Some people need convincing of the greatness of Lou: Need another reason to think that Lou Lamoriello is the one of the best general managers in all of sports, much less hockey? Need another reason to be convinced that that Lou is a legend? Need another reason to trust in Lou?
Here's one: Lou Lamoriello will be inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder's Category this November. Tom Gulitti reported this only an hour ago:
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello was voted today to be a member of the 2009 induction class to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder's category.
Lamoriello will be inducted on Nov. 9 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Longtime Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille were voted into to the Hall of Fame today as players.
Lou Lamoriello isn't just a legendary executive for the Devils, he's a legend in college hockey as well. Lou was one of the founders and commissioners of Hockey East (note: the Devils hired him right out of that job); former head coach and athletic director of Providence College; and was general manager of USA Hockey in the late 1990s.
Most impressive out of all this? He's being inducted while he's still the general manager, president, and CEO of the New Jersey Devils. Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame is a massive honor on its own. It's even more impressive to be inducted while still doing the job that has helped you get inducted in the first place. And if you think Lou is only going to rest on these laurels, then you just don't know what Lou is all about.
Congratulations to all the inductees: Leetch, Yzerman, Hull, and Robitaille are all clearly deserving as players to be inducted into the Hall fo Fame, definitely among the best in the generation of players throughout the mid-to-late 1980s through to 2000.
Big congratulations to Lou Lamoriello. If you or your people are reading this: on the behalf of Devils fans everywhere, thank you.