by Kelly Monteith

Created on: August 17, 2010

Last season was one of the most embarrassing and disappointing seasons for GM Lou Lamoriello and company, finishing first in their division, with the aid of their trade deadline acquisition, Ilya Kovalchuk, only to be sent packing in the first round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers.The off season was made a little easier when then-coach, Jacques Lemaire decided to retire, or was forced out, depending who you talk to, and Lamoriello signed ex-Devils John MacLean, who for several seasons was behind the bench as an assistant coach.

Everything old is new again, with the signing of MacLean also came the signing of another ex-Devils, Jason Arnott, but in the process they lost a highly defensive player in Paul Martin, so Lamoriello hopes the signing of Henrik Tallinder and Anton Volchenkov will fill the void, and before Martin Brodeur is set to retire, find that goalie who can spot Marty a day off here and there.

Johan Hedberg is that goalie and could be the answer Lou has been searching for, where every training camp Lamoriello would inform Marty he would play less than the previous season, only to find himself between the pipes when the team was struggling and the coach did not have confidence in the backup, and Lou did not have to break the bank. 

And speaking of breaking the bank, rumors circulated the Devils had signed Ilya Kovalchuk to a 17-year, $102+million dollar deal, but were informed by the league the contract could be null and void, so either believing the contract would hold, or simply choosing to ignore the league, went ahead with their press conference announcing the deal, but within 24 hours those smiles had turned to frowns when the league announced the contract invalid.

Lamoriello's desire to sign Kovalchuk at the length and the amount of the contract caught many who know him off guard, for Lou is a man who can nickel and dime players and their contracts.If Lou feels he has found the player who can help the Devils, he will move heaven and earth to sign him, but he can also put the screws to a player, and if that player does not like the terms of the deal, he can simply find a team that will.

Lamoriello may have been pressured from ownership to sign Kovalchuk, at any price, and since the Devils have not gone deep into the playoff run, the owner, Jeffrey Vanderbeek, is tired of seeing the Prudential Center sit empty.Owners want to make money, not lose money.

The Devils need some sort of spark, which they haven't had since the 2003-04 season, with or without Kovalchuk, it maybe a make or break season and there should be no doubt this will be a talent team once it hits the ice, however if things should falter, the pressure once again will be put on Lamoriello's shoulders to act and act fast.

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