he spoke with Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment CEO Tad Brown, who told him that ownership would decide his fate once New Jersey’s season concludes on April 13.

“I’ll be part of an evaluation process that’ll happen at the end of this season,” Keefe said. “Obviously they’ve got some decisions to make on who the new GM will be and what the leadership of the team looks like. I’ll be a part of that discussion and evaluation.”

HAVE YOU JOINED OUR YOUTUBE PAGE? DEVILS REPORTER RYAN NOVOZINSKY BREAKS DOWN EVERY GAME — WITH YOUR HELP

New Jersey fired Fitzgerald amid another (likely) playoffless season. This is the fourth time they’ve missed the playoffs in Fitzgerald’s six seasons. The team entered Tuesday sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 40-34-3 record. They face the Flyers Tuesday night at Prudential Center.

The over/under for Tuesday’s Devils versus Flyers matchup is set at 6 total goals on BetMGM. Our comprehensive BetMGM Sportsbook review provides a guide on how to navigate their app.

Keefe took responsibility for his role in Fitzgerald’s firing.

“I believe a coach’s job is to deliver on the vision of the general manager and on the people that put you in a position by showing belief in you,” he said. “So we’ve fallen short of that. I take responsibility for that. It’s not a good feeling to hear the news. Tom’s a great man and has treated me and my family extremely well.”

Sign up for our Speaking of the Devils newsletter here! Get 10 inside-Devils notes in your inbox each Monday at 10 a.m. ET!

A person with knowledge of the situation told NJ.com that the team will not have an interim GM for the remainder of 2025-26. The search for Fitzgerald’s long-term replacement — which has already begun — is ownership’s No. 1 priority.

Before they make that decision, they must determine how they’re going to structure the front office. A person with knowledge of the situation told NJ.com that ownership has not yet decided whether they’ll hire one person to take the reins as general manager/president of hockey operations or split the role into two.

The next GM will be tasked with building a contender around Jack Hughes, who leads the NHL in points since the Olympic break. The Devils are projected to have $12.18 million in salary cap space this summer, according to PuckPedia.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.