2004–05 New Jersey Devils season

The 2004–05 New Jersey Devils season would have been the team's 23rd season in the National Hockey League since the franchise relocated to New Jersey. However, the 2004–05 NHL lockout prevented the season from occurring, and thus the season was canceled. 
==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. 
He later added:
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.
==Transactions==
The Devils completed the following transactions before the lockout suspended all activity:
===Trades===
June 26, 2004	To New Jersey Devils 1st round pick in 2004	To Dallas Stars 1st round pick in 20043rd round pick in 2004
===Free agents===
{|class="wikitable"	
Player signed 	Former team
LW Darren Langdon 	Montreal Canadiens
D Ray Schultz 	Nashville Predators
D Richard Matvichuk	Dallas Stars
LW Krzysztof Oliwa 	Calgary Flames
D Bobby Allen 	Edmonton Oilers
C Pascal Rheaume 	St. Louis Blues
D Steven Spencer 	N/A
===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 	 	C 	Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) 	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.	 	 	
2 	57 	No second-round pickThe 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.	No second-round pickThe 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.	No second-round pickThe 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.	No second-round pickThe 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.	No second-round pickThe 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. 	No second-round pickThe 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.	No second-round pickThe 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.	No second-round pickThe 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.
3 	88 	No third-round pick 	No third-round pick 	No third-round pick 	No third-round pick 	No third-round pick 	No third-round pick 	No third-round pick 	No third-round pick
4 	121 	No fourth-round pickThe 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. 	No fourth-round pickThe 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. 	No fourth-round pickThe 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. 	No fourth-round pickThe 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. 	No fourth-round pickThe 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. 	No fourth-round pickThe 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. 	No fourth-round pickThe 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. 	No fourth-round pickThe 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.
5 	155 	Alexander Mikhailishin 	 	D 	Spartak St. Petersburg (Vysshaya Liga) 	 	 	 	
6 	185 	Josh Disher 	 	G 	Erie Otters (OHL) 	 	 	 	
7 	216 	Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond 	 	RW 	Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) 	 	 	 	
7 	217 	Tyler Eckford 	 	D 	Surrey Eagles (BCHL) 	No source exists to indicate why the Devils made two selections this round. 	 	 	
8 	250 	Nathan Perkovich 	 	RW 	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) 	 	 	 	
9 	282 	Valeri Klimov 	 	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.
==See also==
*2004–05 NHL season
*2004–05 NHL lockout
==References==
Category:New Jersey Devils seasons
Category:2004 in hockey
Category:2005 in hockey