News Article: Lou : New ownership has the cash to build a contender again

[glenwo2]

If you listen to the prognosticators, the Devils will struggle to make the playoffs.

That brings a smile to the face of general manager Lou Lamoriello, who said today he finally feels he has the financial support needed from the club’s new owners to once again assemble a contender no matter what it may take along the way.

“I’m excited about the aggressiveness as far as, ‘What is it we can do to help and support what you are doing?’ ” Lamoriello said about new owners Joshua Harris and David Blitzer. “They want to support and encourage and not discourage because it might be something that costs. They are very progressive. There is no cutting back.”

That hasn’t been the case in several years under Jeff Vanderbeek.

“It’s been a long few years here,” Lamoriello admitted. “There has been a wall up. What you can and can’t do really isn’t something that you talk about because there is no good that comes out of it. I don’t look back and I don’t look for excuses. Right now I think it’s a very positive situation going forward.”

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/..._has_the_cash_to_build_a_contender_again.html

Lou sounds excited.

(excuse me if this was already mentioned....)

Click to read more...

 

[BenedictGomez]

“It’s been a long few years here,” Lamoriello admitted. “There has been a wall up. What you can and can’t do really isn’t something that you talk about because there is no good that comes out of it.

Wait, what?

Nah..... that's nonsense. As we all know, there was NEVER a problem. And certainly not something that EVER affected any operations whatsoever.

 

[JimEIV]

In the last 26 or 27 years I have never heard Lou as open with the media about the Devils situation as he has been over this summer.

I get the feeling he wants to say it wasn't my fault. I think we will be hearing more in the future.

 

[Lindys Lazy Eye]

Wait, what?

Nah..... that's nonsense. As we all know, there was NEVER a problem. And certainly not something that EVER affected any operations whatsoever.

I like your style.

 

[NC107*]

Funny how the words change, status quo.

 

[Bleedred]

So I guess I was right when I said last season that finances were not where they needed to be, and that's why we saw a lot of bargain bin signings and replacements like Butler, D'Agostini, etc.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

not one person denied that there was a problem of some kind.

reivisionist history at its finest.

 

[Bleedred]

not one person denied that there was a problem of some kind.

reivisionist history at its finest.

Not many people did deny it, but I did see the Zajac contract brought up a lot as a reason to why we might not be in bad shape.

 

[Wingman77]

Not many people did deny it, but I did see the Zajac contract brought up a lot as a reason to why we might not be in bad shape.

We were always a team that spent up to, over, or near the cap the past 3-5 years when the finances were in question so it was never a team finance issue in that regard - before, during, or after the Zajac deal

 

[Emperoreddy]

We were always a team that spent up to, over, or near the cap the past 3-5 years when the finances were in question so it was never a team finance issue in that regard - before, during, or after the Zajac deal

So then maybe it is more about signing bonuses and such, off the cap things to attract free agents?

 

[Wingman77]

So then maybe it is more about signing bonuses and such, off the cap things to attract free agents?

Lou was never into signing bonuses I believe and regarding what bleedred was saying about the low cost replacements last year - really who else that was attractive was available?

We could have had Sykora if we wanted for instance a guy who would have likely outscored all of Butler, Dags, Kostopolus, and Poni combined

**** just didn't work offensively last year among others but, whatever thats in the past now and I don't care

 

[Bleedred]

We were always a team that spent up to, over, or near the cap the past 3-5 years when the finances were in question so it was never a team finance issue in that regard - before, during, or after the Zajac deal

Last year we weren't though. Lou pretty much said this in not so many words if you read the article. TG was saying he thought the only year the finances impacted the product was 12-13.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Lou was never into signing bonuses I believe and regarding what bleedred was saying about the low cost replacements last year - really who else that was attractive was available?

We could have had Sykora if we wanted for instance a guy who would have likely outscored all of Butler, Dags, Kostopolus, and Poni combined

**** just didn't work offensively last year among others but, whatever thats in the past now and I don't care

I agree with you on that, was saying it all offseason and year. There was just nothing out there and we had little to make any large trades. Paying Semin 7 million was not a smart option, Sykora maybe would of been a smarter choice then trying to go young with Tedy and Butler, but there was just nothing out there.

Everyone wanted Poni back and we did, but it didn't work the 2nd go around.

Thing is if it isn't signing bonuses, what is Lou talking about? Unless he means that he didn't think we could sustain spending near the cap much longer?

 

[Bleedred]

Lou was never into signing bonuses I believe and regarding what bleedred was saying about the low cost replacements last year - really who else that was attractive was available?

