Tom Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald in 2012
Born (1968-08-28) August 28, 1968
Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Islanders
Florida Panthers
Colorado Avalanche
Nashville Predators
Chicago Blackhawks
Toronto Maple Leafs
Boston Bruins
National team  United States
NHL Draft 17th overall, 1986
New York Islanders
Playing career 1988–2006

Thomas James Fitzgerald (born August 28, 1968) is an American former ice hockey player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). He currently serves as the general manager and executive vice president of the New Jersey Devils. He won the Stanley Cup in 2009 as a director of player development with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing career

Fitzgerald played his high school hockey at Austin Preparatory School in Reading, Massachusetts, he then went on to play college hockey for Providence College and was selected by the New York Islanders of the NHL in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft (1st round, 17th overall). He turned pro in 1988 with the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate Springfield Indians, and in 1990 was one of the key players who led Indians to the Calder Cup championship.

He played parts of five seasons for the Islanders and became the first player in NHL playoff history to score two shorthanded goals on the same minor penalty, against the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 2, 1993, which also equaled the NHL record for shorthanded goals by a player in one game. He was selected as one of the original Florida Panthers in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. Although he has been cast as a defensive forward in the NHL, he had his best scoring years in Miami and was one of the leaders in Florida's 1996 Stanley Cup run. In those 1995–96 playoffs, Fitzgerald scored the decisive goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was a 58-foot slapshot that found its way past Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso.

He was briefly traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 1998 before signing as a free agent in the subsequent offseason with the Nashville Predators, who sought out his veteran leadership. Fitzgerald was named Nashville's first captain, serving in the capacity for four seasons. He subsequently played for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had signed with the Maple Leafs to a two-year contract on July 18, 2002.[1] While with Toronto, Fitzgerald and his Maple Leafs teammate Gary Roberts both played in the 1,000th game of their careers on January 13, 2004.[2]

In the summer of 2004, Fitzgerald signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins. In July 2006, the Boston Bruins chose not to renew his contract. He announced his retirement after 17 NHL seasons on September 12, 2006.[3]

Executive career

In July 2007, Fitzgerald left NESN when he was named Director of Player Development for the Pittsburgh Penguins.[4] In October, he was then named as an assistant coach for the United States national team for Deutschland Cup, helping push them to second place.[5] On July 3, 2009, Fitzgerald was then promoted within the Penguins organization to assistant general manager.[6] On July 24, 2015, Fitzgerald was named assistant general manager for the New Jersey Devils.[7] On January 12, 2020, Fitzgerald was named interim general manager of the Devils' after Ray Shero was fired.[8] On July 9, 2020, Fitzgerald was named Executive Vice President and full time General Manager of the Devils.

Personal life

Tom and his wife Kerry have four sons; Ryan, Casey, Jack and Brendan.[9] Fitzgerald did a stint as an analyst for the Outdoor Life Network during the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, and was one of NESN's studio analysts during postgame coverage of Boston Bruins' matches.[10] His son Ryan was drafted in the fourth round (120th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, and currently plays for the Utica Comets, the New Jersey Devils's AHL affiliate. Casey, who was drafted in the third round (86th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, currently plays for the Florida Panthers. Both Ryan and Casey attended Boston College, skating on the same roster from 2015–2017.

Fitzgerald grew up with his cousin, fellow NHL player Keith Tkachuk.[11] He is also cousins with Tkachuk's sons Matthew of the Florida Panthers and Brady of the Ottawa Senators, as well as Kevin Hayes of the St. Louis Blues and the late Jimmy Hayes, who most recently played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1984–85 Austin Preparatory School HSMA 18202141— —————
1985–86 Austin Preparatory School HSMA 24353873— —————
1986–87 Providence Friars HE 278142222 —————
1987–88 Providence Friars HE 3619153450 —————
1988–89 Springfield Indians AHL 6124184243 —————
1988–89 New York Islanders NHL 2335810 —————
1989–90 Springfield Indians AHL 5330235332 14291113
1989–90 New York Islanders NHL 192574 41014
1990–91 Capital District Islanders AHL 27771450 —————
1990–91 New York Islanders NHL 41551024 —————
1991–92 Capital District Islanders AHL 41124 —————
1991–92 New York Islanders NHL 456111728 —————
1992–93 New York Islanders NHL 779182734 1825718
1993–94 Florida Panthers NHL 8318143254 —————
1994–95 Florida Panthers NHL 483131631 —————
1995–96 Florida Panthers NHL 8213213475 2244834
1996–97 Florida Panthers NHL 7110142464 50110
1997–98 Florida Panthers NHL 691051557 —————
1997–98 Colorado Avalanche NHL 1121322 701120
1998–99 Nashville Predators NHL 8013193248 —————
1999–00 Nashville Predators NHL 821392266 —————
2000–01 Nashville Predators NHL 82991871 —————
2001–02 Nashville Predators NHL 63791633 —————
2001–02 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 151346 50004
2002–03 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 664131757 70114
2003–04 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 697101752 100006
2005–06 Boston Bruins NHL 71461040 —————
NHL totals 1,097139190329776 787121990

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
1987 United States WJC 4th 7 3 0 3 2
1989 United States WC 6th 10 0 2 2 12
1991 United States WC 4th 10 1 0 1 6
Junior totals 7 3 0 3 2
Senior totals 20 1 2 3 18

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Maple Leafs sign Tom Fitzgerald". CBC Sports. July 18, 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Fitzgerald, Roberts play 1,000th games". ESPN. 2004-01-13. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  3. ↑ "Tom Fitzgerald announces retirement". Boston Bruins. 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  4. ↑ "Penguins add Fitzgerald, Botterill to management". Pittsburgh Penguins. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  5. ↑ "Fitzgerald, Curry Benefit From Team USA Experience". Pittsburgh Penguins. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  6. ↑ "Tom Fitzgerald Named Assistant to the General Manager; Dan MacKinnon Promoted to Director of Player Personnel". Pittsburgh Penguins. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  7. ↑ "Devils name Tom Fitzgerald Assistant General Manager". NHL.com. July 24, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Statement from Josh Harris, Devils Managing Partner & Chairman". NHL.com. January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  9. ↑ "'I'm a dad' ... 'I don't like being away'". ESPN. 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  10. ↑ "Cup crazy: A Day with Lord Stanley's Cup". NESN. 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  11. ↑ "Athlete profile: Keith Tkachuk". 3 February 1998. CNN / Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
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