Szablewski to Lou: NJ Real Rats

Rich Chere writes in The Star-Ledger article, "Albany calls N.J. real rats (http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1144300241155590.xml&coll=1)"
"There has been a lot of frustration for us over the past six years," Szablewski told the Albany Times Union. "We know (the Devils) were capable of much better than what they gave us and that was a primary reason for the frustration. It was fairly obvious the wins and losses at the minor-league level were not important to them. In my opinion, they wanted to develop a couple players each year and, as long as they did that, it was good enough for them. It was develop players and not win." Sorry the Devils were more concerned with winning two Stanley Cups over the previous six years so they couldn't send Marty Brodeur down to help the Rats win in the minor leagues.

Tom Gulitti writes in Thursday's Devils notes (http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMzMmZmdi ZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY5MTE5MTgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZU VFeXk2),Lou on the defensive

Devils general manager and coach Lou Lamoriello defended the organization's approach with its affiliate in Albany after River Rats president S. Garen Szablewski criticized the Devils on Tuesday, saying Albany's focus was to "develop players and not win."

The Devils purchased the AHL franchise in Lowell, Mass., two weeks ago. The River Rats, who will be affiliated with Carolina next season, will miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

"We look at Albany as a development team," Lamoriello said.

What did he think? Lou was going to sign good career AHLers to take away playing time from our prospects? Does he think that we've drafted "poorly" on purpose? I'm sorry but when you have success at the NHL level your AHL team will take a hit.

"It was fairly obvious the wins and losses at the minor-league level were not important to them. In my opinion, they wanted to develop a couple players each year and, as long as they did that, it was good enough for them. It was develop players and not win."

Is this joker Szablewski being disingenuous or can someone be that naive?

The sole purpose of a minor league team: properly develop the 3 or 4 (if that) bonafide NHL prospects found on the roster. The rest is window dressing, pure and simple.

From the article:
The teams that generally understand this dynamic most, if not every season - Vancouver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, the Rangers and so on - have something special going with their AHL affiliates.
The examples given of AHL success only include two teams who have actually made the playoffs in the last few years. Philadelphia makes sense because Clarke makes so many trades he always ends up with a stockpile of second round picks. Vancouver is another team that didn't find success until a couple of years ago. It is nearly impossible to sustain such a long run of success and be able to put out two quality hockey teams. Albany was always sacrificed to help NJ and that's pretty much the nature of AHL hockey...if somebody is lighting it up they will leave...something I could never get used to and I wonder how most AHL fans can.

"It was fairly obvious the wins and losses at the minor-league level were not important to them. In my opinion, they wanted to develop a couple players each year and, as long as they did that, it was good enough for them. It was develop players and not win."

Is this joker Szablewski being disingenuous or can someone be that naive?

The sole purpose of a minor league team: properly develop the 3 or 4 (if that) bonafide NHL prospects found on the roster. The rest is window dressing, pure and simple.

Yes you want to develop those players, but putting a winning team on the ice should be important as well. Signing 3-4 real good AHL vets to help the young guys learn the pro game, and also creating a winning atmosphere can only be a positive.

Learning how to win, playing in playoffs etc. only helps the prospects in their development.

The chief purpose of New Jersey's minor league affiliate is developing players. The fact that players like Scott Gomez, Paul Martin and David Hale were needed in New Jersey is unfortunate, but the greater need is what serves the major league club, not the minor league affiliate.

Mr. Szablewski should have used a little more diplomacy publicly. If it was such a bad experience to be affiliated with the New Jersey Devils, they should not have continued to renew the agreement.