HIGHLIGHTS
- Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier publicly took blame for Tom Fitzgerald’s firing on Tuesday
- Sheldon Keefe also accepted responsibility, saying he fell short of delivering on Fitzgerald’s vision
- Read below for the full quotes and what this means for the Devils’ offseason
The Devils are a mess, and at least they’re honest about it.
Less than 24 hours after Tom Fitzgerald was fired as president of hockey operations and general manager, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Sheldon Keefe all stepped up and pointed the finger at themselves ahead of Tuesday’s game against Philadelphia.
“Most of it comes down to the players, right?” Hughes said. “We’re the ones going on the ice, we’re the ones competing every night and we’re the ones that can change the outcome of a hockey game. Just frustrating because I’m a big part of this team and got a lot of love for Tommy Fitz.”
Hischier kept it simple. “We weren’t performing the way we should have, and then in a business like that, things like that happen. Very, very thankful for him and what he’s done for me.”
The numbers back them up. New Jersey started the season 13-4-1 and looked like a playoff team. Then came a 15-25-1 stretch from November through late February that buried them. They’ve gone 12-5-1 since the Olympics but the damage was done.
Keefe was equally direct. “Fundamentally, I believe the coach’s job is to deliver on the vision of the general manager, on people that put you in a position by showing belief in you. We’ve fallen short of that, and I take responsibility for that. It’s not a good feeling.”
He also acknowledged his own uncertain future, noting he’ll be part of an evaluation process after the season. Keefe was fired by Toronto in May 2024 and was hired by Fitzgerald four weeks later. If a new GM comes in, Keefe’s job is far from guaranteed.
The core Fitzgerald assembled around Hughes, Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier is still there. Brendan Shanahan is already being linked to the president role. Whoever comes in will inherit real talent and real problems, and Tuesday’s honesty from the locker room at least shows they understand what went wrong. I’m not sure it changes much for Keefe, but it’s the right thing to say.
