Episode

Spring Cleaning: Chuck Fletcher & Dan Mackinnon FIRED by New Jersey Devils, More to Come?

Podcast
Locked On Devils - Daily Podcast On The New Jersey Devils
Published
May 2, 2026
Duration seconds
1789
Processing state
processed
Canonical source
https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-devils/
Audio
https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/a92ebe/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/4bd56e64-8f2b-456f-86d6-8d53d7f74194/episodes/fabcfb61-57bb-498b-b3fb-6bb1ff2b25fa/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=4bd56e64-8f2b-456f-86d6-8d53d7f74194&awEpisodeId=fabcfb61-57bb-498b-b3fb-6bb1ff2b25fa&feed=d34VcFyj
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/locked-on-devils-daily-podcast-on-the-new-jersey-devils-520717/episodes/spring-cleaning-chuck-fletcher-dan-mackinnon-fired-by-new-jersey-devils-more-to-come
Markdown
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Summary

Chuck Fletcher and Dan McKinnon have been fired from the New Jersey Devils organization as part of significant changes to the team's front office, a move that Zach Berman describes as long overdue at 00:12:49. Fletcher, who served as Senior Advisor to the President, Hockey Operations and General Manager, is criticized by Zach Berman for carrying over his poor front office track record from the Philadelphia Flyers, with both him and McKinnon being linked to the Devils’ lackluster player development and questionable contract decisions. McKinnon, who managed the Devils’ AHL affiliate, Utica Comets, is also noted for a decade of underwhelming prospect development, despite the organization's repeated high draft picks. Zach Berman connects these firings to a wider critique of the Devils’ front office over the last decade, highlighting missed opportunities and poor drafting decisions that have crippled the organization—most notably the inability to acquire or develop high-end talent like Quinn Hughes, whose likely contract extension in Minnesota further frustrates the Devils' situation (00:02:59). The show host underscores that errors by previous managers like Tom Fitzgerald and Ray Shero continue to haunt the franchise and laments persistent issues with a "boys club" mentality that recycles unsuccessful executives (00:16:34). Attention then turns to who could be next on the chopping block. Zach Berman identifies two top candidates: Dave Rogalski, the Devils’ goaltending coach since 2020, and Megan Duggan, director of player development since 2022. Rogalski, associated with deteriorating goaltending performance and stagnant goalie prospects, is considered by Zach Berman to be a near-certain firing in any impending purge (00:22:13). Duggan, while a hockey legend, is blamed for…