Today, the New Jersey Devils announced several hires for the staff and front office. The announcement is led by failed GM Chuck Fletcher, former Devils captain Andy Greene, and Manny Legace. This post reacts to the news.
Earlier today, the New Jersey Devils announced a large number of hires in management and with team personnel. Credit to the New Jersey Devils for announcing all of them through their official website. The hires were led by three major names as per their announcement. As per the headline in this post discussing this news, the biggest one is Chuck Fletcher. As in former GM of the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild Chuck Fletcher. Yes, Fletcher is with the Devils.
This is very much an Old Boys Network hire. As per the Devils’ announcement, Fletcher was hired to be the Senior Advisor to the President, Hockey Operations and General Manager. That would be the Senior Advisor to Tom Fitzgerald, who holds that title in the organization. Here is what the Devils wrote about Fletcher. I’ve bolded the bit that I think got him this job.
Chuck Fletcher has joined the organization as Senior Advisor to the President, Hockey Operations and General Manager. He will advise Tom Fitzgerald on hockey operations matters including player personnel, scouting, and contracts. Fletcher served as General Manager for the Flyers from December 2018 to March 2023 and spent nine seasons (2009-2018) as General Manager of the Minnesota Wild, where he led the club to six straight playoff appearances. Fitzgerald and Fletcher previously worked together in Pittsburgh for three years, 2006-2009.
Ah, there it is.
Fletcher’s time in Philadelphia can be summarized in two words that has come back to haunt him: “aggressive retool.” He was fired right after the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline for, well, not being aggressive or that successful in his retooling. His time in Minnesota was more successful given that he was there for nine seasons. The team did make playoffs in six of those nine seasons; every season since the lockout-shortened 2013 season. That was consistent. He was let go for the team consistently failing to get beyond the second round, often getting eliminated in four of those six seasons. Philly was a mess when Fletcher came in – and it remains a mess now. If Fletcher was more successful, then this hire would of course not be happening. He would likely be a GM somewhere else. But it also means that he is not in this role because he was good at his job. I bolded the last sentence for a reason. He’s here because Fitzgerald is familiar with him.
This is further supported by this message from Michael Russo on X. He recounted a brief story where Fletcher knew of Fitzgerald all the way back when Fitzgerald was in the league. This means that the Fletcher-Fitzgerald relationship goes back further than just three seasons in Pittsburgh before Fletcher took the Wild job.
This also means the front office has a lot of voices in it. I think Fitzgerald is doing Fletcher a solid. The title is vague enough as to whether Fletcher is there for Fitzgerald to bounce ideas off of or whehter he will be in the room for contract negotiations, trades, draft picks, and more. If Fletcher is actually going to advise Fitzgerald, then I question what voice did he think he was missing. I understand that GMs often have staffs and take a collaborative approach for many aspects of managing the team. Even so, the front office seemed full to my untrained eyes. The Devils have two assistant general managers in Dan MacKinnon (who also is the GM of Utica) and Kate Madigan. Two people whom have been interviewed for GM jobs not that long ago. The Devils also have Martin Brodeur as an Executive VP of Hockey Operations. It is presumed he has a say, especially in the matters of goaltending. There is also Director of Player Development, Meghan Duggan; head coach Sheldon Keefe; Senior Vice President of Player Development and Performance, Dr. Angus Mugford; Senior Vice President of Hockey Strategy & Analytics, Tyler Dellow; and Director of Amateur Scouting, Paul Castron. All of whom have specific roles and can and will be involved in at least some of the decision making processes Fitzgerald has to make. Even without Fletcher, it is an organization that seemingly has the business of in-season and off-season hockey already covered. What does Fletcher bring to the table that all of these other people were not providing?
