New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald had a lot of questions to answer the day after head coach Lindy Ruff was fired on Tuesday, and some of them involved former Canadiens color man Montreal Tyler Toffoli.
The team's precarious position in the standings and its recent performances prompted the GM to change the guard behind the bench; Assistant Instructor Travis Green will fill the vacancy until the end of the campaign. However, attention will now focus on the futures of some players, especially with the National Hockey League trade deadline set for Friday.
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Among the athletes featured in the rumors, Toffoli remains an asset that Fitzgerald wants to keep: “I'm not buying Tyler Toffoli,” he also stressed, adding that in recent days he has been talking to the other party about the possible signing of a new contract.
However, the CEO admitted that the two parties did not agree on how long it would take. Additionally, knowing the forward is eligible for full free agency this summer, he wants to have a good idea of the likelihood of re-hiring whoever is coming off a four-year, $17 million contract. So there could be an exchange, but not at any price.
“Tyler knows how much we want to keep him with us. […] The reality is that there are clubs who have called about him. Assets for the future could help us with that,” said the manager, who, however, made it clear that he would not hand over the experienced player on a silver platter.
Expect a lot of action?
Consequently, the next few days will reveal a lot, Fitzgerald recalled laconically. When the team's best sniper sets sail with 26 goals this season, the message sent to the rest of the squad will be obvious, the CEO said. A departure of the winger would mean that the organization has “thrown in the towel” for the current season.
Additionally, other files must be monitored in New Jersey, particularly those of guards. The inconsistent performance from Vitek Vanecek, Nico Daws and Akira Schmid explains why the Devils were eight points out of a playoff spot before hosting the Florida Panthers that evening.
“Our guards are watching my reaction right now and it's hard for me because yes, I'm on the market,” he said. No, our performance in front of the net is not good enough. It's up to me to try to improve the situation. I wish this was easier said than done, but I need to do the right thing for the organization in a short period of time. On the other hand, in my opinion, this one is much bigger.”