SC Devs Fan Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 http://www.nypost.com/seven/07022007/sport...ark_everson.htm LOU WON'T BREAK BANK; ISLES LOSE SMYTH, 4 OTHERS By MARK (N)Єverson July 2, 2007 -- His team devastated by yesterday's defections of Scott Gomez and Brian Rafalski, Devils president Lou Lamoriello says he's not pursuing any remaining costly big fish to replace them. "We will not be involved at the numbers [being paid]," Lamoriello told The Post. "What we are trying to do is be fiscally responsible. Among the top [free agents], Brian and Scott would be the ones we [pursued]. "We're looking at it now from a budgetary aspect, nothing to do with the salary cap. I'll be interested to see how these things affect everybody." Gomez signed with the Rangers and Rafalski with the Red Wings, and the Devils head to their new arena in Newark without their top center and defenseman. Gomez accepted the Rangers' seven-year, $51.5 million deal, while Rafalski signed a five-year deal at $6 million per with the Red Wings, returning to Michigan where he grew up. "It's time for a new chapter," Gomez said. "I had wonderful years in New Jersey. ... I learned how to be a professional, three Finals, two Stanley Cups. "But do I expect to be applauded when I go into that [Newark] building? No. I've just become the worst dog ever there." Gomez's departure was always a strong likelihood, but Rafalski was expected to stay, until The Post revealed the Devils were offering far below market. "I'm sad and I'm happy," said Rafalski, whose longtime Devils loyalty was not repaid when Lamoriello offered him only a token raise to less than $4.4 million, from last season's $4.2 million salary. Always a class act, Rafalski refused to take a shot at Lamoriello. "I respect where they're coming from. It's part of the business," said Rafalski. "It was difficult, but I had to make a decision," Rafalski said. Lamoriello said he drew the line on Rafalski's salary. "Brian has certainly been an integral part of our team, but ... we have to have fiscal responsibility," he said. Lamoriello did agree to contract terms with defenseman Johnny Oduya, an unqualified unrestricted, and is talking with unrestricted Brad Lukowich. The Devils' GM said he'll try to cope by promoting from within. "We'll have to continue doing the job by developing players," he said. * Meanwhile, yesterday was brutal for the Islanders, who saw five free agents - including their top two scorers, Ryan Smyth and Jason Blake - bolt as free agents. GM Garth Snow had made retaining Smyth a top priority, but got the bad news late last night last night when Smyth's agent phoned to say the forward has hooked on with the Avalanche. Smyth agreed to a five-year deal worth $31.25 million. The Isles acquired Smyth from the Oilers minutes before the trade deadline in February, giving up two former first-round picks plus this year's No. 1. Blake, the Isles' No. 1 scorer last season with career highs of 40 goals and 69 points, signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Maple Leafs. In addition, fellow forward Viktor Kozlov and top defenseman Tom Poti signed with the Capitals, and another forward, Richard Zednik, went to Florida. Kozlov, who had a career-best 25 goals and 51 points with the Isles, turned that into a two-year, $5 million deal with the Caps. Poti got four years, $14M. Zednik signed a two-year deal worth $3.25 million with the Panthers. The Isles did sign one free agent - grinding forward Jon Sim, who left the Thrashers for a three-year, $3 million deal. Sim, 30, had 17 goals and 12 assists in 77 games with Atlanta last season. -With AP mark.(N)Єverson@nypost.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 The usual "fiscally responsible" tripe. Lou doesn't have a leg to stand on anymore, go out there and sign some players or this team is not making the playoffs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundstrom Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 could the devils be working with a self imposed cap? perhaps vanderbeek has set one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msweet Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 could the devils be working with a self imposed cap? perhaps vanderbeek has set one? I don't get that feeling even though you may be right. I get the feeling that what happened yesterday was more about not paying 1st line pricing for 2nd line players.... long term! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils731 Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 The usual "fiscally responsible" tripe. Lou doesn't have a leg to stand on anymore, go out there and sign some players or this team is not making the playoffs! ya, that "tripe" that everyone applauds Lou for and has kept the devils competitive year in abd year out for over 15 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilish34 Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 The usual "fiscally responsible" tripe. Lou doesn't have a leg to stand on anymore, go out there and sign some players or this team is not making the playoffs! And would you run a business like that? If so let me know so I can keep an eye open for the fire sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Well we know he had the money to make the offers. Everybody is overpaying now, you have no other choice. Lou can't play by his rules anymore. Go out there and sign some players, otherwise he's deliberately sabotaging his team because his "principles" do not align with the NHL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxangelikus Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 (edited) "We will not be involved at the numbers [being paid]," Lamoriello told The Post. "What we are trying to do is be fiscally responsible. Among the top [free agents], Brian