Worse: If the Devils flop again 2024-25 and Fitzgerald is let go, then does this make Chuck Fletcher a real candidate for the next GM of the New Jersey Devils? Because Chuck Fletcher is in the front office and has the GM experience that may convince ownership to go with him instead of someone built up in the organization or someone outside of it. I remind you: Fletcher did not lead the Wild to the success they aspired to and he failed in Philadelphia. I do not want Fletcher to get a third chance with New Jersey. Even if we are cheeky and consider that his purpose is to have Fitzgerald do the opposite of Fletcher’s suggestions, I do not think it makes sense to give him a job just for that. I do not think adding him to New Jersey makes sense if he actually does any advising.
Especially considering one of the other hires announced today by the New Jersey Devils. Former captain and long-time defenseman for the New Jersey Devils, Andy Greene, has been formally hired by the team. He is an Advisor for Hockey Operations and the Devils own announcement states that he will be advising Fitzgerald. Yes. Another advisor for Fitzgerald. Along with Fletcher, MacKinnon, Madigan, Brodeur, and, depending on the task, one or more of Duggan, Keefe, Dr. Mugford, Dellow, and Castron. How much advisement does Fitzgerald need? More seriously, this reads to me as a step up since the announcement noted how Greene has volunteered his time to the Devils. I am sure more of the People Who Matter are pumped by Greene formally returning to the Devils. I would be more excited but, you know, Fletcher.
The other major hire announced was on the goaltending side. Manny Legace was Columbus’ goaltending coach for five seasons following an 11-season career in the NHL. It appears he replaces Scott Clemmensen – I think he was the previous person in that role – and will work under Brodeur. Given the consistent drafting and signing of goaltenders for the system, Legace will surely have plenty to work with in terms of advisement and guidance for Daws, Poulter, Brennan, Malek, Yegorov, and Louhivaara. I am OK with a change there provided Brodeur lets Legace put his two cents in instead of being a surrogate for the EVP.
While the Devils led with those three names, they made several other hires. Scouting contracts likely ended for a few so they added Mike Rooney and Mike Yandle as amateur scouts (in time for the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup?); Geoff Sanderson as a pro scout; and Tom’s son Ryan Fitzgerald as a “s. college scout.” I am not sure what the ‘s’ is for but Elite Prospects lists the former P-Bruin, Phantom, and Comet as a U.S. college scout. As does the Devils’ staff directory. Given that scouting is far from a glamorous job and it is one voice among several, I am more than fine with giving the ex-player and son of the GM a shot there to prove his worth. The same goes for Geoff Sanderson. Sanderson is entering pro scouting for the first time, but he was a development coach for two seasons in a distant past with the Islanders. He is also not alone as Andre Savard, Brian Strait, and Peter Horacheck remain with the team. The two amateur scouts come with more of a pedigree. Rooney has been a scout with Nashville and Buffalo outside of the WHL. Yandle was a scout with Florida and San Jose and apparently is returning to the scouting realm after a three season break. These are ultimately fine on the surface as they are very much behind the scenes.
As are the other non-scouting hires. Corey Dietze may be the same Corey Dietze who worked with the Minnesota Twins about a decade ago for a bit. A return to sports is an interesting call for him. Angelo Serse is now the answer to the question of “Do the Devils have a skating coach?” Katie Davis has a new title although she will be focusing on Utica more than New Jersey. Bobby Juliano, an assistant equipment manager, did get a promotion from Utica to New Jersey with that title with Aaron Hoffmeyer backfilling his previous role. These are behind-the-scenes positions that carry value off the ice that I would hope the players and other staffers fully appreciate. Having quality trainers and equipment staff may not lead to more wins, but it absolutely helps keep the organization operating at a high level.
All told, if the 2024-25 Devils perform well, return to the playoffs, and even contend for something, then a lot of this concern will go away. As much as I can lament about the Old Boys Network that permeates pro sports, I am ultimately a pragmatist. If the results are there, then I can live with it. And you likely will too. That said, I really do not get the decision to add Fletcher as an advisor of any kind. Both from a role and Fletcher point of view.
Now I want to know what you think about these hires. Are you more positive than I am about Chuck Fletcher joining the organization? Are you hyped about Greene’s return? Please leave your answers and other thoughts about these hires in the comments. Thank you for reading.