We could have had Sykora if we wanted for instance a guy who would have likely outscored all of Butler, Dags, Kostopolus, and Poni combined

**** just didn't work offensively last year among others but, whatever thats in the past now and I don't care

I agree with you, I don't care anymore either.

IMO I really think there were other issues involving Sykora. Either there were some internal problems that they weren't too happy with, or they thought he really was absolutely done. I was very surprised he wasn't re signed after Zach walked. Had Zach stayed, I wouldn't have been shocked in the least to see us not sign him.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

So happy we got monies.

 

[Bleedred]

I agree with you on that, was saying it all offseason and year. There was just nothing out there and we had little to make any large trades. Paying Semin 7 million was not a smart option, Sykora maybe would of been a smarter choice then trying to go young with Tedy and Butler, but there was just nothing out there.

Everyone wanted Poni back and we did, but it didn't work the 2nd go around.

Thing is if it isn't signing bonuses, what is Lou talking about? Unless he means that he didn't think we could sustain spending near the cap much longer?

Yes I wanted Poni back too. Really applauded Lou on the trade, but he wound up being the most invisible player on the team last year. He was trash, and I hope him and Kovy are as bad for SKA this year as they were for the Devils in the NHL. I could say Poni was probably the worst reacquisition we've ever made. Can't think of one worse than him. Not Lou's fault he was floating space junk though, and that he ended up being the One Trick Poni.

I still have fond memories of the 2012 Poni. One of my favorite trades of the last few years.

 

[DevilChuk*]

not one person denied that there was a problem of some kind.

reivisionist history at its finest.

Don't bother. I challenged him to find one person who denied there was a problem of some kind.. even offering to stop posting if he did.. and he instead put me on his ignore list

I do like how "not affecting hockey operations" somehow equates to "ability to build a contender" though. Never knew those things were one and the same.

 

[Bleedred]

Don't bother. I challenged him to find one person who denied there was a problem of some kind.. even offering to stop posting if he did.. and he instead put me on his ignore list

I do like how "not affecting hockey operations" somehow equates to "ability to build a contender" though. Never knew those things were one and the same.

You're thinking of someone else. I don't remember really having this conversation with you. Nor have you ever been on my ignore list, and I never told you I would put you on my ignore list either.

 

[BenedictGomez]

not one person denied that there was a problem of some kind.

reivisionist history at its finest.

Well, gee.... that's pretty broad.

Okay - I'll see you with a similarly broad statement and amend it to, "many people didnt think it was a big deal".

Though frankly, there certainly were people who thought the entire thing was BS if you go back far enough.

 

[devilsblood]

Well, gee.... that's pretty broad.

Okay - I'll see you with a similarly broad statement and amend it to, "many people didnt think it was a big deal".

Though frankly, there certainly were people who thought the entire thing was BS if you go back far enough.

And there are some people who thought the Devils in Newark was an absolutely untenable situation from the get go, and because of that the only reason someone would buy the Devils was if it was a rich man's toy scenario.

So maybe we shouldn't be too quick to point out how others haven't viewed the scenario with a near clairvoyant eye.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

not one person denied that there was a problem of some kind.

reivisionist history at its finest.

no one would ever buy this team with this much debt. just wait and watch us at UFA, our payroll has been decreasing nonstop the last 2 years and it will probs continue. That sample size is unquestionable.

 

[Chessarmy]

I feel like Lou is re-energized and extremely optimistic about the team's chances this season, more than usual....

I don't think its based only on the ownership change either, maybe he agreed with Jim about that guy who wore 17?

 

[Bleedred]

I feel like Lou is re-energized and extremely optimistic about the team's chances this season, more than usual....

I don't think its based only on the ownership change either, maybe he agreed with Jim about that guy who wore 17?

I don't think Lou was behind the contract. I never really did. Why? Because a 17 year contract is just not Lou. Lou has adjusted with the times on some levels. For instance he used to not give NTC's. Once they started to become almost standard for type flight guys, he adjusted. I'm not sure if we had a player with a NTC before Marty's in 06. Maybe Stevens had one on his last contract?

So Lou changed his philosophy on that, but I don't think he changed that much on contract length. What was the longest contract Lou gave out before the Kovalchuk one? Maybe a couple 5-6 year deals, the 7 year deal for Patty who was the top free agent that year.

17 year contracts just aren't Lou. Just like throwing a bunch of money at an unproven guy like Brunner isn't really Lou. I don't blame him on either one.

 

[DevilChuk*]

You're thinking of someone else. I don't remember really having this conversation with you. Nor have you ever been on my ignore list, and I never told you I would put you on my ignore list either.

Wasn't talking about you..

 

[Bleedred]

Wasn't talking about you..

Sorry thought you were. Just disregard that message then!