05.28 Dave McCarthy Interview After seeing the first three rounds of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, most would agree the New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/players/new-jersey-devils-jake-allen-tom-fitzgerald-linus-ullmark-jacob-markstrom-boston-bruins-calgary-flames] need to add some grit to their forward group. During the 2024 NHL Scouting Combine, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald spoke with Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic. In addition to talking about goaltending and his 10th overall pick, Fitzgerald acknowledged that his team needs more size and physicality among his forward group. "We're a little too vanilla up front," Fitzgerald told LeBrun. (from 'NHL rumblings: Devils goalie search, Zegras, Marner, Necas, Gibson, Saros and more from the combine,' The Athletic, 06/04/24). Two years ago, in May 2022, Fitzgerald addressed the media and said his then-forward group had a lot of the same, something he ultimately did not want. He continued saying that he wanted to start mixing, matching, and building a team. During a March media availability, the general manager was asked if he felt his 2023-24 forward group had enough diversity. "I think we are getting there," he said. "If you look at the lineup back then, you know, with certain players, they were skilled, but maybe on the, I don't want to say softer side, but not the hardness that we have now." He referenced the team's acquisition of Curtis Lazar [https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/curtis-lazar-8477508] and Kurtis MacDermid [https://www.nhl.com/devils/player/kurtis-macdermid-8477073]. "Do we have a forward group of fighters? No, but we have forwards who play hard and finish checks," Fitzgerald continued. "I think that is a demand from the coaches, too. I think anybody can finish checks if they are asked to play harder." Finding and signing gritty depth forwards should be on Fitzgerald's list right after he figures out his goaltending tandem for next season, and it won't be easy, as plenty of teams are looking to add players like Brady Tkachuk and Sam Bennett to their rosters.
