Thirty-one years after deciding to go the straight-and-narrow and thereby blow their shot at Mario Lemieux, the Devils get a do-over. They’re going to need a do-over sooner rather than later anyway, what with the plethora of aging pending free agents on the roster, so why not now?

It only makes sense to get on with it — and the process of joining the race for the bottom and the corresponding chance at drafting Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel — as quickly as possible and without pretense.

Obviously, a plan to dump — veterans, not games — contradicts everything for which Lamoriello has stood for throughout his career at Providence and in New Jersey. But these aren’t normal times. The Devils likely are going to miss the playoffs a third straight time for the first time since the franchise was in its infancy in the ’80s following the move from Colorado. And the owners are the same guys overseeing the massive tank job with the NBA’s 76ers.

. . .

Thirty-one years after founding father John McMullen cast the vote that broke the front office tie between those in the organization who wanted to tank for Mario (club president Bob Butera and director of player personnel Marshall Johnston on that side) and those who wanted to go the straight and narrow (general manager Max McNab and coach Tom McVie), the Devils get another shot at this.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

Holy shit, what is this Jersey roster? I've never actually seen the whole thing at once. I knew they had Jagr and Havlat and just brought back Scott Gomez, but Tuomo Ruutu? Michael Ryder? Scott Clemmensen?!? Jordin Tootoo?!? Is this a joke?

EDIT: Nordstrom reassigned to Rockford, Morin to Rockford on a conditioning assignment which is very peculiar because he was never on injured reserve. There were rumors that he was, how you say, availing himself of the press-box accommodations. Interesting.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

Bicks on a 3 on one taking the shot himself usually does not work out but this time I guess it did.

I've been meaning to ask for quite some time now ... and CH already thinks poorly of me so I can't do any more damage, I don't think ... do the thread song titles have anything to do with the team/venue/event or are they purely randomly selected? I'm neither denigrating nor venerating, just (wait for it .....) curious.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

favorite Boston song

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

I refuse to believe such a thing exists.

You could go with that one whiney puss-rock chart by Dave Loggins just to really screw with people ... James Taylor if you really want to hear it from people ... Midnight Rambler by the Stones I think would be more appropos for this conclave of folks except nobody here knows w/out the internet who Albert DeSalvo is.

I'll shut up now.

I'm not entirely sure the Devils are currently considered an official NHL team as currently comprised, so thie evening has been particularly vexing to this point.

Blackhawks kind of have the not interested sign out.