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The 2004–05 New Jersey Devils season was the 31st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 23rd season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. However, the 2004–05 NHL lockout prevented the season's games from occurring.

NHL lockout

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello sat on the negotiating committee for the league, although he had little to say early on in the proceedings. However, he was invited to a January meeting by the players' union in an attempt to breach sides; Lamoriello was invited because of the respect for the manner in which he ran the Devils organization. That meeting was ultimately unfruitful, although it did lead to further talks between the players and the owners. As late as February 2005, Lamoriello showed hope the season could be salvaged.

They're trying to do everything humanly possible to try to get the game back on the ice... If there is reason to believe that there is hope and a chance, then I think you use that time. We have to have some patience.

He later added:

Maybe I'm from the old school. But I believe we should lock ourselves in a room and not come out until we've made a deal – or announced that we can't. I've said all along, until someone tells me it's over, it's not. It's too easy to be negative. There's no question we have something scheduled at this point for (tomorrow) Wednesday. It's looking very bleak right now. But it's not over.

Lamoriello praised the final decision, saying it put everyone on "level footing" and created more parity in the league.

Meanwhile, during the stoppage Devils' center Scott Gomez went home to Anchorage, Alaska, to play for the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. He went on to lead the league in scoring, netting 86 points in only 68 games, en route to winning the league's Most Valuable Player award.

Schedule

The Devils regular season schedule was announced on July 14, 2004. Their preseason schedule was announced on July 19, 2004.

Transactions

The Devils were involved in the following transactions from June 8, 2004, the day after the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, through February 16, 2005, the day the 2004–05 season was officially cancelled.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

The Devils' draft picks at the 2004 NHL entry draft in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Rd #	Pick #	Player	Nat	Pos	Team (League)	Notes
1	20	Travis Zajac	Canada	C	Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)
2	57	No second-round pick
3	88	No third-round pick
4	121	No fourth-round pick
5	155	Alexander Mikhailishin	Russia	D	Spartak St. Petersburg (Vysshaya Liga)
6	185	Josh Disher	Canada	G	Erie Otters (OHL)
7	216	Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond	Canada	RW	Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
7	217	Tyler Eckford	Canada	D	Surrey Eagles (BCHL)
8	250	Nathan Perkovich	United States	RW	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
9	282	Valeri Klimov	Russia	D	Spartak St. Petersburg (Vysshaya Liga)

Farm teams

The Albany River Rats, the Devils' American Hockey League affiliate, finished in last place in their division during the 2004–05 AHL season, and failed to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Veteran Dean McAmmond led the team in scoring with 61 points, while right on his heels was hot rookie Zach Parise with 58. Meanwhile, goaltenders Scott Clemmensen and Ari Ahonen split the load evenly, although Ahonen had more wins in fewer games played. Parise and Clemmensen would go on to make the Devils' squad full-time the following season.

Notes

1. In parentheses is the player's free agency group on July 1 if applicable.
2. Crozier retired.
3. Hulbig retired.
4. Schwab was inactive during the 2004–05 season and retired on August 10, 2005.
5. ^ The Devils acquired the 2004 first-round pick from Dallas in exchange for the Devils' 2004 first-round pick (later transferred to San Jose and used on Lukas Kaspar) and the 2004 third-round pick (later transferred to Washington and used on Clayton Barthel) on June 26, 2004.
6. The Devils traded their 2004 second-round pick (later transferred to Edmonton and used on Geoff Paukovich), along with Mike Rupp to Phoenix for Jan Hrdina on March 5, 2004.
7. The Devils traded their 2004 fourth-round pick (later transferred to Calgary and used on Kris Hogg) to Columbus for Grant Marshall on March 10, 2003.
8. Compensatory selection received from the NHL as compensation for Group III free agent Jim McKenzie signing with the Nashville Predators on July 22, 2003.

