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Fletcher Returns to the Devils |
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People forget that Chuck Fletcher worked as a senior advisor to then-GM Ray Shero with the New Jersey Devils after the Minnesota Wild fired him as their long time general manager. Fletcher also worked closely with then assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald.
When the Flyers called the Devils for permission to interview Fletcher for their general manager vacancy created after the in-season firing of Ron Hextall, the Devils said yes. Based partially on the recommendation of senior advisor Bob Clarke (who hired Fletcher in Florida as assistant GM for his first NHL management job way back in 1994), then-Flyers CEO David Scott was eager to hire Fletcher. Fletcher got the Philly job over runner-up Bill Zito. Zito, then an assistant GM with Columbus, ultimately got the Florida Panthers' job.
We know how it worked out. Zito led the Panthers to back-to-back Eastern Conference Championships and the 2024 Stanley Cup. For Fletcher in Philly, apart from 2019-20, it was Murphy's Law in action. Whatever could go wrong, did. Wrong acquisitions or the wrong non moves at the wrong time. Injuries that turned out much worse than Chuck had been led to believe. You name it.
The ultimate example was Ryan Ellis. If Ellis had actually been healthy, things probably would have gone differently.
I felt bad for Chuck, to be honest. He's one hell of a nice guy and he really DOES know his hockey and hockey management. He's never been anything but a total gentleman when I have met him. His dad Cliff was an absolutely legend of a GM (tough shoes to fill).
Now it's somewhat come full circle for Chuck; not back to Philly but back to the Devils. The team has hired him as a senior advisor to general manager Fitzgerald. I don't know if or when Fletcher will be back in the mix for another NHL general manager job but he DOES belong in an NHL front office. This is a good spot for him.
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