2004–05 New Jersey Devils season
| 2004–05 New Jersey Devils | |
|---|---|
| Division | N/A Atlantic |
| Conference | N/A Eastern |
| 2004–05 record | Did not play |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Lou Lamoriello |
| Coach | Pat Burns |
| Captain | Scott Stevens |
| Arena | Continental Airlines Arena |
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.
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello sat on the negotiating committee for the league, although he had little to say early on in the proceedings. 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. That meeting was ultimately unfruitful, although it did lead to further talks between the players and the owners. As late as February 2005, Lamoriello showed hope the season could be salvaged.
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:
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.
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.
The Devils completed the following transactions before the lockout suspended all activity:
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