In his final months as general manager of the New Jersey Devils, Lou Lamoriello insisted his team was not in need of a rebuild.
Rebuild is a dangerous word in sports. Though it indicates an important focus on a team's future, its subtext suggests that a team's present is going to be unpleasant, if not downright unwatchable at times.
Are rebuilds sometimes necessary for certain clubs? Absolutely. Are they ever enjoyable for fans and players while they are taking place? Probably not.
But Lamoriello insisted the Devils were in the midst of a period of transition, not rebuilding. In February, Lamoriello told Tom Gulitti of Fire and Ice:
Rebuilding is a totally different word. Transition means the amount of time it takes for that chemistry to get together or that new person to get comfortable with what he's doing withing the system he's in. That's a transition. ... Rebuild means you're starting right from the foundation.
The truth of the matter is that Lamoriello could not afford to have his team go through a period of rebuilding. He was already on the hot seat as general manager ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Adam Braun
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