Colorado Rockies 1976 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Good call, you're right, he did retire. That definitely would be a big reason for him to stay. Does make one wonder how Lou liked hearing "no" though, regardless of whether Jamie was justified or not (he was...it was his right)...I don't think Lou hears "no" very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Dan 56 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 (edited) Does make one wonder how Lou liked hearing "no" though, regardless of whether Jamie was justified or not (he was...it was his right)...I don't think Lou hears "no" very often. No, I'm sure he doesn't. Also, supposedly Langenbrunner took it as a personal insult that he was supposed to be the captain of a team that didn't want him. Lou's reasoning was that he wanted to break up the veteran group (Langs, White, Rolston, etc), which probably also didn't sit well with Jamie or the other vets. It definitely makes that terrible beginning of 2010-11 make sense. Edited January 15, 2014 by Devil Dan 56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundstrom Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Did it really end that ugly? He wanted out and hated Lemaire. But so did most of the players. It was a bad coach/captain relationship. He asked for a trade. sh!t does happen, but not sure if there is any hostilities between Lou and Langenbrunner. If there is...then maybe it did end ugly. I do remember that right after he was traded, he hosted the entire team for the Super Bowl party and many Devils have spoken glowingly about him since then. Whatever happened, it didn't bother his teammates. I doubt it ended any worse than when Pandolfo was scratched in the playoffs by text message day of game and told to dress with the rookies in the practice locker room. He was bought out during the off-season. Moving on...loved Jamie as a Devil. Incredible 2003 playoffs -- 2 goals in game 7 against Ottawa. Part of an excellent line with Zajac and Parise for multiple years. Lot of awesome moments. He refused to waive his NTC when Lou tried to trade him before the 10/11 debacle season. That was the beginning of then end. He fractured the room into praise/white/langs power group. And yes, he thought he was bigger than lemaire. He was a real good player here for a while but when Lou painted himself into a corner cap wise and decided to get rid of langenbrunner a year early, Jamie was pissed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Brown Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Good ol ZZPops seems like a distant memory, but good career for him. Happy Retirement Langenbrunner! We have a different version of ZZPops now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njd3b1ink Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Really hated the way his time with us ended, but he was one of my favorite Devils before that. Still got a Langenbrunner jersey in the closet. Devils dont win the cup in 03 without him. Happy Retirement Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouse Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I think Lemaire retired right after the season, so Jamie thought he could have a fresh start with a new head coach. But he expected too much with Johnny Mac too, imo. That locker room was a disaster. Not just Langs, but there was a reason Lou wanted to break up the vets on that team. I don't want this to turn into a Langs bash fest (or a fight over him either), so I'll leave it at that. Much as I've had issues with him (and unlike some other guys, I think I was right to have issues), he was one of my favorite Devils for a long time for good reason, and much as I don't love him the way I used to, i still have huge respect for the guy, and wish him success and happiness in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Crash Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Wow, I just happened to Google Jamie's name a few days ago to see whether or not he had already retired. I had been thinking back to the last Olympics in which the Devils had significant representation on the U.S. hockey team with Jamie as captain and Zach as co-captain. As someone mentioned earlier, Jamie came in that trade with Dallas that saw Randy McKay and Jason Arnott leave New Jersey so I was bummed at first -- McKay was my all-time favorite Devil. But I would come to greatly appreciate having Jamie on the team and thought he was a good captain till the last year or so. No hard feelings here. On a personal note, I used to go to the same chiropractor as him, LOL. Also, during the 2004-05 lockout, Jamie made an appearance at a few local Shop-Rites sponsored by Premio sausages. He gave out free autographs to anyone who asked and even posed for a photo with me. I still have one of the giant promotional posters of Jamie hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2003 that Shop-Rite had hanging up on the wall for that event. I don't know how often that happens anymore -- players making appearances and giving out autographs and posing for photos for free. I thought it was cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Brown Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I was actually very upset we traded Arnie and McKay for him and Nieuwendyk back in 2002. Boy was I glad I was eating crow after watching him 2003. Langs stint with the Devils lasted longer than I could have expected. He was a warrior for this team. Miss ya Langs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Rockies 1976 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) Something that hasn't been brought up was what a terrific value his contract was...5 years, $2.8 million per. He played in 81+ games in the first four years of that deal, and overall in those four years played in 308 games (missed a total of 20), scored 84 goals, had 147 assists (231 points), and was a key contributor on the Devils' top line...actually, when you think about it, ZZPop was about as cost-effective as it gets. Clearly Year 5 didn't work out nearly as well as Years 1-4, but anytime you get production that exceeds the value of the deal over most of its term, you've got to be thrilled with the return. Edited January 16, 2014 by Colorado Rockies 1976 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucifersDog Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Best wishes Langs, thanks for the memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmitri Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Langs = Clutch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepperkorn Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) Did it really end that ugly? He wanted out and hated Lemaire. But so did most of the players. It was a bad coach/captain relationship. He asked for a trade. sh!t does happen, but not sure if there is any hostilities between Lou and Langenbrunner. If there is...then maybe it did end ugly. I do remember that right after he was traded, he hosted the entire team for the Super Bowl party and many Devils have spoken glowingly about him since then. Whatever happened, it didn't bother his teammates. I doubt it ended any worse than when Pandolfo was scratched in the playoffs by text message