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Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is 71, but says he's still loves his job and it appears he's not thinking retirement.

NEWARK – Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello was back at Prudential Center for a team picture the day after his franchise ended a season without making the playoffs for the third time in four years.

Afterward, the Hall of Famer took questions for more than 20 minutes about all things Devils, still working at age 71 and a lot more.

Here’s what Lamoriello had to say:

Q: What went wrong this season?

Lamoriello: "Well, I guess I like to look at the glass half full and dwell on things that were right, and then take a step back and see where things weren't the way they should be and then what the reasons were. I think the worst thing you can do is as soon as it's over reflect."

Q: Was it emotional for you Sunday when fans were chanting Marty Brodeur's name thinking it was his last Devils game?

Lamoriello: "Yes. I don't think you could be human if you weren't emotional. He's a very special human being and he's a very special player. You're not going to have a player come along and do what he's done. And he's not done yet … until he makes that decision. And I thought the fans were just fantastic. Our fans have been great. I don't know if you were here after the game. They never left. They were out in the parking lot and the driveway."

Q: Brodeur said after Sunday's game that it's not the best situation to have two No. 1 goalies on the same team. Can he still be on this team next season or do you have to move forward with Cory Schneider?

Lamoriello: "I think right now you just take a step back. It's a very difficult situation on both goaltenders, a very difficult situation certainly on the coaching staff. But when you have an opportunity like we did at that given time (to trade for Schneider last July) and knowing what the future is, that's a decision I made. I take responsibility for that. I certainly would do it over knowing what the potential was (with Schneider). It's real. But right now, that's not something I'm thinking of. I'm thinking of a lot of things right now, so we'll just have to sit down with Marty and have a discussion."

Q: Albany Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid has had a strong season in the AHL. Is he ready to play in the NHL next season?

Lamoriello: "You never know with goaltenders. Kinkaid and (Albany goalie Scott) Wedgewood are ... both having outstanding years. That's a difficult question to answer for somebody that's never played in the league, whether they can or they can't. You never know until they get in there."

Q: Beginning on July 1, you can sign Schneider to a contract extension. Where does that stand among your offseason priorities?

Lamoriello: "Right on the top of the list."

Q: You're doing this job at an age at which a lot of people are retired. Does that ever go through your mind? Do you have a plan on how long you want to go? Can you see yourself still doing this at 80?

Lamoriello: "I don't look beyond right now. That's for other people to decide. You're as young as you feel and you're as young as you take care of yourself. I've always said age is a number. If you feel I'm too old for this job then …"

Q: You're working seven days a week. This is now a 365-day-a-year job. Does it ever get to you? Do you still enjoy it as much as you did 20 years ago?

Lamoriello: "I enjoy every day. If this became a day that I had to go to work, I wouldn't be doing it. I don't have to and what drives you is winning. And what drives you is seeing the success that the players have. It's a pride. So take care of yourself. When you get older, you have to make changes. Players have to make changes. You have to get more rest. You have to do things and make sacrifices. That's a decision you make. So far I've made that decision."

Q: You said on Sunday that Pete DeBoer will return as coach next season. Can you reveal whether he received an extension or if the 2014-15 season already was in a contract that hasn't expired?

Lamoriello: "No. No contract talk will ever come from me on players or any personnel. It never has and never will. I believe that's private to that person and it's really not anybody's business."

Q: What kind of job do you think DeBoer did this season?

Lamoriello: "None of us did a good job. We're not in the playoffs. But is it Pete's fault? No. But we're not in the playoffs. So we all have to take responsibility."

Q: Why was it the right decision to bring DeBoer back?

Lamoriello: "First of all, he's under contract. Secondly, I didn't think there was a reason to make a change. So for me to get into my reasons, why and why not, I think it's very unfair. There are certain things you keep between your own ears."

Q: Do decisions need to be made on the assistant coaches, or are all of them returning, as well?

Lamoriello: "I have every intention of having the staff be intact."

Q: Do you want to re-sign Jaromir Jagr?

Lamoriello: "I don't think there's any question that the season he's had is most impressive. And what's just as impressive is his commitment and his work ethic and the way he wants to continue to play, so we certainly would like to have him back. I don't think there's any reason not. The only way that somebody would not think that is if they put his age number (42) in front of what he really accomplished. He had an exceptional year."

Q: Do you see a problem getting Jagr re-signed?

Lamoriello: "You'd have to talk to him. I know he wants to come back. I think he's told all of you that."

Q: Do you think you can get a deal done quickly with Jagr?

Lamoriello: "We'll see."

Q: Besides Jagr and Brodeur, the Devils have other unrestricted free agents – forwards Steve Bernier, Stephen Gionta, Ryan Carter, and defensemen Marek Zidlicky and Mark Fayne. What are your thoughts about bringing them back?

Lamoriello: "I'm not going to get into any thoughts on any unrestricted free agents. It wouldn't be fair to them. They've certainly played extremely well and we have to make overall decisions in a lot of areas."

Q: Do you have to have some change?

Lamoriello: "I think whatever changes you make have to be for the better. So whenever you can get better, you make changes. If we can make the right changes to get better, we certainly will. As far as have to … You'd like to do a lot of things, but you might not be able to. So we'll do the best we can to make us better."

Q: A few Devils players at times this season have said they need a top scorer added to the roster. Obviously, it's easier said than done. Nobody is going to hand you Sidney Crosby, but is that something you really feel this team needs going forward?

