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Reactions CNNSI.com asked if Devils fans had any opinions on the subject. And guess what ... they did. Click here to read a sampling of what CNNSI.com users had to say.

Sports fans love to reminisce over the days where it all went wrong: the wasted draft pick, the tragic trade or the defecting hero. These may not be, by definition, the worst roster moves ever made, but they were the ones that affected us on a personal level. These are the events that caused -- and still cause -- us to sit on our bar stools and lament the cruel twists of life.

The Devils have made very few front-office mistakes since moving from Colorado. Sure, some popular players have been shipped out (albeit usually for a net gain) by hard-stance GM Lou Lamoriello: John MacLean, Bill Guerin, Claude Lemieux and Kirk Muller. Of course, it hasn't always been that way for the former "Mickey Mouse" franchise (to quote Wayne Gretzky). Back in Colorado, an itchy front office traded franchise player Barry Beck for a whole lotta nothing, traded a No. 1 pick for the brief services of Dwight Foster ... then traded stalwart defenseman Rob Ramage for the brief services of a No. 1 pick.

 

December 7, 1997	New Jersey trades RW John MacLean and D Ken Sutton to San Jose for D Doug Bodger and C Dody Wood

MacLean was the franchise leader in games played when he was traded. Robert Laberge/Allsport

In his 15th season with the Devils, John MacLean was one of the most talented and popular players in the team's history. A three-time 40-goal scorer, returned from a career-threatening knee injury that cost him the entire 1991-92 season and scored 61 goals over the next two seasons.

But lack of playing time, Jacques Lemaire's defensive game plans and stalling contract negotiations cast a pall over MacLean at the start of the 1997-98 season. He demanded a trade, and GM Lou Lamoriello never blinked. First he ordered MacLean away from the team and within a week had banished him (in the great hockey tradition) to San Jose.

Lamoriello, hoping to ease the reaction of players and fans, strongly hinted that MacLean's No. 15 would stand a good chance of becoming the first retired number in franchise history.

Devs deal MacLean New York Daily News -- December 8, 1997 By Sherry Ross John MacLean cried on the bench at the San Jose Arena nine days ago when he missed scoring into a empty net. When he plays his first home game there Wednesday, his emotions will be in turmoil again, as he plays for the first time for a team that is not named the Devils. MacLean was traded to the Sharks late last night along with defenseman Ken Sutton. In return, the Devils receive veteran defenseman Doug Bodger and pugnacious forward Dody Wood. MacLean requested a trade on Nov. 21, but angered GM Lou Lamoriello when he took his request public on Tuesday, a game day. That night, MacLean played his last game in a Devils uniform in a 3-1 loss to St. Louis. MacLean was told to stay home when the team traveled to Pittsburgh for its next game. By the next home game, MacLean's photo and name plate were stripped from his locker, and his image was edited out of a pregame highlight video shown at the Meadowlands. Despite the team's efforts to erase the accomplishments of his 14 seasons, MacLean leaves as a three-time, 40-goal scorer who is the team's all-time leader in games (934), goals (347), assists (354), and points (701). He scored the signature goal in team history, an overtime tally in Chicago on the last night of the season that put the Devils into the playoffs for the first time in 1988. MacLean recorded 18 points in 20 playoff games in 1995, when the Devils won the Stanley Cup. "I'm proud of the fact that I was here as long as I was," MacLean said. "Every time I pulled on the jersey, I gave 100%. This has been tough, but a lot of my friends and the fans have been very supportive through the last few days, and that means a lot to me. I went through a lot with the fans here. I hope they know I was always proud to be a New Jersey Devil."

 

January 4, 1998	New Jersey trades RW Bill Guerin and C Valeri Zelepukin to Edmonton for RW Jason Arnott and D Bryan Muir

Guerin scored a career-high 40 goals for Boston in 2000-01.  Al Bello /Allsport

Less than a month after exiling MacLean, Lamoriello did the same with Bill Guerin who had been embroiled in bitter negotiations that ended only because he needed to be under contract to play for the U.S. Olympic team (which, by the way, happened to be GM'd by Lamoriello.)

Guerin was the fifth overall pick in '89, but was something of an enigma in his five seasons with the Devils. His gritty play was appreciated, but his numbers never quite swelled the way they were projected to. His best season was 1996-97, when he shared the team lead in goals scored with 29.

In return the Devils picked up Jason Arnott from Edmonton, a huge kid with huge potential and a huge contract to go along with it. He, too, was mostly a huge disappointment with the Oilers after being the seventh overall pick in 1993.

Whoda thunk Arnott would blossom with the Devils, making fans forget all about Guerin (who blossomed himself with the Oilers and Bruins) by scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal in 2000?

