Sweet Lou: Devils GM Lamoriello Will Join Hockey Hall Of Fame

November 6, 2009 5:37 p.m. EST

Lou Lamoriello will join an elite group November 9 when he is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The New Jersey Devils President and General Manager/CEO will be inducted in the Builders Category and join former NHLers Brett Hull, Brian Leetch, Luc Robitaille and Steve Yzerman.

Lamoriello was humbled when Chairman and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bill Hay, called his office with the news.

"It was surprising. I wasn't thinking of it in any way," Lamoriello said. "I wasn't even aware the selection committee was meeting. When they first called, I was in a meeting with Slava Fetisov and had no idea why [the Hall of Fame] was calling."

As far as Toronto Maple Leafs GM is concerned, the honor was deserved.

"I've always enjoyed dealing with Lou," Brain Burke said to NHL.com earlier in the week. "He's a passionate NHL guy and has been really, really good for hockey and it's a very well-deserved honor for Lou going into the Hockey Hall of Fame."

Under Lamoriello, the Devils' amassed 11 100-point seasons, four Eastern Conference titles, eight Atlantic Division crowns during his last 23 years in New Jersey.

"Nothing surpasses the three Stanley Cups. Nothing," Lamoriello said, who led the Devils to Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

Lamoriello was the GM of Team USA. The team went on to win the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996. That team consisted of Leetch and Hull.

"Brett and Brian were big parts of our World Cup team. That was a special group. We brought them to Providence College for a few weeks to try and build a team. Brian was our captain. He haunted me before that tournament and he haunted me after," Lamoriello said.

What's Lamoriello secret in keeping an organization healthy?

"Don't let the media and fans distract you from the information you have. You just hope that you don't make more mistakes than things you get right. Stay the course. That's why there is the logo on the front and the name on the back," he said.