Episode 36 - Speak of the Devils - With GM and President of Hockey Operations Tom Fitzgerald

New Jersey Devils GM and President of Hockey Operations Tom Fitzgerald joins the show which salutes the best start in NHL history, the soon-to-be greatest goal scorer, plenty of league and college news and a player who took the NHL by storm three years ago whose production has fizzled. The Human Side of the Story concludes the show with the newest Hockey Hall of Fame inductees...and two who should be.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:40] - In "Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To," Vic and Neil simply can't ignore the historic start by the Washington Capitals, the energized Alex Ovechkin or the N.Y. Islanders continued negative trend of losing leads late.
• [10:15] - Tom Fitzgerald joins the show with a little reminiscing of being on either side of Manhattan as an Islander player and Devil GM.
• [12:40] - Fitzgerald shares the challenge of re-building his team after a disappointing 2023-24 season.
• [14:30] - The process involved in securing Sheldon Keefe to come to New Jersey as the head coach.
• [16:13] - Fitzgerald speaks about the addition of new players, healthy returnees and the fit with the new head coach.
• [20:30] - Neil and Tom share more stories from the early 80's about hockey camps, college and the connection with Jack and Luke Hughes dad, Jimmy.
• [22:00] - The transformation of Dougie Hamilton since coming to New Jersey as well as the accelerated growth of Simon Nemec when Hamilton went down for the season in November 2023.
• [27:10] - The maturity and growth of captain Nico Hischier
• [29:30] - Fitzgerald speaks on topics of discussion for the upcoming GM meetings with goaltender interference at the top of Tom's list. Fitzgerald also talks about an equal playing field for teams which don't have a state tax.
• [32:46] - Vic invites Tom to share his memories of the first Panthers team to make the Stanley Cup Final, thanks to his game winning goal in Pittsburgh in Game 7 in 1996.
• [36:15] - In the league notes section, significant goalie news as the Ducks John Gibson returns from an appendectomy, Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark face each for the first time since the latter was traded to Ottawa and Tristan Jarry is recalled by the Penguins.
• [38:11] - Injury and other player updates
• [40:20] - The Edmonton Oilers knock Kevin Lankinen from the Canucks net Saturday while the Colorado Avalanche end the Carolina Hurricanes eight-game winning streak with the help of a five goal-second period.
• [42:41] - The man known for "The Michigan" goals three seasons ago, Trevor Zegras, has become borderline irrelevant in Anaheim.
• [47:17] - With the NCAA lifting the eligibility ban on CHL players to join U.S. College teams, what does that mean for the future of Canadian Major Junior leagues?
• [50:30] - The Human Side of the Story notes five players and two builders as the newest inductees. However, for every inductee class, there are those who manage to be overlooked year after year.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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