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The 2004–05 New Jersey Devils season would have been 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 from occurring, and thus the season was canceled.

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]

He later added:[4]

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

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 Flag of Canada 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 Flag of Russia Russia D Spartak St. Petersburg (Vysshaya Liga)
6 185 Josh Disher Flag of Canada Canada G Erie Otters (OHL)
7 216 Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond Flag of Canada Canada RW Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
7 217 Tyler Eckford Flag of Canada Canada D Surrey Eagles (BCHL) [11]
8 250 Nathan Perkovich Flag of the United States United States of America RW Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
9 282 Valeri Klimov Flag of Russia 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[]

  1. Tom Jones (2007-12-14), "NHL likely to reject union offer", St. Petersburg Times: Sports, 1C
  2. 2.0 2.1 Joe Lapointe (2005-01-27), "Lamoriello Joins League's Team in N.H.L. Contract Talks", New York Times: Section D; Column 1; Sports Desk; HOCKEY; Pg. 5
  3. Tom Jones (2005-02-05), "No deal, no budging, no end; no surprise", St. Petersburg Times: Sports, 3C
  4. John Dellapina (2005-02-15), "Hockey season hits over time", New York Daily News: Sports, pg. 62
  5. Helene Elliott (2005-07-14), "Labor Pains Finally Stop for the NHL", Los Angeles Times: Sports Desk; Part D; Pg. 1
  6. 6.0 6.1 Devils All-Time Transactions (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
  7. 2004 Draft Results. NHL.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
  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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