Here’s one place where the Devils lead the league: U.S. born players on the roster.
Perhaps it’s natural considering Lou Lamoriello’s Rhode Island heritage, or the heavy Boston accent of talent maven David Conte. But other general managers hail from the USA, too, and no other team has more than eight Americans, while the Devils boast 11, the largest part of their roster. And Brent Sutter made his coaching fame behind the Canadian junior team bench.
“I don’t think about where players are from,” Lamoriello said. “I don’t look at it at all like that.”
Perhaps, sometimes, they’re bargains, or overlooked. Andy Greene, Paul Martin, Zach Parise, Brian Rolston, Brian Gionta, Jamie Langenbrunner, Mike Rupp, Jay Pandolfo, Mike Mottau, Jay Leach and Scott Clemmensen make up the Devils’ U.S. contingent. Recently, they also have had Scott Gomez and Brian Rafalski among their U.S. stars.
“U.S. hockey has taken big strides,” Sutter said. “Hockey’s big in areas where it never used to be. Like in California, once Wayne Gretzky went there, hockey became huge. It always was in Minnesota, and even in the East.”
Lamoriello, however, pinpointed the “Miracle on Ice,” Herb Brooks’ Olympic team, as the moment things changed.
“Since 1980, American players have been given the opportunity to play, because of the Olympics. That was the turning point,” Lamoriello said. “A lot of players, before, never had an opportunity. The 1980 Olympics changed that whole scenario.”
The Isles, Blues, Kings and Stars each have eight U.S. players, with the Rangers, Penguins and Capitals at seven each. Sometimes, the eight Canadians (counting Martin Brodeur) and 11 U.S. Devils find some way to have fun with it, putting dinner on the World Juniors, or some other cross-border competition.
“Some of our Canadians went to college in the U.S., and some Americans, like me, played junior in Canada, so I don’t think there’s that line any more,” Langenbrunner said. “Even Dainius Zubrus (Lithuanian) played junior in Canada. The stereotypical line has changed.”
“It’s North American now,” Michigan native Brian Rolston said. “Our styles are similar.”