Overview
- Fitzgerald publicly took responsibility for the Devils’ disappointing season during a rare media session on Wednesday.
- He said he is “working the phones daily” ahead of the deadline, with Dougie Hamilton and Ondrej Palat frequently cited in trade discussions.
- Hamilton was a recent healthy scratch before recording two assists in Minnesota, and Fitzgerald said he is in constant contact with the defenseman’s agent.
- Fitzgerald said coach Sheldon Keefe’s job is safe and indicated his own position remains secure after conversations with ownership.
- New Jersey snapped a four-game skid with wins over the Wild and Kraken to sit three points from a wild-card spot, following injuries that included Jack Hughes missing 17 games.