and Scott would be the ones we [pursued]. "We're looking at it now from a budgetary aspect, nothing to do with the salary cap. I'll be interested to see how these things affect everybody." You know.... I realize, as a longtime Devil fan, that this is not a team that will make a big splash in free agency. But I have to say, this quote above turns my stomach. Fiscally responsible? Try explaining to your fans, at the end of next season, when the Devils will probably be lucky if they are fighting for a 7 or 8 seed, that it's okay, because at least we're being fiscally responsible. Fiscally responsible. I can see with Gomez, who was going to get more than he deserved, how you're being fiscally responsible. But Rafalski? A guy who said he wanted to stay? The Devils can't continue to do nothing and continue to be Cup contenders. They can't continue to bleed UFAs without adequately replacing the void left behind. You have to shore up weak spots every now and then. Not every season - I'm not saying the Devils are jackasses because they won't drop serious dime on a big name UFA every year. But every once in a while, I think you need to balance fiscal responsibility with common sense. Now, lots of people were overpaying this season, understandable. But that is apparently the new trend. Does that mean the Devils are never going to get into the UFA game? Fiscal responsibility: No offense to the rest of the optimistic Devil fans here, but those two words are easily my least favorite words in the world right now. Because fiscal responsibility, in my estimation, is not going to help this team in the short term. And for the record, I'm not saying the Devils should go spend $50 million on a five-year contract for someone who doesn't fit their system. What I am saying is that you are going into a brand spanking new arena, minus your top center and a top defenseman (although I'm sure Oduya and Lukowich will be ample replacements ), and with a GM that's saying, outright, that they didn't even look at any other UFAs. Taken with the timing of Julien's firing, the whole thing makes the Devils look like they either think that they can continue doing more with less until the end of time, or like they just don't give a sh!t, so long as they're being "fiscally responsible". Maybe it helps in the long run, but it sure feels like crap right now. Edited July 2, 2007 by voxangelikus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellOnICE Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Well we know he had the money to make the offers. Everybody is overpaying now, you have no other choice. Lou can't play by his rules anymore. Go out there and sign some players, otherwise he's deliberately sabotaging his team because his "principles" do not align with the NHL. That doesn't make much sense to me. Hey let's go sign players becuase we have to sign players. Let's sign players for so much, we won't have wiggle room to sign anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbdf Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 at least the islanders fans had a worse day Think about it, they lost all those first rounders for smyth, and now smyth and everyone else with at least a handful of talent, and, now they are still stuck with that anchor named yashin, underachiever satan, and oft-injured dipietro to build around. I guess their misery will have to be what makes me feel better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weekes Head Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 At least Yashin was bought out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellOnICE Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 You know.... I realize, as a longtime Devil fan, that this is not a team that will make a big splash in free agency. But I have to say, this quote above turns my stomach. Fiscally responsible? Try explaining to your fans, at the end of next season, when the Devils will probably be lucky if they are fighting for a 7 or 8 seed, that it's okay, because at least we're being fiscally responsible. You can't continue to do nothing and continue to be Cup contenders. You have to shore up weak spots every now and then. Not every season - I'm not saying the Devils are jackasses because they won't drop serious dime on a big name UFA every year. But every once in a while, I think you need to balance fiscal responsibility with common sense. Now, lots of people were overpaying this season, understandable. But that is apparently the new trend. Does that mean the Devils are never going to get into the UFA game? Fiscal responsibility: No offense to the rest of the optimistic Devil fans here, but those two words are easily my least favorite words in the world right now. Because fiscal responsibility, in my estimation, is not going to help this team in the short term. And for the record, I'm not saying the Devils should go spend $50 million on a five-year contract for someone who doesn't fit their system. What I am saying is that you are going into a brand spanking new arena, minus your top center and a top defenseman (although I'm sure Oduya and Lukowich will be ample replacements ), and with a GM that's saying, outright, that they didn't even look at any other UFAs. Taken with the timing of Julien's firing, the whole thing makes the Devils look like they either think that they can continue doing more with less until the end of time, or like they just don't give a sh!t, so long as they're being "fiscally responsible". Maybe it helps in the long run, but it sure feels like crap right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHooligan Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 I don't get that feeling even though you may be right.I get the feeling that what happened yesterday was more about not paying 1st line pricing for 2nd line players.... long term! