Tom Fitzgerald Joins the Show + Bukala on Prospects of Interest Ahead of the Deadline

The Jeff Marek Show

Sportsnet

Sports, Flames, Canucks, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Stanley Cup, Nhl, Oilers, Jets, Senators, Hockey

4.4 • 887 Ratings

🗓️ 5 March 2024

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jeff kicks off the show with New Jersey Devils President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Tom Fitzgerald! Tom discusses his decision to fire Lindy Ruff, what the former head coach was brought in to do and what he expects from Travis Green behind the bench, before getting into his team's window of contention. Then, Sportsnet NHL analyst and former NHL Director of Scouting, Jason Bukala shares his most interesting prospects that could be involved in big deals at the deadline, along with his read on the Maple Leafs' prospect pool (20:00). Later, former NHL defenceman and current Predators analyst, Hal Gill breaks down Nashville's eight-game win streak, the team's future between the pipes, and how Barry Trotz is approaching the deadline (51:55). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the Jeff Merrick Show on the Sports Net Radio Network.
0:11.0	Diff. Difficult day yesterday for my next guest, the general manager of the New Jersey Devils, Tom Fitzgerald,
0:17.6	who pulled the trigger on firing head coach Lindy Ruff.
0:21.7	Tom joins me now. So, thanks so much for stopping by.
0:23.7	How are you today?
0:27.5	I've been better.
0:29.8	Yeah.
0:30.3	Today was a terrible day.
0:34.0	You know, at the end of the day, you know, when you're underperforming like we are,
0:40.0	you know, and change needed to be made, it starts it starts with with your head coach so
0:46.6	very hard day emotional for me you know my personal relationship with
0:49.7	would be rough and his family it was it was It was it was really tough.
0:56.0	Why did you think that like I'm curious what went into the thinking about the
1:00.7	timing of it like I've looked at this season with the New Jersey Devils and
1:04.0	I've banging this drum for a while I still maintain the most underreported story and I'm
1:09.6	guilty of it too the most underreported story of the season in hockey is the injury to
1:14.3	Dougie Hamilton. So there's been that. There's been other injuries. There's been
1:18.5	goal-tending issues as well. Young defense, you know letting go a couple of veteran defenders in the
1:24.1	off season. It seemed as if, you know, a lot of things sort of, you know, lined up. I
1:29.2	know you don't like to make excuses for
1:35.0	Lindy Ruff to stay more so than to go.
1:39.0	There were so many different mitigating circumstances
	...

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