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Love his track record, loathe his fiscal policies, Lou Lamoriello has his own ideas about how to advance the fortunes of the Devils -- and there's no one around to suggest otherwise. As a result, free agent signings are rarely part of the economic landscape surrounding Exit 16W, though losing Bobby Holik that way certainly will have a lasting impact.
Rather than turn around and use the money that would have gone to his most potent two-way force, Lamoriello decided to pocket the change and change up the roster. So Petr Sykora, whose linemate Jason Arnott had been sent packing at last season's trade deadline, was shipped to San Jose for speedy winger Jeff Friesen and skilled defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky. Not bad, in that it deepened the Devils both up front and at the blue line.
What it didn't do was replace yet another lost star in New Jersey.
Central problem: With their top two centers gone, the Devils now have to find a way to make Joe Nieuwendyk, who was acquired from Dallas in the Arnott deal, act young again. Behind him are John Madden and Scott Gomez, both of whom need to get back on track after mediocre seasons, veteran Sergei Brylin and journeyman Steve Guolla. These Devils aren't exactly a physical force in the middle anymore, are they?
Bore 'em with Burns: They loved his police story act in Montreal, hailed his playoff success in win-starved Toronto, swore they'd always follow him in Boston. So if he's been such a successful act, how come Pat Burns can never seem to hold down a job? Maybe it's his forceful personality, inviting the kudos while accepting too much blame. But Burns might have found a perfect home now, since he's a coach who has become devoted to the neutral zone trap, and Lamoriello has always been a devotee of winning one-goal (total) hockey games.
One last wheeze?: No one is suggesting that either Ken Daneyko or Scott Stevens (or both) are ready for retirement, but someone should tell them they under the NHLPA's pension plan, they don't have to play until their eligible for Social Security, as well. Both have lost a step or two, yet still get by on more than mere guile. The question remains: How long can they play before they become counterproductive?
Preseason schedule
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DATE
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OPPONENT
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TIME (ET)
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Fri., Sept. 20
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vs. Pittsburgh at Albany, N.Y. (Pepsi Arena)
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7 p.m.
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Sat., Sept. 21
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at Philadelphia
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7 p.m.
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Sun., Sept. 22
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vs. Pittsburgh at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
(First Union Arena)
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5 p.m.
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Tue., Sept. 24
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at N.Y. Rangers
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7 p.m.
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Thu., Sept. 26
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Philadelphia
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7:30 p.m.
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Fri., Sept. 27
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N.Y. Rangers
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7:30 p.m.
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Tue., Oct. 1
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at N.Y. Islanders
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11 a.m.
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Sat., Oct. 5
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N.Y. Islanders
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7:30 p.m.
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