Lamoriello: "Well, let me put it to you this way: I've love to have that player who said that to you tell me. He should never worry about what you don't have. He should make the most of what you have. And that to me is something I don't really like to hear, that a player would be worried about what we don't have. Their job is to perform within the abilities that we have. It's what you make out of what you have, not what you don't have."

Q: But do you feel you need to acquire a top scorer?

Lamoriello: "I think we need to score more goals. There's no question. Or give up less. It's the goal differential that counts with me, not how many goals that are scored. … We've had that here since I've been here. And we've won without a scorer in the top 30. So if we're able to get one, believe me, we'll do that. But we would do that in any situation. We'd like to think they should be within, too."

Q: Do you see young defensemen Adam Larsson, Eric Gelinas and Jon Merrill having more of an impact next season?

Lamoriello: "I don't think there's a question about it. I think this team always will be built from the goaltender out, as long as I'm here. Our scouting staff did a tremendous job with the drafts that we had, as far as defensemen. There's no question that they're a year older, a year more mature."

Q: Can you tell at this point whether Larsson can develop into a star? He was the fourth overall pick in 2011, but this is his third pro season and part of it was in the minors. However, as we all know, it takes most young defensemen several years to develop into something special.

Lamoriello: "There's no question in my mind that Larsson will be an NHL defenseman. As far as to what level he'll be an NHL defenseman ... does he have the potential and ability? Yes. But we have to wait and see. There's no question he has certain abilities you can't teach. Time will tell you. You're correct, though, when you (talk) about the age of defensemen."

Q: Will the young defensemen having any impact on going forward with veteran blueliners such as Bryce Salvador and Anton Volchenkov?

Lamoriello: "Well, I don't answer any of those questions. You still have to have your veterans, but decisions will be made at the appropriate time."

Q: If your team had won almost half of its shootouts, you'd be in the playoffs. Is it a total fluke in your mind that the Devils lost all 13, or would you like to see your team practice them more often? Pittsburgh practices shootouts at the end of every practice and it was the best in the league at them this season. The Penguins have elite players, but some of their other players are good at them, too.

Lamoriello: "Let me just say this: I don't know what statistics could ever predict the number of shootouts that we lost both ways. You need the goaltender and you need the scorer. The other day I was sitting in Ottawa in the booth and they flash up (on the television) until the beginning of this year the two teams with the highest shootout percentages in the league. Who are they? No. 1 is the Devils and No. 2 is Pittsburgh. And a lot of people who are in those percentages are still on this team. I didn't know it until that day. … That's just to show you what can happen. I'm not defending it. I thought we were going to come out of it in Ottawa. I'm saying, 'Let's get this over with.'"

Q: When you're assessing moves this summer, will you look at a player who is good in shootouts?

Lamoriello: "Let me put it to you this way: Because of what happened this year, when you're looking at things unconsciously you're going to say, 'I wonder what he was doing with the shootout?' It's just a normal reaction. But will that be the priority over it? No."

Q: You mentioned the fans. Some are supportive. Some are upset. The ones that are upset, do you see why they're concerned after three seasons of no playoffs in four years?

Lamoriello: "Absolutely. We all feel that. And they have every right to feel that. My grandkids are upset. My kids are upset. I feel for the workers in the building. Their season is over. They don't have more games. And I understand that. And I also agree with it. It's not something you like. The fans have been tremendous and they have every right to question anything they want."

Q: Are you getting advice from your grandkids?

Lamoriello: "My grandkids, if I trade the wrong player or something happens, they might not talk to me for weeks."

Q: Seriously?

Lamoriello: "Trust me. Listen, your best critics are the ones who take the freedom to tell you to your face. And that's your own."

Q: You're in charge and you are saying you want to take a step back, but there are people sitting there going, 'Two years in a row out of the playoffs. Blow it up, start over.' Where is this team?

Lamoriello: "Isn't that great when an organization has had the success we've had when you have three out of four (non-playoff seasons) and you go to the (Stanley Cup) Finals in the middle? This team, to me, is very close. How close? I'm not a believer in what that line is. There's such a fine line between winning and losing. … It is what it is today, and where we are is where we're at. We have not made the playoffs for two years. That has to be addressed."

Q: You've been a big believer of this team when it's healthy. Because of that, do you think this team can be very good while making just a few changes?

Lamoriello: "I don't have any question that this team can be very good. I think there are certain things we have to do. And it's like anything else, certain players have to improve in every area. One of the things we set up this year (to do) was get a better power play, and we did. I think we have to get our goal differential on the positive side. I don't look at scoring. This is a 3-2 league right now. That's the nature of the beast … You get used to playing it."

Q: How much long-term concern do you have with left wing Ryane Clowe, who signed a big contract last summer? He missed most of the first half and the last few games of the season with two concussions.

Lamoriello: "We'll see. ... We just have to make sure that this is 100 percent right. He's not the first player to go through this. There's a couple of great players playing in this league, one in Boston and one in Pittsburgh, who were going through the same situation. And then you've seen it where (recovering) didn't work. His health will be the most important thing. We've been assured by the doctors that he's fine, but I can't answer that question because I don't have a crystal ball."

Q: After a season like this, will you even watch the playoffs?

Lamoriello: "I watch, even though I'd like to say I don't want to watch."

Q: Who's going to win the Cup?

Lamoriello: "Oh, God. I don't know what I'm going to eat tomorrow morning. There's going to be some good teams out in the first round, for sure, with the matchups."