BOSTON – Claude Lemieux’s return to the Devils is a microcosm of his career: No apologies for dirty play.
While getting ready for his first game back with the Devils, facing theBruins here last night, Lemieux cleared the air about the way he returned to the team he was banished from four years ago.
“I don’t think any apologies had to be made,” Lemieux said of his post-Cup bid to renege on a contract he signed before the Devils won the 1995 Stanley Cup and he captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
GM Lou Lamoriello agreed that Lemieux did not have to apologize for that outlandish stance, a position Lemieux lost, and prompted a then-indignant Lamoriello to ship out the playoff hero.
“We went through a process on that. He had his position, we had ours, and we saw each other during that process. It wasn’t something [that required an apology],” Lamoriello said.
It seemed like a bald-faced move of bad faith, but all appeared forgiven Wednesday when the Devils traded Brian Rolston to Colorado for Lemieux, New Jersey’s option to swap firsts and a second-round pick.
“If I’m here today, it says a lot about me and how I feel about the team, and the same thing the other way, how they feel about me,” Lemieux said. “I wouldn’t be here if I had any hard feelings. I wouldn’t be here if Lou and Dr. McMullen (team owner) didn’t feel the same way.”
Lemieux likened that contract mess to a family quarrel.
“It led to a trade. That’s the unfortunate thing,” Lemieux said.
Flying from Denver, the 34-year-old right wing landed at Logan Airport here at 3 p.m. yesterday to claim his old No. 22.
“I had my pregame nap on the plane,” Lemieux said. “Lou was waiting for me at the airport, and we had a chance to talk.
“It’s great to meet the new guys, and I counted nine altogether from the ’95 championship.”
With unrestricted free agency looming in July, Lemieux knew the Avs would be dealing him this season. They told him as much and consulted him on trade offers, since interested teams would want assurance that he’d at least want to come, and perhaps listen to contract offers.
Lemieux is earning $2.47 million in this, the final year of his contract, and it would be an upset if he signs before testing the market.
But the Devils are looking for him to help them before July. He is here for one reason. Since he left, the Devils have won one playoff series in four years. The last game he played with the Devils before last night, he won the Stanley Cup.
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Devils’ 3-2 victory over Habs at Meadowlands Wednesday was their fifth straight at home … Devils play host to Leafs tomorrow.
Robbie Ftorek says he was referring to himself, not to a Me-First attitude among his players when he spelled out M-E in discussing the reasons he believes he has an unhappy team.
On Nov. 9, Devils will honor Ken Daneyko for playing his 1000th game last Friday in Carolina.
Krzysztof Oliwa said he hopes to skate next week after spraining his left knee Saturday in Philly … Randy McKay sat out the second of his three-game suspension.
