From Rich Chere of the Newark Star-Ledger:
Jeff Vanderbeek insists he didn’t have a free agent wish list. The Devils’ owner didn’t spend this summer hoping GM Lou Lamoriello would be able to sign defenseman Brian Campbell or forward Marian Hossa.
Instead, Vanderbeek said he put his trust in Lamoriello to make the moves necessary to win the Stanley Cup this season. And the optimistic owner believes that is what happened.
“I believe we did fulfill our needs,” Vanderbeek told me this morning. “Going in, I didn’t have any expectations as far as positions or people I’d like to get. When Lou and I talk, it’s just trying to better the team. It’s like going into the (entry) draft.
Read the entire article here.
The Devils signed Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik this off-season and decided not to pay a ton of money to the really big fish that were out there (Hossa, Campbell, etc.). To be honest, that may turn out to be a very good decision which is not surprising considering Lou Lamoriello makes very few decisions that turn out poorly. Vanderbeek has the right attitude and his trust and hands-off approach with Lamoriello will probably pay off down the line.
