I am not sure if posters read what Fitz says or not, but this article just appeared on NJ.com
Q: What is the downside to bringing in an impactful player for this season, someone that fits your age group, someone like a Tyler Toffoli? Obviously, fit comes into play, but does it come down to you wanting to bank that cap space for three or four years down the road? What do you say to fans that are saying, “Hey, don’t give up this year and next year. There are some guys that are in their 20s that could really be top six guys right now!”
Fitzgerald: "It’s a business situation. Some of these guys aren’t looking for one or two-year deals. They’re looking for five. Some are looking for six. I believe I know where we’re going to be in five or six years with our group as we continue to add and where our recent draft picks fit in. I don’t ever want to look back and go, ‘Geez, I did it for this season and next season, but, boy, years three and four, what am I going to do with this guy?’
I’m not looking at any particular player, but I am looking at there’s always a drop-off with older players.
Why Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald won’t spend $18M in cap space on Taylor Hall, Mike Hoffman ... or any big-money free agents