TORONTO (AP) -- Lou Lamoriello has spent more than two decades
building the New Jersey Devils into a top organization. He
understands what it takes to turn an NHL franchise into a
winner.
"I think first of all there has to be a philosophy which you
believe in yourself and not only preach, but practice,"
Lamiorello said Friday during a conference call. "I think what
we have tried to do is put a foundation together and stay on
track with it.
"Competency has to be there, loyalty, and I believe you have to
have a work ethic to go along with those three things. And then
just get people who want to do the things that are necessary to
have success unselfishly."
Lamoriello will be recognized for his achievements Monday when
he's enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He's being inducted
as a builder in one of the Hall's strongest classes. Joining him
are Steve Yzerman, Luc Robitaille, Brett Hull and Brian Leetch -
all in their first year of eligibility.
Lamoriello learned he made the Hall while in a meeting with
former player Slava Fetisov. He found it strange when he noticed
he'd missed a call from Hockey Hall of Fame chairman Bill Hay.
"It was something I wasn't even thinking of in any way,"
Lamoriello said. "I wasn't even aware that the selection
committee was in process at that time."
Lamoriello ran the hockey program at Providence College -
coaching such players as Ron Wilson, Brian Burke and Bob
Nicholson - before joining the Devils as president in 1987. He
became general manager a year later and the team made the
playoffs in all but two seasons since.
New Jersey has won three Stanley Cups during Lamoriello's time,
losing another in the seventh game. He was also the architect of
the 1996 American team that upset Canada to win the World Cup of
Hockey.
Lamoriello is the NHL's longest-serving GM. While he believes
the fundamentals of the job remain, he thinks it's tougher to be
successful.
"The biggest challenge is the collective bargaining agreement
today, where free agency is at such an early age," he said. "The
decisions that you're making can be very short-term for success.
The challenge is trying to keep success sustained over a period
of time. ... Bad decisions today will stick with you through
this new system for a long period of time."
Lamoriello hasn't made very many of those. He credits some of
his success to not being afraid to make mistakes. He believes an
organization will be strong only if it is filled with people who
are willing to put the interests of the team ahead of their own.
"There is a reason for a logo in a team sport in front and the
name in back," he said.
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