day of game and told to dress with the rookies in the practice locker room. He was bought out during the off-season. Moving on...loved Jamie as a Devil. Incredible 2003 playoffs -- 2 goals in game 7 against Ottawa. Part of an excellent line with Zajac and Parise for multiple years. Lot of awesome moments. Yes it ended that badly. It's not up to a player - Captain or no - to editorialize and foster ill-will regardless of how he personally feels about a proven coach. He handled it FOR ABSOLUTE sh!t! There is no white washing or making it all acceptable. It was not, and it ended how it had to, and in my opinion, it was he who set the tone for the past crap years. The Devils are completely disengaged from a winning mindset in no small part to Langenbrunner's really misguided final seasons here pissing and moaning and being part of the problem NEVER the solution. Oh -- and he dammwell effected his teammates. Without Jamie the Pandolfo thing doesn't happen. Lanegenbrunner assisted in destroying professional communication with team management. His unbalanced - unbalacable - voice destroyed communication. In the end that's managements responsibility for giving him that role -- and now management gives that role to those I will politely refer to as easy to communicate with. Which is OBVIOUSLY equally as damaging - perhaps a bit more? However, before he felt the need to overstep his role, he was a pleasure to have as part of the team and did a great job. Few people can step back once they let their proverbial cat out of the bag. I understood and understand but that doesn't make it hunky-dory in hind sight. Edited January 16, 2014 by Pepperkorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Rockies 1976 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 It was really only his last season PK (I guess you can include his indifferent play in the playoff series against the Flyers if you want). And the '11-'12 team didn't seem to be terribly affected by Langs. I don't tie anything that happened last season or this season (which is still sorting itself out) to Langenbrunner. You could make a more compelling case tying a chunk of that to Kovy (having to be dragged back here last season, bailing on his contract 11 days into UFA), if inclined to go that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepperkorn Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) AND I DO!!!! And I tie Kovy MAKING THAT CHOICE back to fvckING LANGENBRUNNER!!! HOW CAN YOU SAY THE ENTIRE MACLEAN THING ISN"T ON JAMIE?!?!???!?!??! AHHHHHHH!!!!! Lemaire doesn't retire without that fvcknut COMPLETELY messing with the team psyche! WHY DO YOU ALL THINK LEMAIRE RETIRED!?????? Dear lawrd -- I posted before I finished the thread and saw where we all tried to take it.... no. Jamie. It's all Lou, allowing the Jamie thing to spin completely out of control. Do you not see how this sort of thing fvcks with the very foundation of a system like Lou's? Trust is HUGE. Jamie betrayed the trust Lou gave him, in the worst most damaging way possible. He turned it on it's head and said: because you're making these decisions (which we know were actually on the right track), we can no longer trust you. TRUST WAS DESTROYED BY LANGENBRUNNER AND UNTIL EVERYONE IS GONE FROM THOSE DAYS, IT WILL ALWAYS BE WEAK. THIS is what I always write about - this is LOSERVILLE. This is that intangible LOSER thing I keep writing about. Yes - the team has to shake it off -- people have to shake the lessons history has given them off. Lou is very conservative and hence we have some really slow shaking off. It's why I'm glad Parise is gone. Although if he had stayed it would have meant the Langenbrunner legacy was gone actually. Pretty much only Parise had that power to rid the team of that and keep them winners get them back to mental confidence. But it's done. The team had to be taken down to bare bones square one and that's where we are. fine whatever. I may be over-stating to a point - but if you do not understand the string of actions then you can't understand why the team is where it is -- what it is coming out of and why it is. It's a waste of a valuable lesson. Hmeh - but you know -- people waste history continually. I'm not goign to let it die a quiet re-written death though Edited January 16, 2014 by Pepperkorn 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepperkorn Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) oops. Can you undo my +1 up there (lest someone thinks someone actually agrees with me )? I hit it trying to fix my Jammie typo.... AND - in closing Jamie was a great hockey player and did what he thought was best. I'd trust him to lead any team I was responsible for even now. I really loved watching him play and having him on the team. I sincerely hope he has a great retirement and no regrets. Edited January 16, 2014 by Pepperkorn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ELIAS6 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 so lets take bets... how long until he is coming out of retirement ..hes only 38 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim777 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Best of luck top him in retirement, hope he remains in hockey in some capacity. Was happy to see him as Captain of the last USA Olympic team as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 In hindsight, he was accurate about the direction of the team and how Lemaire was losing the team. Management didn't want to listen. Kudos to Langs. He was a great Devil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsrule33 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) In hindsight, he was accurate about the direction of the team and how Lemaire was losing the team. Management didn't want to listen. Kudos to Langs. He was a great Devil That's interesting. Langs/White/Madden/Pando gone...advance to the Cup finals. I think Lou did a pretty good job on the fly there fixing what he needed fixing. But you are right about 2010. That 2nd half was as messy as it got. He probably needed to get rid of more players in the off-season. Edited January 16, 2014 by devilsrule33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfitz804 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 One of my favorite Devils. Always remember how shocked I was when the Devils got him because it meant giving up Arnott and McKay so I was a bit sad at first. However, Langenbrunner quickly grew on me for his dedication. Always going to remember his monster 2003 playoff run. I always liked Langenbrunner and remember being excited when he was acquired. But then I was also a little taken aback by what we let go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neb00rs Posted January 18, 2014 Share Posted January 18, 2014 (edited) A solid Devils role player. Best of luck to Langs. Edited January 18, 2014 by Neb00rs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxm262 Posted January 20, 2014 Share Posted January 20, 2014 http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20140119/devils-great-jamie-langenbrunner-reflects-on-18-year-career For those familiar with Mike Ashmore, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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