| Casey Fitzgerald | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Fitzgerald with theBuffalo Sabres in 2022 | |||
| Born | (1997-02-25)February 25, 1997 (age 28) Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams | New York Rangers Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Buffalo Sabres Florida Panthers | ||
| NHL draft | 86th overall,2016 Buffalo Sabres | ||
| Playing career | 2019–present | ||
Casey Fitzgerald (born February 25, 1997) is an American professionalice hockeydefenseman who plays for theHartford Wolf Pack in theAmerican Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to theNew York Rangers of theNational Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the third round (86th overall) of the2016 NHL Entry Draft by theBuffalo Sabres.
Fitzgerald played youth AAA hockey with the Middlesex Islanders out of North Andover MA. Fitzgerald was a part of the 2014–15US national under-18 team[1] of theUnited States Hockey League (USHL), where he won a gold medal and had the bestplus/minus rating on the team at the2015 IIHF World U18 Championships.[2]
Fitzgerald joined theBoston College Eagles ice hockey team for the 2015–16 season.[3] In his freshman year, he appeared in 39 games and scored 27 points, including 4 goals 23 assists. He was named to the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie team at the conclusion of the 2015–16 season.[4]
Fitzgerald was drafted in the third round (86th overall) in the2016 NHL Entry Draft by theBuffalo Sabres. He made his NHL debut with the Sabres on December 17, 2021 and finished the game with an assist.[5][6][7]
.jpg)
After being a healthy scratch for six straight games during the2022–23 season, Fitzgerald was placed on waivers by the Sabres on January 10, 2023, upon the return of defensemanHenri Jokiharju from injury. He was subsequently claimed off waivers by theFlorida Panthers on January 11.[8]
Fitzgerald played just 4 games with the Panthers during the remainder of the season, but was called into action for the postseason. He made hisStanley Cup Playoffs debut in Game 4 of the First Round against theBoston Bruins, subbing in for the injuredAaron Ekblad.[9] On July 17, 2023, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers.[10]
At the conclusion of his contract with the Panthers, Fitzgerald was signed as a free agent to a two-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers on July 2, 2024.[11]
Fitzgerald is the son of currentNew Jersey Devils general managerTom Fitzgerald, and was born inBoca Raton, Florida when his father was a member of theFlorida Panthers. As a result of his father's career, he grew up in Florida and Tennessee, before his family settled inNorth Reading, Massachusetts.[12]
Fitzergald's older brotherRyan was a teammate at Boston College. Ryan was drafted in fourth round (120th overall) by theBoston Bruins in the2013 NHL Entry Draft.[3]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2013–14 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 52 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 57 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Boston College | HE | 39 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Boston College | HE | 37 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Boston College | HE | 36 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Boston College | HE | 39 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 25 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 22 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 28 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 43 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 11 | ||
| 2021–22 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 36 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| 2023–24 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 69 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 65 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2024–25 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 66 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 63 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing United States | ||
| ice hockey | ||
| IIHF World U18 Championship | ||
 | 2015 Switzerland | |
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | United States | U17 |  | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2015 | United States | U18 | | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2017 | United States | WJC | | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Junior totals | 20 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 12 | ||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman 2017–18 | Succeeded by |