Rock Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Igor has left the building http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=e...2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2 Saturday, January 17, 2004 By TOM GULITTI STAFF WRITER EAST RUTHERFORD - Igor Larionov played for Scotty Bowman for seven years in Detroit, so he knows what it's like to deal with a demanding head coach. The 43-year-old center appeared to be taken by surprise Friday, however, when Pat Burns requested that he leave the ice in the middle of the coach's angry address to the Devils at Continental Arena. Burns said he did not kick Larionov out of practice, but Larionov must have thought otherwise. He skated off with a smirk on his face, went to the locker room, dressed, and went home. He did not speak to the media before leaving. "He wasn't paying attention," Burns said matter-of-factly. "I thought I was boring him, so I said, 'If I'm boring you, then get off the ice.' He left. I didn't kick him off. He left on his own." Burns said Larionov would not play in this afternoon's game against Washington at Continental Arena, but said it was because he wanted to get Mike Rupp back in the lineup. During happier times, such an incident might be easier to explain away. But during a stretch in which the Devils are struggling - they have two wins in their last nine games (2-5-2) - and captain Scott Stevens remains out for at least another week with a possible head injury, it provides evidence that nerves are frayed. Larionov has struggled since signing two days before the start of training camp to fill the void created by Joe Nieuwendyk's departure for Toronto. At times, he has seemed unhappy with the Devils' defensive-minded approach. He has no goals and 10 assists in 34 games, and his assist in Thursday's 3-3 tie with the Rangers was his first point in nine games. Although the Devils brought in Larionov as a power-play specialist, Burns used him for only one shift during the team's five power plays Thursday and he did not get on the ice during a five-on-three advantage for 1:53 in the second period. "It's what we expected," Burns said of Larionov's play. "We knew he wasn't going to be in every game. Some games we call on him. Sometimes we don't. Is it more important to maybe see what Michael Rupp can give us or to see what Igor Larionov can give us for next year?" Somewhere between Madison Square Garden and the Meadowlands, Burns' stated satisfaction with Thursday's tie turned sour. Perhaps it struck him on the bus ride home that the Devils failed to protect two third-period leads. Shortly after taking the ice Friday, he slammed his stick against the glass in one corner of the rink to call the players over for a meeting. His voice was not clear enough to make out his words from the stands, but the violent manner in which his head jerked as he spoke indicated his message wasn't a happy one. "He just made sure to let us know what the problem was and the reason why we didn't win instead of tying," goaltender Martin Brodeur said. Many of the players were taken aback by Burns' mood change. Larionov, the league's oldest player and a three-time Cup winner, apparently was, too. His teammates were under the impression that Burns told him to leave, but also downplayed the incident. "There was really nothing to it," Brodeur said. "I don't think you should read too much into it. It's nothing." DEVILS BRIEFS: Defensemen Scott Niedermayer, Colin White, and Brian Rafalski were given the day off from practice to rest. ... Left wing Christian Berglund took part in practice and might play today after missing six games in a row with a bruised left hip. E-mail: gulitti@northjersey.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Couldn't Igor just keep going and not come back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Burns said he did not kick Larionov out of practice, but Larionov must have thought otherwise. He skated off with a smirk on his face, went to the locker room, dressed, and went home. He did not speak to the media before leaving."He wasn't paying attention," Burns said matter-of-factly. "I thought I was boring him, so I said, 'If I'm boring you, then get off the ice.' He left. I didn't kick him off. He left on his own." Gee, I guess Burns WAS boring him then This could very well start a domino effect that gets Larionov off the team, by hook or by crook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Has, it reminds me of the incident with Lemaire that ended with Peluso getting traded to St. Louis. Just too many similarities. Igor could be gone very soon. Gee, I'd be SOOO sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Gee, I'd be SOOO sorry. So would I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleG Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Whatever he wants. I don't care. He didn't bring much to the Team, so have a nice life, Igor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Uhm, trade Igor? To who? There are teams clamouring for 43 year olds with 14 shots and 0 goals in 34 games? Our best chance is to throw him on waivers and see if anyone else wants to pay the $500,000 for the remainder of the season. He's a waste of a roster spot. I'm with Burns. Let's give Rupp some experience and see if he can develop... we know Igor is gone at the end of the season, preferably earlier. Heh... someone said Igor, even without putting huge numbers, would be a help because he brings experience, leadership and good hockey sense to a team. Yeah, getting kicked out of practice for ignoring the coach shows that in spades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 I didn't say trade him. I used what happened with Peluso as an example because the INCIDENT that led to Mike being traded was so similar. Unfortunately for Mike, it was a pure misunderstanding and Jacques was too stubborn to work it out. I'm simply saying that Igor will most likely be gone, one way or another. I agree...no one is going to trade for him. He'll be waived and then most likely bought out because I can't see him playing in the minors. He'll refuse to report. I am very disappointed in Igor...I said that at least our fossil would know his role and play it well. I was incorrect, I admit it. In the battle of the fossils, the Rangers win, even if Messier gets too many minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Savard went down with another injury in Atlanta, they could be interested in