References

1. National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
2. Tom Jones (December 14, 2007), "NHL likely to reject union offer", St. Petersburg Times, pp. Sports, 1C
3. ^ Joe Lapointe (January 27, 2005), "Lamoriello Joins League's Team in N.H.L. Contract Talks", The New York Times, pp. Section D, Column 1, Sports Desk, HOCKEY, Pg. 5
4. Tom Jones (February 5, 2005), "No deal, no budging, no end; no surprise", St. Petersburg Times, pp. Sports, 3C
5. John Dellapina (February 15, 2005), "Hockey season hits over time", New York Daily News, pp. Sports, pg. 62
6. Helene Elliott (July 14, 2005), "Labor Pains Finally Stop for the NHL", Los Angeles Times, pp. Sports Desk, Part D, Pg. 1
7. "2004-05 Home Opener Set for October 15" (PDF). New Jersey Devils. July 14, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
8. "2004 Pre-Season Schedule Set". New Jersey Devils. July 19, 2004. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
9. "2004-05 New Jersey Devils Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
10. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
11. "2004 NHL Entry Draft". New Jersey Devils. Archived from the original on July 22, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
12. "Devils Sign Left Wing Darren Langdon". New Jersey Devils. July 3, 2004. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
13. ^ Everson, Mark (July 8, 2004). "FRIESEN DECIDES TO STAY A DEVIL". New York Post. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
14. "Devils Sign Defenseman Richard Matvichuk". New Jersey Devils. July 12, 2004. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
15. ^ "Devils defenseman scores one-year deal". ESPN. August 13, 2004. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
16. "Oliwa a Devil again". CBC.ca. July 15, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
17. ^ "Devils Sign Eight Free Agents" (PDF). New Jersey Devils. August 13, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2006. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
18. ^ "2004 free agents". ESPN. July 1, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
19. Greg Crozier career statistics at EliteProspects.com, retrieved April 21, 2022
20. Joe Hulbig career statistics at EliteProspects.com, retrieved April 21, 2022
21. Corey Schwab career statistics at EliteProspects.com, retrieved April 21, 2022
22. "LIGHTNING ANNOUNCE HOCKEY OPERATIONS STAFF ADDITIONS & PROMOTIONS". Tampa Bay Lightning. August 10, 2005. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
23. "Flyers Sign Mike Knuble and Turner Stevenson". Philadelphia Flyers. July 3, 2004. Archived from the original on July 8, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
24. "Minnesota Wild Signs Free Agent Giroux". Minnesota Wild. July 7, 2004. Archived from the original on August 4, 2004. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
25. "Lightning sign Craig Darby". OurSports Central. July 19, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
26. "Официальный сайт ХК Липецк. Главная". HC Lipetsk (in Russian). July 28, 2004. Archived from the original on September 27, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022. Контракты с клубом подписали нападающий Максим Балмочных, и защитник Олег Кобзев. [Contracts with the club were signed by striker Maxim Balmochnyh and defender Oleg Kobzev.]
27. Tommy Albelin at Hockey-Reference.com, retrieved April 21, 2022
28. "Ilves hankki Steve Kariyan". ILVES.COM (in Finnish). August 9, 2004. Archived from the original on August 13, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
29. Mike Matteucci at Hockey-Reference.com, retrieved April 21, 2022
30. "Eagles Re-sign One, Add Another". OurSports Central. September 28, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
31. "Ivan Khomutov signs with New Jersey Devils – London Knights". London Knights. June 29, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
32. ^ Lapointe, Joe (July 2, 2004). "Madden Re-Signs With Devils". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
33. "GRANT MARSHALL". TSN.ca. Archived from the original on December 30, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022. 07-Jul-04: Re-signed as an unrestricted free agent by the New Jersey Devils to a multi-year contract.
34. Everson, Mark (July 16, 2004). "NIEDERMAYER, OLIWA RETURNING TO NEW JERSEY". New York Post. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
35. "Arbitrator gives Gomez $2.9 million". TSN.ca. August 10, 2004. Archived from the original on November 17, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
36. "Devils Re-Sign Forward Sergei Brylin". New Jersey Devils. August 19, 2004. Archived from the original on November 23, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
37. "2004 Draft Results". NHL.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2006. Retrieved July 5, 2007.
38. "2004 NHL Entry Draft Pick Transactions". www.prosportstransactions.com. Retrieved April 21, 2022.

• New Jersey Devils seasons
• 2004–05 NHL season by team
• 2004 in sports in New Jersey
• 2005 in sports in New Jersey
• 21st century in East Rutherford, New Jersey
• Meadowlands Sports Complex