Question about potential NJ Devils relocation (1995)

[Jasonthegreat]

With yesterday (6/24) marking the 20th anniversary of the New Jersey Devils first Stanley cup championship, curiosity set in. While the Devils were in the midst of that '95 playoff run, rumors were swirling that the team might relocate to Nashville. Even after the cup was a done deal, the rumors continued for a few more weeks and then died down.

The question I ask is this: What if the Devils had in fact relocated to Nashville after the 1995 cup win? Would the current Nashville franchise celebrate cup wins in 2000 and/or 2003? Would Martin Brodeur have stayed with the team? Where would the actual Nashville Predators have ended up if this relocation occurred?

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

John McMullen was a NJ native who had been willing to pay indemnity fees to the Rangers, Flyers, and I think Islanders just to have a team in his home state. So the Nashville thing was probably him using the threat of Nashville as a tactic in getting a better lease it's hard to know how serious the threat of moving was if he didn't get his way.

Anyway, to answer your question, it largely depends on if they kept Lou Lamoriello. The Devils were built through the draft, and at the time, UFA was at age 31, so they wouldn't have looked THAT different if built by the same people in another location.

The two big questions are Stevens and Brodeur. Stevens never wanted to come to NJ in the first place, but fell in love with the team after the 1995 Cup. Does he still re-sign with the team if they are in Nashville? Hard to say - for years, Stevens was the only player on the team paid actual fair market value (at the time, Lou would lowball everyone, except the players who he truly felt were special). As for Brodeur, it's fairly well known that he fired his agent very early in his career and negotiated with Lou directedly, something that the NHLPA did not appreciate. So the Devils got him for a discount, because he loved the team, and loved living in NJ. So the big question is - does Brodeur still keep signing team-friendly deals if the team moved? Hard to say how much loyalty to Lou and teammates and wanting to help the team remain a Cup contender (all of which would have applied in Nashville) vs liking living in NJ affected his decisions.

One difference if the Devils were in Nashville - you wouldn't see so many players defect to the Rangers when they hit UFA - being able to take a higher salary without moving their homes was a big plus for the Rangers bids.

 

[tony d]

I remember that as well. Question then becomes who gets the expansion team in 1998 if we already have a nashville team? I know Houston was in the market for Edmonton back then maybe they get the expansion team for 1998.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

One difference if the Devils were in Nashville - you wouldn't see so many players defect to the Rangers when they hit UFA - being able to take a higher salary without moving their homes was a big plus for the Rangers bids.

interesting, that never occurred to me. so driver, maclean, holik, gomez. anyone i'm forgetting?