New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is actively calling counterparts around the league as trade rumors intensify. With the team underperforming and the deadline approaching, he confirmed he's "working the phones daily" to improve the roster. Established veterans like defenseman Dougie Hamilton and winger Ondrej Palat are central to those discussions.

Fitzgerald emphasized that both players remain respected figures inside the locker room and will be treated with respect during any negotiations. Hamilton, recently a healthy scratch, returned to action with two assists, while Palat scored twice to snap a recent losing streak. The GM also threw full support behind coach Sheldon Keefe, whose job is secure.

New Jersey sits 13th in the Eastern Conference through 46 games, a disappointing position for a team with playoff aspirations. Fitzgerald took direct accountability for the club's struggles, stating, "This is on me," while noting he remains in lockstep with ownership. He also pushed back on reports that contract protections blocked a potential blockbuster for Quinn Hughes.

Fitzgerald explained that acquiring Hughes would have required giving up core young players already contributing in the NHL, a cost too steep for the organization. While the Devils' Hughes brothers have openly wanted to reunite with their sibling, the asking price from Vancouver ultimately landed him in Minnesota. Expect Fitzgerald to explore smaller moves that bolster depth without sacrificing the team's future.