LeBron James’ decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers has instantly shifted the spotlight inside the Harris-Blitzer sports empire, and that could end up working in the New Jersey Devils’ favor.
On Friday, James stunned the NBA world by leaving the Los Angeles Lakers for Philadelphia. The Sixers were already one of the league’s biggest offseason stories after trading Paul George and some spare change for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, and now they’ve got even more attention after the move.
For Devils fans, the bigger takeaway is what this means upstairs. Josh Harris and David Blitzer are going to have plenty to monitor in Philadelphia, where the Sixers are not only positioned as a championship contender but are also working on a new arena. That gives the Devils a chance to operate with less noise around them.
The timing matters because ownership attention has often been a question around the Devils. Under Tom Fitzgerald, the level of intervention was debatable, but it was never “none.” Under Sunny Mehta, the setup appears to be more hands-off, with ownership allowing things to play out.
Harris is said to be most focused on the Washington Commanders, while Blitzer has long been known to keep a close eye on the Devils. But when the big moments arrive, they come together, and the Sixers are clearly one of those moments now.
That’s where the Devils may benefit. If the Sixers absorb the bulk of the ownership group’s attention this season, Mehta can do his job without interruption.
And if that approach sounds familiar, it’s because the Knicks just showed how far that can go. James Dolan finally trusted someone to just do their job and run the Knicks.
And now, they are champions.
If the Devils get that same kind of runway, a championship might be in play there, too. And, at least in this version of events, LeBron James could end up being part of the reason why.
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What makes the conversation more interesting for New Jersey is that the analytics case for Hughes has not cratered along with the criticism. His market value may actually sit a bit above his current salary, and there are signs he can still trend upward once his game settles in. The bigger issue for the Devils is not just Hughes finding another level, but the team cleaning up its own defensive-zone play so his strengths are not constantly being asked to cover for everyone else. [Read more 🡒]
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One name in that mix is Patrik Laine, though the Devils are approaching him with caution because any contract would hinge on what he shows in a workout. The question is whether he can still drive the puck the way he once did, after his shot speed dipped last season, and whether that is enough for New Jersey to justify a bonus-heavy offer rather than a more ordinary commitment. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Fitzgeralds Next NHL Move Says Plenty About His Devils Run
Tom Fitzgeralds next move is getting watched closely around the league, because it says as much about his run in New Jersey as it does about where he lands next. Since taking over as Devils general manager in 2020, he has built a rsum that includes real pressure, real criticism and a team that has missed the playoffs in five of seven seasons, leaving plenty of questions about the roster decisions and opportunities that never quite turned into the kind of sustained success the franchise wanted.
For Fitzgerald, the search for his next NHL stop has become its own storyline, with his name tied to a few possible openings and even a consulting path as the league keeps turning over. However it ends, the next job will be read as a verdict on how the Devils last chapter was handled, and for a front office figure who has spent years under the microscope, that makes the wait just as revealing as the hire itself. [Read more 🡒]