Casey Fitzgerald (ice hockey)

Casey Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald with the Buffalo Sabres in 2022
Born	(1997-02-25) February 25, 1997 (age 28) Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	New York Rangers Hartford Wolf Pack  (AHL) Buffalo Sabres Florida Panthers
NHL draft	86th overall, 2016 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2019–present

Casey Fitzgerald (born February 25, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who plays for the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the third round (86th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres.

Playing career

Amateur

Fitzgerald played youth AAA hockey with the Middlesex Islanders out of North Andover MA. Fitzgerald was a part of the 2014–15 US national under-18 team ^[1] of the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he won a gold medal and had the best plus/minus rating on the team at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships. ^[2]

Collegiate

Fitzgerald joined the Boston College Eagles ice hockey team for the 2015–16 season. ^[3] In his freshman year, he appeared in 39 games and scored 27 points, including 4 goals 23 assists. He was named to the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie team at the conclusion of the 2015–16 season. ^[4]

Professional

Fitzgerald was drafted in the third round (86th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. He made his NHL debut with the Sabres on December 17, 2021 and finished the game with an assist. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Fitzgerald and Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken in 2022.

After being a healthy scratch for six straight games during the 2022–23 season, Fitzgerald was placed on waivers by the Sabres on January 10, 2023, upon the return of defenseman Henri Jokiharju from injury. He was subsequently claimed off waivers by the Florida Panthers on January 11. ^[8]

Fitzgerald played just 4 games with the Panthers during the remainder of the season, but was called into action for the postseason. He made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in Game 4 of the First Round against the Boston Bruins, subbing in for the injured Aaron Ekblad. ^[9] On July 17, 2023, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers. ^[10]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Panthers, Fitzgerald was signed as a free agent to a two-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers on July 2, 2024. ^[11]

Personal life

Fitzgerald is the son of current New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald, and was born in Boca Raton, Florida when his father was a member of the Florida Panthers. As a result of his father's career, he grew up in Florida and Tennessee, before his family settled in North Reading, Massachusetts. ^[12]

Fitzergald's older brother Ryan was a teammate at Boston College. Ryan was drafted in fourth round (120th overall) by the Boston Bruins in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. ^[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013–14	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		52	3	9	12	43		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		57	9	16	25	67		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Boston College	HE		39	4	23	27	46		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Boston College	HE		37	5	17	22	46		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Boston College	HE		36	6	13	19	45		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Boston College	HE		39	2	12	14	26		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Rochester Americans	AHL		4	1	2	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Rochester Americans	AHL		25	2	6	8	30		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Rochester Americans	AHL		22	2	9	11	34		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Rochester Americans	AHL		28	4	8	12	43		10	2	5	7	11
2021–22	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		36	0	6	6	36		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		23	0	3	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Florida Panthers	NHL		4	0	0	0	0		2	0	0	0	10
2023–24	Charlotte Checkers	AHL		69	4	17	21	65		3	0	0	0	4
2024–25	Hartford Wolf Pack	AHL		66	5	16	21	75		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				63	0	9	9	40		2	0	0	0	10

Medal record
Representing   United States
ice hockey
IIHF World U18 Championship
	2015 Switzerland

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	United States	U17			6	0	2	2	2
2015	United States	U18			7	1	3	4	4
2017	United States	WJC			7	0	3	3	6
Junior totals					20	1	8	9	12

References

1. "2014-15 U.S. National Under-18 Team roster and statistics". hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
2. Calvin (June 25, 2016). "NHL Draft 2016: Sabres take Casey Fitzgerald at #86". SB Nation. Die By The Blade. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023.
3. Olsen, Becky (March 17, 2015). "Casey Fitzgerald Eager to Team up With Brother Ryan at BC". USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
4. "Hockey East Names 2015-16 Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team". Hockey East Online. March 16, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
5. Vogl, John (June 25, 2016). "Sabres select Boston College defenseman Fitzgerald in third round". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
6. Moritz, Amy (June 25, 2016). "Second time's the charm for Fitzgerald". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
7. Harrington, Mike (December 18, 2021). "Casey Fitzgerald has memorable and eventful debut on Sabres' defense". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
8. "Florida Panthers claim defenseman Casey Fitzgerald off waivers". Florida Panthers. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
9. "Bruins 6-2 Panthers (Apr 23, 2023) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
10. "Panthers Agree to Terms with Casey Fitzgerald on a One-Year, Two-Way". NHL.com. July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
11. "Rangers agree to terms with Fitzgerald and Groulx". New York Rangers. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
12. "Florida Panthers Homecoming is a Family Affair for Casey Fitzgerald". floridahockeynow.com. FLAHOCKEYNOW. January 13, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database
• Casey Fitzgerald profile and statistics at TheAHL.com

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Dennis Gilbert	Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman 2017–18	Succeeded by Vincent Desharnais