2004–05 New Jersey Devils season

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The 2004–05 New Jersey Devils season was the team's 23rd season in the National Hockey League since the franchise relocated to New Jersey. However, the 2004–05 NHL lockout prevented the season's games from occurring.

NHL lockout

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello sat on the negotiating committee for the league, although he had little to say early on in the proceedings.[1] However, he was invited to a January meeting by the players' union in an attempt to breach sides; Lamoriello was invited because of the respect for the manner in which he ran the Devils organization.[2] That meeting was ultimately unfruitful, although it did lead to further talks between the players and the owners.[2] As late as February 2005, Lamoriello showed hope the season could be salvaged.[3] <templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

They're trying to do everything humanly possible to try to get the game back on the ice... If there is reason to believe that there is hope and a chance, then I think you use that time. We have to have some patience.

He later added:[4]<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

Maybe I'm from the old school. But I believe we should lock ourselves in a room and not come out until we've made a deal – or announced that we can't. I've said all along, until someone tells me it's over, it's not. It's too easy to be negative. There's no question we have something scheduled at this point for (tomorrow) Wednesday. It's looking very bleak right now. But it's not over.

Lamoriello praised the final decision, saying it put everyone on "level footing" and created more parity in the league.[5]

Meanwhile, during the stoppage Devils' center Scott Gomez went home to Anchorage, Alaska to play for the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. He went on to lead the league in scoring, netting 86 points in only 68 games, en route to winning the league's Most Valuable Player award.

Transactions

The Devils completed the following transactions before the lockout suspended all activity:

Trades

June 26, 2004 To New Jersey Devils
1st round pick in 2004		 To Dallas Stars[6]
1st round pick in 2004
3rd round pick in 2004

Free agents

Player signed Former team[6]
LW Darren Langdon Montreal Canadiens
D Ray Schultz Nashville Predators
D Richard Matvichuk Dallas Stars
LW Krzysztof Oliwa Calgary Flames
D Bobby Allen Edmonton Oilers
C Pascal Rheaume St. Louis Blues
D Steven Spencer N/A
Player lost New team
RW Turner Stevenson Philadelphia Flyers
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Draft picks

The Devils' draft picks at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in Raleigh, North Carolina.[7]

Rd # Pick # Player Nat Pos Team (League) Notes
1 20 Travis Zajac  Canada C Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) [8]
2 57 No second-round pick[9]
3 88 No third-round pick[8]
4 121 No fourth-round pick[10]
5 155 Alexander Mikhailishin  Russia D Spartak St. Petersburg (Vysshaya Liga)
6 185 Josh Disher  Canada G Erie Otters (OHL)
7 216 Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond  Canada RW Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
7 217 Tyler Eckford  Canada D Surrey Eagles (BCHL) [11]
8 250 Nathan Perkovich  United States RW Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
9 282 Valeri Klimov  Russia D Spartak St. Petersburg (Vysshaya Liga)

Farm teams

The Albany River Rats, the Devils' American Hockey League affiliate, finished in last place in their division during the 2004–05 AHL season, and failed to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Veteran Dean McAmmond led the team in scoring with 61 points, while right on his heels was hot rookie Zach Parise with 58. Meanwhile goaltenders Scott Clemmensen and Ari Ahonen split the load evenly, although Ahonen had more wins in fewer games played. Parise and Clemmensen would go on to make the Devils' squad full-time the following season.

See also

References

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  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Devils acquired the 2004 first-round pick from Dallas in exchange for the Devils' 2004 first-round pick (later transferred to San Jose and used on Lukas Kaspar) and the 2004 third-round pick (later transferred to Washington and used on Clayton Barthel) on June 26, 2004.
  9. ↑ The Devils traded their 2004 second-round pick (later transferred to Edmonton and used on Geoff Paukovich), along with Mike Rupp to Phoenix for Jan Hrdina on March 5, 2004.
  10. ↑ The Devils traded their 2004 fourth-round pick (later transferred to Calgary and used on Kris Hogg) to Columbus for Grant Marshall on March 10, 2003.
  11. ↑ No source exists to indicate why the Devils made two selections this round.
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