Winger's Wish Granted New York Daily News -- January 5, 1998 By Sherry Ross Bill Guerin has been "traded" so many times in the past three years he could have kept a suitcase permanently packed. But even when the rumors intensified over the past few days, and finally became truth last night, Guerin wasn't fully prepared. "I was shocked. Maybe not surprised, but shocked," said Guerin, who was traded along with Valeri Zelepukin to Edmonton for Jason Arnott and minor-league defenseman Bryan Muir. "Even with the rumors, to finally hear, 'We've made a trade and you're involved and you're going to Edmonton,' the words bring reality to the rumor. It's just weird to hear it." Arnott will be coming to a team with championship potential. Guerin will be leaving that team with which he won a Stanley Cup in 1995 for the 11-22-9 Oilers. "I take a lot of positive things out of here. Mostly positive things," said Guerin, who had five goals and five assists in 19 games this season. "I don't regret playing here at all. I had a great time. I loved it. The guys here are great. It's a very successful organization. There are probably going to be more Stanley Cups down the road here, but I'll take mine and cherish it forever."

 

October 3, 1995	New Jersey trades RW Claude Lemieux to the Islanders for LW Steve Thomas

Nobody has been able to put a finger on Lemieux's postseason mystique. Robert Laberge/Allsport

Claude, thanks for the 13 goals in 20 playoff games, the Conn Smythe Trophy and, oh, yeah, the franchise's first Stanley Cup ... but, we're trading you to the last-place New York Islanders.

Lemieux was only one of two Devils not to return after the '95 Cup victory. The other was former captain Bruce Driver, whose 12-year relationship with the Devils ended when the team wouldn't give him a no-trade clause in the offseason. He signed with the Rangers and played three seasons on the wrong side of the Hudson.

After his Conn Smythe performance in the playoffs (he more than doubled his regular-season output in half as many games), Lemieux sought to void a three-year, $4.1 million contract he had signed and faxed to Lamoriello. Though an arbitrator ruled it valid, the negotiations already had soured the relationship and Lamoriello found it easier to trade Lemieux.

Actually, things worked out pretty good for Lemieux, who ultimately ended up in Colorado in the three-team deal and ultimately ultimately got his name on the Cup again that season with the Avs. The Devils didn't even make the playoffs in 1996 ... and they wouldn't reach the finals again until 2000 after re-acquiring Lemieux at the trading deadline.

Devils Say Losing Lemieux Won't End Their Winning The New York Times -- October 4, 1995 By Alex Yannis Whether the Devils successfully defend their National Hockey League title will depend largely on how they fill the void left by Claude Lemieux, the most valuable player in their Stanley Cup triumph last season. The team's hierarchy decided to trade Lemieux after the feisty wing challenged the validity of his contract. The arbitrator, George Nicolau, ruled in favor of the Devils last Friday after a 17-hour hearing and nine days of deliberation. The Devils owner, John McMullen, and Lou Lamoriello, the president and general manager, will be severely criticized for their decision to trade Lemieux for Steve Thomas of the Islanders. But they were severely criticized when they allowed Bernie Nicholls to get away before last season, and look at what they accomplished last season. Although Lamoriello would never say it publicly, he apparently agrees with several players that the Devils would have won the Stanley Cup without Lemieux. The answer to that debate will have to wait until the spring. For now, one thing is certain: the Devils will not miss Lemieux during the regular season because his performance the last two years was bordering on mediocrity. Coach Jacques Lemaire gets along well with Lamoriello because they both believe it is not individuals who win championships. They believe it is the system and the team concept and they have managed to instill that concept in their players. Lemieux doesn't fit the Devils mold.

 

September 20, 1991	New Jersey trades C Kirk Muller and G Roland Melanson for RW Stephane Richer and D Tom Chorske

With Dallas, Muller faced his former team in the 2000 finals.  Allsport

Lamoriello's history of take-it-or-leave-it management first made big news in New Jersey when Pat Verbeek was banished to Hartford in 1988, but it really took root three years later when captain Kirk Muller was sent to Montreal for the equally unhappy Stephane Richer. Muller was the Devils' top pick (No. 2 overall) in 1984 who had become a four-time All-Star with 185 goals and 520 points while missed only four games in seven seasons.

But he was entering an option year for $325,000. Lamoriello offered to double it, but Muller wanted $850,000. Just $200,000 apart with a 25-year-old All-Star and Lamoriello opted to trade him.

In terms of Cups, it was a wash. Muller won one with the Canadiens in 1993; Richer won one with the Devils in 1995. But Richer proved to be much more of a problem in the locker room.

