The New Jersey Devils interviewed former General Manager of the Year Mike Gillis for their GM position, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday's Headlines segment on "Hockey Night in Canada."

The Devils fired GM Ray Shero in January. Assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald was promoted to interim GM following Shero's dismissal.

Fitzgerald remains a "very serious candidate" for the position, Friedman added, but the organization is still going to continue with its search.

Gillis was the GM of the Vancouver Canucks for six seasons from 2008-09 to 2013-14. He was named GM of the year for the 2010-11 season, in which the Canucks won the Presidents' Trophy and lost in the Stanley Cup Final. He hasn't held a job with an NHL front office since but admitted last summer he was looking to get back into the game.

The Devils' GM search will continue once the season is over and they can interview candidates currently employed by NHL teams, Friedman added. Waiting was not necessary with Gillis since he's currently an executive free agent.