Fitzgerald Gives Insight Ahead of Draft | FEATURE

TAKEAWAYS

"A lot of people have asked me if I would trade the pick? Of course, if it makes our team better and it's something I can control for a long period of time," he said. "Because you are giving up an asset that you control for a long period of time, an asset we believe will help us get to where we want to go.
"It's possible. You have to have a dance partner to do that."
Fitzgerald has been in contact with clubs about the pick, though talks haven't become significant as of yet.
"Everybody calls each other. I've had some calls. A lot of it has been tire kicking," he said. "I've been taking phone calls. Nothing right now of substance. But the draft is tomorrow night so the phone will keep ringing."
Regardless of what the Devils decide to do with their pick, they're guaranteed to obtain a great asset for the organization.
Fitzgerald: "At the end of the day, Montreal is going to pick a player and then we're going to have a decision to make."
Bratt Update
While the Devils are focusing on this week's NHL Draft, free agency is next week. The Devils have extended an offer to restricted free agent forward Jesper Bratt.
"First and foremost, Jesper Bratt is a tremendous player that we admire, we want to hold onto, we want to build with," Fitzgerald said. "We've talked to Jesper. We've made Jesper an offer that shows the commitment that David Blitzer and Josh Harris have in this young gentleman, and for very good reasons. He's a very good hockey player that makes our team better.
"We want to build with Jesper. We think the world of him."
Bratt, 23, enjoyed a career year in 2021-22 after posting 26 goals, 47 assists and 73 points - leading the team in each offensive category. He had previously skipped a portion of training camp two seasons ago due to a contract dispute. Both sides hope to avoid a repeat.
"Negotiations are negotiations. Last time we negotiated were they smooth? No. Not all negotiations are," Fitzgerald said. "But at the end of the day we want Jesper Bratt to be a New Jersey Devil for a long time."
Fitzgerald was asked about Bratt's name being attached to trade rumors that have circulated among some in the media.
"I can tell you unequivocally that I've never had Jesper on the trading block. I never talked to anyone about a Jesper Bratt trade," Fitzgerald said. "I don't know where all this comes from, but I can tell you it's not coming from the New Jersey Devils camp."
Trader Tom
As far as trades, Fitzgerald did acknowledge that he spoke to Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin about the rights to forward Kevin Fiala. Though they didn't get very far.
"We talked to Minnesota. They called us," Fitzgerald said. "At the end of the day, and I think Bill Guerin admitted this, they were locked in with a certain team and they stayed locked in. That's the sense I got after I talked to him that he was already down the road with another team. That's his priority. That's his team. That's his player."
The Wild traded Fiala to Los Angeles for a defensive prospect, Brock Faber, and the Kings' first-round pick (19th overall) Thursday.
Fitzgerald said the team has had other discussions with teams about certain players, but declined to specify.
Free Agency
If the Devils don't acquire any talent via trades, they can look to next week's annual NHL free agency, which takes place next Wednesday. The Devils landed defenseman Dougie Hamilton at last season's free agency day, the highest esteemed player to hit the market.
"We've mapped out potential holes that we have," Fitzgerald said. "We would like to add if possible. We're going to try. We have to find somebody that sees value in us and understands where we're at and wants to be part of that. Maybe leave a legacy and help the New Jersey Devils get to where we want to go and where we haven't been for quite some time."
One area the team would like to address is the goaltending position. Though Mackenzie Blackwood is in good health, the future for Jonathan Bernier is less certain.
"I'm trying to add to that position. We don't want to go through seven goalies in a season," Fitzgerald said. "That's not fair. You can't help injuries but putting young kids in a position - yeah, we saw some good things - but they shouldn't have been exposed to that at the length that they were."
Eye-to-Eye
This year' NHL Draft will be the first held in-person in three years (2019). It will also be the first in-person draft for Fitzgerald as a general manager.
"It's great to be together," he said. "This is why hockey is unique from other sports. You get the entire hockey world together in one place, exchange ideas, be with your scouts, entire management team, coaches, it's a fun time. We're back into real-world hockey stuff. It's been great. It's been busy."
The in-person aspect could really change how the second round operates. After all, it's easier to get up and walk over to a team's table to talk instead of doing it remotely and relying on phone calls or texts.