Larionov. I saw that Daniel Corso played for them last night, so they have to be pretty desperate. I think Larionov could play on a team that a: doesn't roll four lines and b: will let him avoid contact in practice. The reason this guy has lasted as long as he has is because the Red Wings put him on the 4th line and let him out for the power play. But the Devils don't have anyone to put Larionov's setups home, plus Gomez does pretty much the same thing. But all I can say to Lou is I told you so. This guy was nothing in Florida when he went there, and he's nothing here. But now he knows he has to upgrade at center. There's no way Larionov should get in a playoff game for the Devils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarDew Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Wasn't Holik more of the reason Peluso was traded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC Devs Fan Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Igor can leave, walk out, be released, be traded, I don't care; just get him out of here please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moustic Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 i'm not too strong in logical but no igor = a win Lou have to think about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Wasn't Holik more of the reason Peluso was traded I know Bobby wanted no more "Crash Line" duties, but that's not actually what got Mike traded. The team wasn't playing well, there was a team meeting, Jacques asked a rhetorical question and Mike didn't understand that it was rhetorical, raised his hand because he thought he was supposed to. This REALLY pissed Jacques off because he though Mike was mocking him. Lou could not get Jacques to understand that Mike had been doing no such thing. Mike was done in NJ. I understand that Lou did write Mike a letter thanking him for everything he had done for the team, I don't think he wanted to trade him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devildude Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Ballsy of Igor to leave... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Puddy Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 He probably wants to leave this team just as much as we want him off of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas0nMacIsaac Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 If Lou can get a 15th round pick in the NBA draft for Larionov I would be happy. The guy has no trade value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insanity_gallops Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 i'm not too strong in logical but no igor = a win Lou have to think about it Doesn't this make 2 games in a row where Igor doesn't play and the Devils win? Maybe it's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizDevil30 Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Dosvedonya Igor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 I guess Brooks got one right this year. About a month earlier, he wrote that Larionov hates Devils practices so much, it was like being in the Red Army. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LetsGoDevils Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 Bye Igor.....keep going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 (edited) now I'm thinking that Ronning was the over the hill center we should've picked up in the offseason. Larionov's game just doesn't fit here. He's used to starting a season strong, doing nothing in the middle, and playing great down the last 30 games. It's a pattern that's repeated for the past 10 years. I actually thought he played pretty well against the Rangers, he did pick up a key assist. Burns just doesn't accept his style of lazing through practices, but he doesn't really need to practice anymore there is no patience with him, and Larionov as whipping boy #1 is just silly, the guy is 43. sure I expected a few goals. He has 10 assists, maybe he should have 16-17. But he's not the big problem here. The injuries to Stevens and Langenbrunner are. Edited January 18, 2004 by '7' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risky Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 Y'know, it's funny, for all the lambasting this guy has taken, he still has as many points as Gionta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRASHER Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 Burns just doesn't accept his style of lazing through practices, but he doesn't really need to practice anymorethere is no patience with him, and Larionov as whipping boy #1 is just silly, the guy is 43. sure I expected a few goals. He has 10 assists, maybe he should have 16-17. But he's not the big problem here. The injuries to Stevens and Langenbrunner are. But the big problem there is leading by example.. if this guy who makes one good play every 2-3 weeks at best and is totally invisible on most nights is not trying and doing what the rest of the guys are doing day in and day out, that's just not acceptable on this team.. and that's not the kinda example this team tolerates or lets happen (which I am grateful for) it just wasn't a mix.. it happens.. no one's perfect !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 Ronning's game would have fit here? He was a healthy scratch for the Wild in the playoffs. He's just as finished. The reason why everyone has piled on Larionov is because he does nothing well. He avoids hits. He doesn't win faceoffs. He passes up great shots to make drop passes. He's not the Devils' kind of player. Lou made a mistake, but he has plenty of time to rectify it. Neither Larionov nor Ronning should see a playoff game for their respective team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 He didn't fit in Florida, he doesn't fit here, the only place he did seem to fit was Detroit. I was just over on the ESPN boards, some of the guys over on the Deroit boards have actually expressed an interest in getting him back for the playoffs. Maybe we'll get really, REALLY lucky and that interest will extend to their management. I don't think so, but that would probably be our best bet in getting something, however little, in return for him. That way, they didn't have to pay him for most of the year but get him for the "best part" of his year. I don't think he has the interest in giving NJ that best part of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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