New Jersey Devils GM Looking to Trade for Gritty Forwards

New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald has been busy this offseason, bringing in a new head coach in Sheldon Keefe and now the veteran executive turns his attention to upgrading the roster. While it's been reported the team is open to moving it's first-round pick, 10th overall, it turns out Fitzgerald has a style of player in mind he'd like to add in any move.

Fitzgerald spoke to Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic and talked about adding a goalie, moving the 10th overall pick and the team's lack of tenacity:

We're a little too vanilla up front. I think we are getting there. If you look at the lineup back then, you know, with certain players, they were skilled, but maybe on the, I don't want to say softer side, but not the hardness that we have now. Do we have a forward group of fighters? No, but we have forwards who play hard and finish checks. I think that is a demand from the coaches, too. I think anybody can finish checks if they are asked to play harder.

While Fitzgerald is all over the trade market, the Devils also have $18.8 million in cap space and have some major assets they are open to moving. While the 10th overall pick is in play, it's likely with his attention on adding a proven netminder, the likes of Nico Daws and Akira Schmid are available.

As far as free-agent forwards go who play a gritty style, look for Fitzgerald to have interest in David Perron, Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Jake DeBrusk, Dakota Joshua, and Teddy Blueger.