New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald was tasked to retool a roster that in many people's opinions underperformed last season and with the idea that the playoffs are the goal heading into year four of being the main guy in New Jersey, it appears he has just one thing he is looking for when trying to find the right guy to fit his team.
According to Devil's Beat reporter James Nichols, Fitzgerald has made sure that his team is fully committed to the task at hand and is void of one specific characteristic.
While it's no secret that many professional hockey players carry a bit of this around, it's important to realize and remember if you're part of a team that you're only as good as your best guy. Appreciating that in that regard many people believe that it's skill that will carry you forward to success, attitude and the fact that if you have a group of players who can band together, stick up for each other when needed and gel when the time asks for it, you could potentially have a winning formula. Saying that Fitzgerald also added Michael McLeod and Cal Foote and everyone knows how that turned out.
With the minor changes that have occurred over the offseason in New Jersey, highlighted by the the hiring of head coach Sheldon Keefe, which by all accounts could have a major impact on where the team finishes in the standings, the Devils have, in theory, lined themselves up for success. Whatever success they do achieve, one has to believe they'll be better than they were, at least last season.
POLL | ||
21 SEPTEMBRE | 81 ANSWERS New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald looked for one thing this offseason Will the New Jersey Devils make the playoffs this season? | ||
Yes. It's inevitable | 54 | 66.7 % |
No. They have more work to do | 27 | 33.3 % |
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