New Jersey Devils fire GM Tom Fitzgerald, possible Predators target

An intriguing name is now available for the Nashville Predators in their search for a new general manager . On April 6, the New Jersey Devils fired general manager Tom Fitzgerald. He had been the Devils' GM since 2020, but is leaving after the team made the playoffs just twice in that six-year span.

#BREAKING : New Jersey Devils Managing Partner David Blitzer announced today that Tom Fitzgerald will depart the organization. — New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 6, 2026 Fitzgerald, 57, has worked as an NHL executive since 2007, but before that was a 17-year player in the NHL. Most notably, he was the Predators ' first captain, from 1998 to 2002, during which he had 42 goals and 46 assists in 307 games in Nashville's early years in the NHL.

The possibility of Nashville's interest in Fitzgerald isn't hard to imagine, with his ties to the organization and 18 years of front office experience. Current general manager Barry Trotz announced his retirement on Feb. 2 , prompting a search for the team's third-ever GM.

Majority owner Bill Haslam said the team plans to interview both internal and external candidates and wants to explore all options. GM OPTIONS: Potential Nashville Predators' GM target leaves St. Louis Blues, per report Haslam initially hired CAA to help with the job search, but  CAA was forced to withdraw  after it was determined there was a conflict of interest.