O'Neil: GM Fitzgerald has the 'Green Light to Go' I PODCAST

New Jersey Devils Official Podcast
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CEO Scott O'Neil | Speak of the Devils
Scott O'Neil, CEO of HBSE, the owning partnership of the New Jersey Devils, had one message about the upcoming offseason for the hockey club.
"Let's go."
O'Neil was referring to the Devils' unique position and flexibility to make moves this summer. Whether it be with the NHL Draft, free agency or trades, general manager Tom Fitzgerald has been given the "green light" to do whatever it takes to make the Devils a contender.
"Let's spill the coffers," O'Neil said on this week's episode of Speak of the Devils podcast. "We've got plenty of cap space, let's use it. We've got plenty of picks, let's go get 'em. We've got the expansion draft, that's going to create opportunity. 'Fitzy' seems like he's locked in, zeroed in. He's got the green light to go. Let's put some players on the ice.
"It's time. It's time to start building up. We have this young core in place. Now let's go build a hockey team and win some games."

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The 2020-21 season was a trying one for the Devils and their fans. But it also could be a turning point. The team is building from the ground up, and have amassed incredible talent and prospects around which to build a winner. O'Neil pointed to several NHL teams - Chicago, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles - that went through down years and rebuilt their franchises into Stanley Cup champions.
"This team is going to play some meaningful hockey (next) year. We have some work to do," he admitted. "We have aways to go. But you've seen this in hockey. You've seen this movie. You have a young core. You build around them. You make a meaningful run with good goaltending. That's what we expect to do."
Despite the team's struggles last season, there was something to be said about the youth and enthusiasm pulsating throughout the lineup. And O'Neil, who has been with the Devils organization for eight years, felt it.
"This is the first Devils team that I totally fell in love with," he said. "I think that's the romance of hockey. I really do. I think you fall in love with teams, you fall in love with players, you fall in love with personalities. You fall in love with the way they skate.
"I think that we have something really special. I'm sure some fans are frustrated with losing. I'm frustrated with the losing. I just didn't think there was any other way. I think we have the right pieces in place. I think Lindy (Ruff) is the right coach. Fitzy is the right GM. I think they're going to build something special."
While Fitzgerald and Ruff build up the hockey side, O'Neil has spent nearly a decade building the business side of HBSE and the Devils. And over that time he experienced a lot professionally and personally in his life.
O'Neil, 51, documented some of those experiences and life lessons in a new book, Be Where Your Feet Are: Seven Principles to Keep you Present, Grounded, and Thriving.In the book, O'Neil shares his own personal stories of loss and healing through an engaging narrative. It is not your typical self-help or motivational tome.
"This is not a celebratory Lego Man 'everything is awesome' type book," he explained. "This is about trials and tribulations. This is about peeling back the onion you see on Facebook and Instagram where everything is awesome. … It doesn't really reflect the messiness of life.
"For me, I try to show up as the same person. I try to be the same authentic person at work, at home, at church, in the community, with my friends. These principles in the book are how I aspire to live."
One piece of advice in the book arises from fellow HBSE employee Jim Leonard, the organizations SVP of government relations. He noted that one should find one thing that's important to you in life, and then use one day per month to work toward that one thing.
For O'Neil, that one thing is taking advantage of his time.
"I think the most precious resource in the world is time," he said. "I'm 51 years old. That's not something I really (understood) when I was 40 or 30 or 20. But at 50, I understand it. I think the pandemic was the nail in the coffin. I absolutely understand how fragile life is. I want to take advantage of moments.
"If there's something that a reader or listener can take advantage of today, it's that you have these moments with people you love. I want you to take advantage of."
And taking advantage of that time requires being present with one another and reconnecting.
"Let's go reengage," O'Neil said. "Let's turn off The Office reruns. Let's put the Tik Tok down. Let's check the phone in the car in the glove compartment. Let's talk. Let's have meaningful conversations."
O'Neil was reminded of that need for connection as the Devils and the world overcame COVID-19. He found himself as one of only two people in the stands at Prudential Center in the season-opener in January watching Yegor Sharangovich score the overtime-winning goal against Boston with mere seconds to spare.
He looked around at the vacant bowl and imagined it filled with ravenous fans screaming in elation of the victory.
"(That moment is) why we do what we do. Why we work 150 nights a year. Why we deal with the hours, the travel, the stress, the anxiety," he said. "Because our purpose is to bring people together and create connection and create escapism. Have you come to an arena and see the Devs and scream and shout and dance and sing and high five and hug perfect strangers, that's our purpose."
But those aren't the team's only goals. O'Neil and the organization have high aspirations for the Devils and the future of the franchise.
"I want more wins. I want more playoff series. I want a Cup or two here," O'Neil said. "If that's not what you're going for, you're in the wrong company.
"This organization is built to win and bring that Cup back to New Jersey where it belongs."