After 20 years as squabbling neighbors, the Rangers finally unleashed their fiscal power on their nearest rival and dealt the Devils a mortal blow.
It is unmitigated disaster for the Devils to lose Bobby Holik to the Rangers as an unrestricted free agent last night. It completes 13 months of horrendous misjudgment by Lou Lamoriello, whose tarnishing genius is now fully dulled after his worst day as a GM.
The grit is now gone from his forward lines, no more Holik for opponents to hate, and hate to play against. Now the Devils will get a taste of that, guys like Joe Nieuwendyk or John Madden, the remaining core of New Jersey’s center position.
Lamoriello could not deny that his team has been wounded.
“There’s no question, that with the role Bobby played, we’ll have to make some adjustments,” Lamoriello said. “We’ll have to do some other things as far as altering our lineup.
“It changes your lineup. That’s real.”
Holik said he never really considered Lamoriello’s offer, which likely contained significant bonuses and deferred payments. It is believed the Maple Leafs put a solid bid of $8.25 million per year on the table, but were left behind when the Rangers offered $9 million for each of five years.
“I’m thrilled, actually,” Holik said. “After a great 10 years in New Jersey, the time had come to make a change. I have no regrets or doubts about what I did today.
“I gave the Devils more than one chance, not just today, but over the last 13 months.”
Holik earned $3.5 million last season, a figure awarded in salary arbitration that left the 31-year-old disappointed in the Devils, who put forth a $3 million figure while he sought $4.5 million.
What upset Holik most, however, was New Jersey’s failure to respond to his own proposal for a six-year deal, which would have kept him from arbitration, a plan that would have likely paid him $30-$35 million over six years.
He made them regret that folly last night.
“I knew this is where I wanted to be,” said Holik, each Blueshirt word a dagger in the heart of Devils fans who had come to regard him as a prototype of the Red, Black and White.
“I certainly am disappointed,” Lamoriello said. “Bobby has been an integral part of our team for years. We did everything we thought we could.
“I’m sorry to see him go, but I wish him luck.”
Lamoriello, whose payroll already stands at $42 million for the coming season before signing Patrik Elias, Jay Pandolfo, Scott Gomez and a backup goalie, indicated he felt he couldn’t go any higher. Especially with Martin Brodeur and Scott Stevens at the top of the Devil pay scale at $7.6 and $7.5 million, respectively.
“I have a budget and I try to do the best I can with that. I don’t apologize for that,” Lamoriello said. “Our payroll is up there already.
“We just have to make the best of it, and I’m sure we will.”
It means Lamoriello must find another unrestricted to take the sting out of this loss.
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Sergei Nemchinov is interested again in returning to the Devils as an unrestricted. Nemchinov was a valuable utility man early last season but saw his ice-time diminish later. The Devils are said to have decided against bringing back Stephane Richer or Valeri Kamensky, also unrestricted … Former Devil Randy McKay, rehabbing from hip repair, has turned unrestricted, although he hasn’t closed the door on Dallas.