Devils' Message: No Room For Rebels The New York Times -- September 22, 1991 By Alex Yannis The upheaval rocking the Devils reached its most violent point with the dispatch of Kirk Muller to Montreal Friday night in a move that clearly accentuated management's intent to exert control over its players. Muller, 25 years old, was the captain and leading career scorer for the Devils and played with an unmatched devotion, but he walked out of camp Monday morning over a contract dispute. His unhappiness was shared by several other Devils players who are seeking to renegotiate their contracts after the team showed its willingness to meet the large contract of Scott Stevens, who was awarded to the Devils by an arbitrator as compensation for the St. Louis Blues' signing of Brendan Shanahan. Stevens, who is unhappy with the decision of the arbitrator, Judge Edward Houston of Ottawa, and has threatened not to report to the Devils, is scheduled to make $875,000 this season. It is his contract that has now created an unsettled atmosphere among the Devils and led to Muller's rebellion. Muller's desertion of the Devils didn't stand too well with Lou Lamoriello, the president and general manager, who makes all decisions in conjunction with John McMullen, the team's owner and chairman. McMullen and Lamoriello sent a clear message to the team that no rebellion would be tolerated when they traded Muller, along with reserve goaltender Roland Melanson, to the Canadiens for two forwards, high-scoring Stephane Richer and speedy Tom Chorske. "Obviously, they don't like to be challenged," Muller said yesterday before packing his gear for his flight to Montreal. "Patty was the first to challenge them and the same thing happened to him."

Jeff McIsaac, Ancaster, Ontario I realize that most will not find this to be overly traumatic ... however, for a kid just getting into hockey at a young age this was devastating! Kirk Muller being traded to the Habs for Stephane Richer was the worst move the New Jersey Devils ever made. Trading the captain, the young talented, Capt. Kirk for Richer was terrible!

 

November 2, 1979	The Colorado Rockies trade D Barry Beck to the N.Y. Rangers for LW Pat Hickey, C Lucien Deblois, D Mike McEwen, D Dean Turner and future considerations (RW Bobby Crawford)

The trials and tribulations of the 1974 expansion Kansas City Scouts largely went under the NHL radar, what with their classmate Washington Capitals setting records for futility. After two seasons, the Scouts moved to Denver and became the Colorado Rockies, who continued to lose despite a revolving door of past and future NHL stars.

The Rockies biggest problem was always trying to cash in its chips instead of building the nest egg. Steady players like Joel Quenneville and Lanny MacDonald were traded away for the next best thing, but the biggest gaffe might have been the deal that sent young Barry Beck to the Rangers for what some writers called "a care package" of players.

Problem was, the five players acquired for Beck were all gone before the team even moved to New Jersey three years later. Beck, who had been the No. 2 overall pick in 1977 was the going to be the next great defenseman in the NHL, and he could have been the draw the Rockies needed to keep attendance levels respectable. Instead, he brought he booming slap shot and board-rattling body checks to Madison Square Garden, where, unfortunately, injuries ravaged his body and ended his career prematurely.

 

July 21, 1981	The Colorado Rockies trade a 1st- (D Gord Kluzak) and 2nd-round pick (D Brian Curran) to Boston for the rights to RW Dwight Foster and a 1st-round pick (D Ken Daneyko)

Looking for another quick fix, the Rockies acquired Dwight Foster, who had put up all of 117 points in 192 games in Boston, in time for the 1981-82 season. Foster didn't help much as the Rockies finished dead last again and was about to move to New Jersey. The as-of-then-unnamed New Jersey team would have held the No. 1 overall pick in a draft that produced the likes of Brian Bellows, Ron Sutter, Scott Stevens, Phil Housley, Dave Andreychuk, Murray Craven, Kevin Dineen, Ulf Samuelsson, Dave Ellett, Bob Rouse, Ray Ferraro, Doug Gilmour, and Kelly Miller -- all of whom went on to play more than 1,000 games in the NHL.

But they had traded the pick to Boston for the rights to Foster. The Bruins surprised everybody by taking defenseman Gord Kluzak, who became a favorite in Boston despite a short injury-plagued career.

Devils GM Billy MacMillan, meanwhile, compounded the issue by trading up in the draft, sending defenseman Rob Ramage (who also would go on to play more than 1,000 NHL games) to St. Louis for the eighth overall pick.

At No. 8, the Devils took Rocky Trottier, who just didn't have the staying power of his Hall of Fame brother, Bryan, and played just 38 NHL games. Of course, he still outlasted Foster, who was sold to Detroit after just 74 games with the Rockies/Devils.

Daneyko has been the face of the Devils for 15 years. Al Bello /Allsport

Let's give MacMillan and the Devils a little credit, however, for taking 18-year-old defenseman Ken Daneyko with the 18th overall pick, the one they acquired from Boston for Foster. Daneyko is still with the Devils, having won two Cups and having played the most games in franchise history.

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