HockeyDevil of a time in New Jersey

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Devils GM Lou Lamoriello, left, is sticking behind rookie head coach John MacLean, right. (Getty Images)

The demise of the New Jersey Devils has been as unexpected as the St. Louis Blues swift climb to top spot in the NHL after first five weeks of the season.

After all, the Devils still had future Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur. Although it was a controversial contract, they eventually re-signed Ilya Kovalchuk to fortify their top-six group up front. New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello also was able to replace Paul Martin with shutdown defenceman Anton Volchenkov.

But the Devils have struggled out of the game meekly, taking up residence in the league basement with 4-10-1 record and a crucial contest at home against the 29th-place Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.

"I don't want to use the word frustrating because that's the worst word you could use," Lamoriello said after the NHL GM meetings in Toronto on Tuesday. "I think you simply look for reasons and absolutely not look for excuses. You can't put blame anywhere else. You take full responsibility."

Lamoriello refused to blame the mess on his rookie head coach John MacLean.

"Anytime you have the issues we went through, whether it be injuries, whether it be cap problems which in perception were worse than what they were -- they have not been an issue since the second day of camp -- what it becomes is a reality," Lamoriello said. "It becomes a distraction. And when you have distractions it becomes a problem. We haven't had our [full] team. Right now we need to be on the same page.

"It's the responsibility of everyone. Your best players need to be the best players. If not, there are no excuses. They have to take responsibility as does everyone starting with me."

At this point, the once proud franchise that won three Stanley Cups and made four trips to the final between 1994-95 and 2002-03 is in jeopardy of not advancing to the postseason for a 14th consecutive season.

And then there is the long-term future of the Devils because of what they gave up to acquire Kovalchuk? The cost sounds like one of those credit card commercials:

Sign a superstar
$100-million contract, 15 years
Give up Johnny Oduya, Niclas Bergfors and Patrice Cormier
2010 first-round pick
$3-million fine and first-round pick and another selection for breaking rules
A lousy season
Very expensive

Devil of a timeline

Feb. 4 - New Jersey acquires Kovalchuk and blue-liner Anssi Salmela from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for a first-round pick (24th overall and later dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks), defenceman Oduya, rookie forward Bergfors and junior prospect Cormier. The Devils finished the regular season 13-9-5 after the trade.

Apr. 22 - The Philadelphia Flyers make quick work of the Devils in the first round of the playoffs. New Jersey mustered only nine goals in the five-game series.

Apr. 26 - Devils veteran bench boss Jacques Lemaire announced his decision to retire from coaching.

June 17 - MacLean replaces Lemaire and a dozen days later hires Adam Oates as an assistant coach.

June 19 - New Jersey shipped right wing Matt Halischuk and a 2011 second-round pick to the Nashville Predators in order to reacquire 35-year-old Jason Arnott.

July 1 - Lamoriello was busy on the first day of the free-agent frenzy. He signed defencemen Volchenkov (six years, $25.5-million) and Henrik Tallinder (four years, $13.5-million) as well as backup goalie Johan Hedberg (one year, $1.5-million). New Jersey also lost free-agent defenceman Martin to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

July 19 - After Kovalchuk flirts with signing with the Los Angeles Kings, he agrees to a 17-year, $102-million contract, in which he would earn $95-million in the first 10 years of the deal.

July 20 - NHL rejects Kovalchuk contract, claiming it circumvents the NHL salary cap.

July 26 - NHLPA files grievance on the league's decision to reject Kovalchuk's contract.

Aug. 9 - Independent arbitrator Richard Bloch ruled the NHL was within its powers to reject the initial Kovalchuk contract.

Aug. 27 - The Devils submit to the NHL a new Kovalchuck contract for 15 years, $100-million.

Sept. 4 - NHL approves the revised Kovalchuk deal.

Sept. 13 - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman fined the Devils $3-million and took away two draft picks, including a first rounder of the Devils' choice sometime in the next four years.

Sept. 28 - Devils defenceman Bryce Salvador suffers a concussion in a preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The injury alleviates the team's salary cap concerns to begin the season.

Oct. 9 - New Jersey loses Volchenkov and veteran forward Brian Rolston to long-term injuries in the same game against the Washington Capitals. Volchenkov suffered a broken nose and stiff neck after taking a shot in the face. He missed 12 games. Rolston tweaked a groin problem and underwent sports hernia surgery five days later. He could return later this week.

Oct. 15 - Injuries, a suspension to forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and salary cap concerns force the Devils the dress only 15 players and two goalies for a 3-1 loss at home to the Penguins.

Oct. 23 - Kovalchuk is benched. Neither MacLean nor Lamoriello divulge the reason. But a week later the reason bubbles to the surface: the Russian was late for a few team meetings and the coach had enough of his superstar's tardiness.

Oct. 30 - Devils forward Zach Parise, bothered by a sore knee since the summer, aggravated the ailment. A few days later, he undergoes surgery and will miss the next three months.

Nov. 3 - Future Hall-of-fame goalie Brodeur is knocked out of a game against the Chicago Blackhawks with a bruised elbow. He is listed as day-to-day.

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