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 Vanderbeek = Wirtz? Bad, bad times ahead if we're going to be playing well under the cap so that Vanderbeek can make a good profit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 (edited) Vanderbeek = Wirtz? Bad, bad times ahead if we're going to be playing well under the cap so that Vanderbeek can make a good profit. Edited July 2, 2007 by Triumph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxangelikus Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 EXACTLY. SHORT TERM. You anwer your own question. Look this team lost the last two seasons with Gomez and Rafalski as the top O-Defenseman and Top center. To have paid enormous amounts of money to those two players would to have kept this team on the same track it was going in, which was second round upsets. Just because Lou said he's not looking at FAs, doesn't mean he isn't. You never know with Lou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 ya, that "tripe" that everyone applauds Lou for and has kept the devils competitive year in abd year out for over 15 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbdf Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 looks like the cap just keeps the increases in line with league wide revenues - things aren't running out of control, but rather, everyone is sharing equitably (owners and players) in the increasing league revenues - looks like bettman did his job and chelios should keep his mouth shut. as for the devils - i guess vanderbeek kept the team competiitve while in caa to keep interest up, now with a new building to keep interest up, he'll look inward to drafting and promoting youth through the system - they'll be a winner again, but not likely for another 5 years - gonna have to bring some youth through, have a losing season or two to get us better draft picks to bring through, and eventually, be contending again - around the time that the next Crosby sweepstake (when he goes UFA), we should have a ton of cap and internal budget room to throw at him (yeah, right) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 (edited) Crosby will never make it to the market - he will just be given a maximum contract, no questions asked. I think player salaries are going to be once again rising faster than the cap - if the cap only goes up to say, 54 million, where do the big names go? but somehow the cap just keeps going up. rdbf this team will be competitive every year with a goalie like Brodeur. I still expect at least one signing. Edited July 2, 2007 by Triumph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC Devs Fan Posted July 2, 2007 Author Share Posted July 2, 2007 What worries me is we have so little in our system that isn't in the NHL right now that the idea of filling from within scares me. Sure Parise and Zajac will get better but how much better... and if Elias or Gio slips a notch then we are in deep doo doo. Clarkson and Pelley aren't the answers. While I agree on not overspending I don't want to skate a team of loyal 4th liners trying to win 1-0 games while Lou holds his head high and thinks I did it my way. This isn't the same NHL that it was 15 or 10 years ago, the time that we had 2 20 goal scorers and won the Cup is long gone. The moves that this team has made over the last threee years have put this team closer to the have nots then the haves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSkirt Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 looks like the cap just keeps the increases in line with league wide revenues - things aren't running out of control, but rather, everyone is sharing equitably (owners and players) in the increasing league revenues - looks like bettman did his job and chelios should keep his mouth shut.as for the devils - i guess vanderbeek kept the team competiitve while in caa to keep interest up, now with a new building to keep interest up, he'll look inward to drafting and promoting youth through the system - they'll be a winner again, but not likely for another 5 years - gonna have to bring some youth through, have a losing season or two to get us better draft picks to bring through, and eventually, be contending again - around the time that the next Crosby sweepstake (when he goes UFA), we should have a ton of cap and internal budget room to throw at him (yeah, right) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitico12 Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 The usual "fiscally responsible" tripe. Lou doesn't have a leg to stand on anymore, go out there and sign some players or this team is not making the playoffs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilsdude530 Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 I think the Devils will have a lot more money to spend next year when Vanderbeek takes a bath in the money he's gonna make from the arena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils731 Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 I don't think the Devils didn't sign guys because of money issues. Vanberbeek knows the value of the franchise and the arena is much more important than his year to year cash flow. I think the contracts just made no sense, not that the Devils wouldn't spend that kind of money on guys they considered worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted July 2, 2007 Share Posted July 2, 2007 I don't think the Devils didn't sign guys because of money issues. Vanberbeek knows the value of the franchise and the arena is much more important than his year to year cash flow. I think the contracts just made no sense, not that the Devils wouldn't spend that kind of money on guys they considered worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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