Lemieux Returns To New Jersey

Devils roster

New Jersey traded left wing Brian Rolston to the Colorado Avalanche for Lemieux, second round draft pick in 2000 and the option of swapping first-round picks with Colorado.

"Whenever you do something, you do it because you feel it will make your team better," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "I have talked to Claude and he is delighted about coming back."

Lamoriello said one of the reasons for the trade is the fact that the Devils are stacked with young players and will probably lose some in next year's expansion draft for the Minnesota and Columbus franchises.

Lemieux helped New Jersey to win the Stanley Cup in 1995, but after his departure the Devils have won only one playoff series and failed to advance past the first round in the last two years despite being the top seed in Eastern Conference.

"I had an outstanding relationship in a tremendous sports town," Lemieux said during a news conference in Denver. "I have no complaints with my time here. I guess they have decided to go in another direction.

"I totally understand the situation they're in with the salary structure. They made the decision to go the route they're going and if I felt sorry for myself, I could say I'm paying the price for that decision.

"But I've never been the type of person to feel sorry for myself, and I'm looking forward to the move."