Lamoriello is One-of-a-Kind
Devils GM will be inducted to Hockey Hall of Fame
by: Steve Cangialosi
It's fitting that Lou Lamoriello and Brian Leetch enter the Hockey Hall of Fame at the same time. The best general manager of any New York area sports franchise, and the greatest player in Rangers' history share a bond that transcends one of the best rivalries in sports.
Each is such an important figure in the growth of hockey in the United States, and each played a pivotal role in what is arguably – after the Miracle at Lake Placid – the greatest U.S. team hockey achievement of all time when it won the World Cup in 1996. Lamoriello was the GM who built the team. Leetch was its captain. Both are a recipient of the Lester Patrick Award for service to hockey in the United States, and bring dignity to what will be one of the great Hall of Fame classes of all time when they are inducted along with Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and Luc Robitaille.
Lamoriello and Detroit's Ken Holland have long been considered 1 and 1A when it comes to ranking the NHL's best GMs, but they are so different. Holland is the master of delegating authority. Lou delegates rarely.
As I sit here three days before the NHL draft, I can tell you it is highly unlikely that anyone other than Lamoriello – with the possible exception of super scout David Conte – knows which player New Jersey has targeted for its top pick. He said yes to Zach Parise on Draft Day 2003 when 16 other teams passed and have regretted it ever since. Through the years he's watched John MacLean, Bruce Driver, Bobby Holik, and Scott Gomez jump ship to the Rangers, and he's never looked back with any bitterness.
The NHL released a list of accomplishments pertaining to Lamoriello's impressive resume Tuesday afternoon, but nowhere does it cut to the chase with this: that his team is always a contender, always finishes at or near the top of the standings, and is never a victim of its own success.
The Devils have not had a top 15 selection in the draft since 1996. Who wants to wager that's a streak that won't be broken in 2010?
Brent Sutter is officially the Head Coach of the Calgary Flames, with the Devils receiving no compensation for granting Calgary permission to speak with New Jersey's head coach for the last two seasons.
The NHL schedule has not been released, but it is highly unlikely that the Flames will visit Prudential Center in the 2009-2010 season. Unless Calgary is designated one of the few Western Conference home-and-home opponents for New Jersey, the only game between the teams will take place at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
Since Brent Sutter had a year remaining on his contract with New Jersey, Calgary GM Darryl Sutter (Brent's brother) needed to request permission to talk to Brent about the vacancy created when Mike Keenan was fired.
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