New Jersey Devils: Top 3 candidates to replace Ray Shero
The New Jersey Devils chaotic season took a new twist on Sunday, as they parted ways with general manager Ray Shero. Here’s a list of potential candidates to replace him.
The New Jersey Devils came into this season with high hopes after general manager Ray Shero made some impressive moves this summer. Led by Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and P.K. Subban, many thought the Devils could contend for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Instead, this season has been a terrible one.
Their chaotic season took a new turn on Sunday when they parted ways with general manager Ray Shero. This came just over a month after the Devils parted ways with then-head coach John Hynes.
Both Shero and Hynes were expected to help the Devils get back into the playoff picture and with the team currently sitting in third-to-last place in the Eastern Conference, changes were clearly needed.
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Getting rid of Hynes during the season was excusable. He wasn’t getting the most out of his players. However, getting rid of Shero during the season was a very interesting choice. It’s one the Devils might regret making, as they must make some tough decisions without an experienced general manager unless they work quickly.
Parting ways with both Shero and Hynes shows the Devils want to be better. However, as they say, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Shero did a lot of good things with the Devils. He wasn’t perfect, but no general manager is. Shero won’t have much trouble finding another job, as he’s an experienced GM who has a history of winning.
Who could the Devils possibly replace him with? Luckily, they have quite a few candidates to look at. Here’s a look at who I believe are their top three general manager candidates.
New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur. 3. player. 85. . Hockey Operations Advisor
In their statement on Sunday night, the New Jersey Devils announced they gave Martin Brodeur a promotion. He’s now officially “an advisor to and on hockey operations”. Brodeur has steadily been working his way up in the front office trenches.
He got his start with the St. Louis Blues in 2014-15, serving as an assistant to the General Manager. From 2015-16 to 2017-18, Brodeur served as an Assistant General Manager. He also served as the interim goaltending coach in 2016-17 after the Blues fired then-goaltending coach Jim Corsi.
In 2017-18, Brodeur also got involved with Hockey Canada’s front office, serving as the assistant general manager for their men’s team during the Spengler Cup and Karjala Cup. Moreover, he got his first experience as a general manager during the World Championships, during which the team lost in the bronze medal game. Brodeur rejoined the New Jersey Devils in 2018, getting a job as their Executive Vice President of Business Development.
If Brodeur is interested in the vacant general manager role, it would be very hard for the Devils to not give him an interview. He’s the most popular player in franchise history and has been steadily working his way up in multiple front offices. Brodeur might be ready to be a general manager.
Tom Fitzgerald. 2. player. 85. . Interim General Manager. New Jersey Devils
Tom Fitzgerald is currently the New Jersey Devils’ interim general manager. He has a lot of experience, so it’s not surprising they decided to go with him. While Fitzgerald has never been an NHL general manager, he has over a decade of experience as an assistant general manager. Also, Fitzgerald has served as the general manager of the AHL affiliates of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Devils.
However, they might not want to hire someone so close to Shero. Fitzgerald has effectively served as Shero’s right-hand man since the 2009-10 season. It was honestly a bit surprising he didn’t suffer the same fate as Shero.
But perhaps the Devils want to see what they have in Fitzgerald. According to NJ.com, managing partner Josh Harris said his interim general manager will get serious consideration during their job search.
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He has more experience than Brodeur, which makes him a more ideal internal replacement than the Hall of Fame goaltender. Also, Brodeur could serve under Fitzgerald as an assistant general manager and get some more experience before eventually getting the seemingly inevitable promotion to general manager.
All of that said, if the New Jersey Devils truly want to take a new direction (and they’re on the record saying they want to do that), one has to wonder if promoting the right-hand man of the man they just let go of is the right move.
player. 68. . Former General Manager. Philadelphia Flyers. Ron Hextall. 1
Ron Hextall is probably the best general manager candidate on the open market. His time with the Philadelphia Flyers didn’t end well, but it’s undeniable Hextall left the Flyers in far better shape than he found them in. And at the end of the day, isn’t that the job of a general manager?
Hextall was let go by the Flyers back in 2018. He has since been trying to find a new job. Hextall was reportedly in the running for the Minnesota Wild’s general manager job, as well as Seattle’s. The New Jersey Devils search for a general manager should start, and perhaps ever end, with Hextall.
If the Devils want change, Hextall is a perfect candidate. He is famously patient, which should shock anyone who saw the career penalty minutes leader among goalies play. Hextall was able to accumulate draft picks with the Flyers and he used them. The Devils could use that kind of patience as they try to rebuild.
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Of course, the issue is this – can Hextall also be the guy who takes them to the next level? That’s a fair question to ask. But right now, the Devils need someone who can get them to that point where they’re ready to be taken to the next level. Hextall is the perfect guy for the role.