[Gotham Dark Knight]

On the spot: GM Lou Lamoriello

Greatest need: Figuring out how to ice a team within the salary cap.
Did he fill it? Lou's close to building himself a pretty nice lineup, one that is essentially the same as last season's 101-point, division-winning club. The only new face of note may be coach Claude Julien, who was a fairly safe choice for the position.
Lamoriello's problem is that he still needs to sign several players including 48-goal scorer Brian Gionta and top-four defenders David Hale and Paul Martin -- but is already $3 million over the cap, thanks to his own mistakes (Alexander Mogilny, Vladimir Malakhov) and an arbitrator's generosity (Scott Gomez was awarded a $5 million per year deal). Until Lou gets this mess sorted out by dealing away some salary, his efforts shall remain incomplete.

Atlantic Division report card - NHL - Yahoo! Sports

Are caps issues going to keep the Devils down this year? Is Scott Gomez worth $5 million?

[blueandwhite]

You know? I'd say yeah. But I can't believe they haven't pinned down Gionta, because if I had to choose between the two, i'd say him. So maybe not. If they lose Gionta...

[blueandwhite]

So things are still the same in jersey, no change re signing Gionta or Martin or Clemmonsen, and Lamoriello is stuck and it's Sept 27.
There are all sorts of loopholes he is trying to swim through.
Regarding injured players: Jason Weimer is out until january, matvichuk until November - that could give hiom an extra $2.4 mill to play with.
Madden had hernia surgery and may or may not be ready for the first game. So if he's not ready that buys the NJ GM a bit of time and $4 mill extra space, or he could trade madden (Um, crazy!, which I'll tell him if he calls me).
Lamoriello also wants to use Mogilny's inability to skate on his worked-on hip at training camp as an excuse to free up $3.5 million.
He also needs a backup goalie.
Woo. It's tight in jersey.