Tom Fitzgerald (ice hockey)

Last updated

Tom Fitzgerald
Tom Fitzgerald 2012-06-22.JPG
Fitzgerald in 2012
Born (1968-08-28) August 28, 1968 (age 56)
Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Islanders
Florida Panthers
Colorado Avalanche
Nashville Predators
Chicago Blackhawks
Toronto Maple Leafs
Boston Bruins
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 17th overall, 1986
New York Islanders
Playing career 19882006

Thomas James Fitzgerald (born August 28, 1968) is an American ice hockey executive and former player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). He is the president of hockey operations and general manager of the New Jersey Devils. He won the Stanley Cup in 2009 as a director of player development with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Contents

Playing career

Fitzgerald played his high school hockey at Austin Preparatory School in Reading, Massachusetts, he then went on to play college hockey for Providence College and was selected by the New York Islanders of the NHL in the 1986 NHL entry draft (1st round, 17th overall). He turned pro in 1988 with the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate Springfield Indians, and in 1990 was one of the key players who led Indians to the Calder Cup championship.

He played parts of five seasons for the Islanders and became the first player in NHL playoff history to score two shorthanded goals on the same minor penalty, against the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 2, 1993, which also equaled the NHL record for shorthanded goals by a player in one game. He was selected as one of the original Florida Panthers in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. Although he has been cast as a defensive forward in the NHL, he had his best scoring years in Miami and was one of the leaders in Florida's 1996 Stanley Cup run. In those 1995–96 playoffs, Fitzgerald scored the decisive goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was a 58-foot slapshot that found its way past Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso.

He was briefly traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 1998 before signing as a free agent in the subsequent off-season with the Nashville Predators, who sought out his veteran leadership. Fitzgerald was named Nashville's first captain, serving in the capacity for four seasons. He subsequently played for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had signed with the Maple Leafs to a two-year contract on July 18, 2002. [1] While with Toronto, Fitzgerald and his Maple Leafs teammate Gary Roberts both played in the 1,000th game of their careers on January 13, 2004. [2]

In the summer of 2004, Fitzgerald signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins. In July 2006, the Boston Bruins chose not to renew his contract. He announced his retirement after 17 NHL seasons on September 12, 2006. [3]

Executive career

In July 2007, Fitzgerald left NESN when he was named director of player development for the Pittsburgh Penguins. [4] In October 2007, he was then named as an assistant coach for the United States national team for Deutschland Cup, helping push them to second place. [5] On July 3, 2009, Fitzgerald was promoted within the Penguins organization to assistant general manager. [6]

On July 24, 2015, Fitzgerald was named assistant general manager for the New Jersey Devils. [7] On January 12, 2020, Fitzgerald was named interim general manager of the Devils after Ray Shero was fired. [8] On July 9, Fitzgerald was named executive vice president and full time general manager of the Devils. On January 23, 2024, he signed a multi-year contract with the Devils and was promoted to president of hockey operations also keeping his general manager duties. [9]

Personal life

Tom and his wife have four sons; Ryan, Casey, Jack and Brendan. [10] Fitzgerald did a stint as an analyst for the Outdoor Life Network during the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, and was one of NESN's studio analysts during postgame coverage of Boston Bruins' matches. [11] His son Ryan was drafted in the fourth round (120th overall) in the 2013 NHL entry draft by the Boston Bruins, and currently plays for the Utica Comets, the New Jersey Devils's AHL affiliate. Casey, who was drafted in the third round (86th overall) of the 2016 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres, currently plays for the Florida Panthers. Both Ryan and Casey attended Boston College, skating on the same roster from 2015–2017.

Fitzgerald grew up with his cousin, fellow NHL player Keith Tkachuk. [12] He is also cousins with Tkachuk's sons Matthew of the Florida Panthers and Brady of the Ottawa Senators, as well as Kevin Hayes of the St. Louis Blues and the late Jimmy Hayes, who played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before retiring in 2019. [13] [14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1984–85 Austin Preparatory School HSMA 18202141
1985–86Austin Preparatory SchoolHSMA24353873
1986–87 Providence Friars HE 278142222
1987–88 Providence FriarsHE3619153450
1988–89 Springfield Indians AHL 6124184243
1988–89 New York Islanders NHL 2335810
1989–90 Springfield IndiansAHL533023533214291113
1989–90 New York IslandersNHL19257441014
1990–91 Capital District Islanders AHL27771450
1990–91 New York IslandersNHL41551024
1991–92 Capital District IslandersAHL41124
1991–92 New York IslandersNHL456111728
1992–93 New York IslandersNHL7791827341825718
1993–94 Florida Panthers NHL8318143254
1994–95 Florida PanthersNHL483131631
1995–96 Florida PanthersNHL82132134752244834
1996–97 Florida PanthersNHL711014246450110
1997–98 Florida PanthersNHL691051557
1997–98 Colorado Avalanche NHL1121322701120
1998–99 Nashville Predators NHL8013193248
1999–00 Nashville PredatorsNHL821392266
2000–01 Nashville PredatorsNHL82991871
2001–02 Nashville PredatorsNHL63791633
2001–02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL15134650004
2002–03 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL66413175770114
2003–04 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL697101752100006
2005–06 Boston Bruins NHL71461040
NHL totals1,097139190329776787121990

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
1987 United States WJC 4th73032
1989 United States WC 6th1002212
1991 United StatesWC4th101016
Junior totals73032
Senior totals2012318

See also

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References

  1. "Maple Leafs sign Tom Fitzgerald". CBC Sports. July 18, 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  2. "Fitzgerald, Roberts play 1,000th games". ESPN. January 13, 2004. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  3. "Tom Fitzgerald announces retirement". Boston Bruins. September 12, 2006. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  4. "Penguins add Fitzgerald, Botterill to management". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 17, 2007. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  5. "Fitzgerald, Curry Benefit From Team USA Experience". Pittsburgh Penguins. November 20, 2007. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  6. "Tom Fitzgerald Named Assistant to the General Manager; Dan MacKinnon Promoted to Director of Player Personnel". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 3, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  7. "Devils name Tom Fitzgerald Assistant General Manager". NHL.com. July 24, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  8. "Statement from Josh Harris, Devils Managing Partner & Chairman". NHL.com. January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  9. "Fitzgerald signs multiyear deal with Devils, promoted to president/GM". NHL.com. January 23, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  10. "'I'm a dad' ... 'I don't like being away'". ESPN. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on May 23, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  11. "Cup crazy: A Day with Lord Stanley's Cup". NESN. July 20, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  12. "Athlete profile: Keith Tkachuk". 3 February 1998. CNN / Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  13. Shinzawa, Fluto. "A giant hockey family tree, with roots running across the NHL, grows in Charlestown". The Athletic. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  14. Guy, Colby (August 23, 2021). "Former Panther & Bruin Jimmy Hayes Leaves a Lasting Legacy". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by New York Islanders first round draft pick
1986
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Position created
Nashville Predators captain
19982002
Succeeded by
Preceded by General manager of the New Jersey Devils
2020–present
Incumbent