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in the Crease
Pierre McGuire
October 20, 2003
Why is Lou Lamoriello of the Devils the best G.M. in the NHL? After his team had the league's worst power play in 2002-03, he signed 42-year-old free-agent passing specialist Igor Larionov. In the first two games of this season New Jersey scored four man-advantage goals with Larionov getting three assists. Lamoriello also knew he'd carry two rookie defensemen (David Hale and Paul Martin), so he hired Hall of Fame blueliner Jacques Laperriere to tutor them....
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October 20, 2003

In The Crease

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Why is Lou Lamoriello of the Devils the best G.M. in the NHL? After his team had the league's worst power play in 2002-03, he signed 42-year-old free-agent passing specialist Igor Larionov. In the first two games of this season New Jersey scored four man-advantage goals with Larionov getting three assists. Lamoriello also knew he'd carry two rookie defensemen (David Hale and Paul Martin), so he hired Hall of Fame blueliner Jacques Laperriere to tutor them....

Don't be surprised to see the Flyers deal defenseman Chris Therien before the month is out. Therien is expendable because of the emergence of rookie blueliner Joni Pitkanen and second-year man Jim Vandermeer....

The best defensive pair in the league is the Stars' puck-moving tandem of Sergei Zubov and Teppo Numminen. By season's end they should have the NHL's top plus-minus mark.

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