*Puts on tinfoil cap*
Been developing a theory. Defensemen dry up in Devils system, they start to heavily draft+develop them. Lou brings young defensemen into NHL as soon as possible, but not immediately, because of veteran situation last few years. He signs as many older forwards as possible to teach these kids (in practice) how to play in an older offensive/defensive system. Knowing the league is changing and that he won't be a part of it soon, Lou tries to inject a young crop of D-men and goaltenders with as much of the work ethic of these older forwards, while essentially writing off the season in a good draft year. Lou retires after the end of next year or so when guys like Larsson, Severson, Merrill, Gelinas are bona-fide NHL top-6.
All that's really missing is attention to the future of the forward situation in general. Our youth is just not focused in our forward group outside of Zajac and Henrique, and the constant plugging of holes with veteran guys has clearly failed. Just not sure what the plan is there...