The Devils have traded popular enforcer Cam Janssen in exchange for St. Louis Blues defenseman Bryce Salvador.
“In Bryce Salvador, we have acquired a veteran NHL defenseman with good size and strength who plays a physical game,” said GM Lou Lamoriello, via nhl.com. “We look forward to the depth Bryce will bring to our roster.”
As a Ranger fan, I won’t be sad to see Cam go. That guy had jackhammers for fists. However, if you’re a Devs fan having some trouble cutting the cord, here’s a compilation of some of some Janssen’s “greatest hits.”
Avery’s greatest yaps, via the Star:
On the lockout of 2004-05: “We underestimated how rich the owners were.”
After Denis Gauthier gave Avery teammate Jeremy Roenick a concussion: “I think it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not backing anything up.”
To Georges Laraque, during a game: “Monkey.” (Avery denied making the comment).
To broadcaster and former NHLer Brian Hayward: “You’re an embarrassment. You’re the reason the league doesn’t have a national television deal. You’re a (terrible) announcer and you were a (terrible) player.”
Following Sunday night’s shootout victory in Toronto in which Rangers’ winger Sean Avery recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight), there were more than a few rumblings out of the Maple Leaf dressing room concerning the pint-sized pest. Via Monday’s Toronto Sun:
“He’s pissing guys off,” [Toronto's Wade] Belak said yesterday. “He’ll bring harm to himself and not too many guys around the league are going to be sad to see …
Last night was the home opener for the New Jersey Devils and it was the first hockey game played in the brand new, state of the art Prudential Center. The new arena is nicknamed “The Rock” to go along with the Prudential logo, but the Devils defense did nothing close to being rock solid.The Devils allowed 3 third period goals on their way to a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The loss didn’t send the sellout crowd of 17,625 home too happy.
Via Kristie Ackert NY Daily News:
It would have been nice, but I guess it was not meant to be,” said goaltender Martin Brodeur. “It’s a great building to play in. It’s kinda early to tell, but it seems to have a great atmosphere, and the technology is a lot different (than the Meadowlands). It looked good.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was on hand for the festivities in Newark. He mentioned how great the arena was and how it was great for the Devils, the fans …
Oilers and Souray Reach Deal: “Sheldon Souray the defenseman formally of the Montreal Canadians signed with the Edmonton Oilers today according to TSN of Canada. Terms were not yet disclosed.This is big news for New Yorkers as the two-time all-star was rumored to be going to all three local teams. The Rangers, who are near the salary cap, have been rumored to be attempting to free up space all week long in order to add Souray. As of this morning Carolina and New York newspapers have been reporting a move which would send Matt Cullen back to Carolina in order to free up space as a near done deal. It will be interesting to see if a move is made now that the Oilers have grabbed the point-man. In addition to rumors of the Rangers attempting to move Cullen …
On his blog for ESPN.com, E.J. Hradek takes a quick look at the future of defenseman Sheldon Souray, owner of the NHL’s heaviest shot, and the most attractive free agent left on the open market. In the local papers, both the Devils and Rangers have been attached to Souray on the rumor mill, but according Hradek, it’s the Blueshirts who appear to have the edge. Via ESPN.com:
After talking with a couple of sources with some knowledge of the situation, I get the sense that Souray could be headed for New York to join the Rangers. That scenario makes sense for five reasons (that I can think of).
First, the Rangers figure to add another experienced defenseman.
Second, the Rangers don’t have a dangerous offensive presence on their blue line.
Third, the Rangers could deal a roster player (Matt Cullen?) and/or offer less money to their own UFA Brendan Shanahan to create the cap space for another major addition.
Fourth, Souray might be waiting to sign with the Rangers to allow them to pursue …
In yesterday’s New York Post, Mark Everson stated that “sources are buzzing” over the possibility that the Rangers could pull off the seemingly impossible and fit free agent Sheldon Souray under their already burdened salary cap. Said Everson: “Salary-cap space would be the first difficulty, style of play another, but the buzz continues.”
Today, Everson’s sources are buzzing once more, this time with word that the Devils are interested in Souray as well. Via the New York Post:
The Devils are still reeling from the losses of Scott Gomez and Brian Rafalski, and Brad Lukowich left the team to return to Tampa Bay for an offer that could have been beaten. Lukowich, who made $1 million last season, signed a three-year deal for $1.25 million, $1.65 million and $1.8 million.
Sources say the Devils are bidding for defenseman Sheldon Souray, an unrestricted free agent from Montreal who was traded there by Lamoriello with Josh DeWolf and a second-round pick for Vladimir Malakhov on March 1, 2000.
Souray, with the hardest shot …
According to Newsday’s Steve Zipay, the Devils have signed Kevin Weekes to a 2-year, $1.375 million deal to serve as backup to goalie Martin Brodeur. Translation: Weekes should expect to see 2, maybe 3 starts next season…
Weekes made nearly $2 million last season with the Rangers, who will now turn to either Stephen Valiquette or Al Montoya to backup Henrik Lundqvist in net.
While the opening days of free agency were more than a little deflating for Islanders and Devils fans – especially given the splash made by the rival Rangers – both organizations appear to be bouncing back nicely after a disappointing start out of the gate.
The Islanders signed left wing Ruslan Fedotenko to a one-year, $2.9 million deal, moving quickly to replenish a forward corp that was decimated by the departures of Jason Blake and Ryan Smyth. A career third-liner, the Islanders are admittedly reaching a bit here, as GM Garth Snow projected Fedotenko as a “top-six forward” on the Isles.
The GM may have another move in store for the franchise however, as reports have leaked that the team is looking to import defenseman Ed Jovanovski from Phoenix. Jovanovski would have to waive his no-trade clause for any deal to get done.
Finally, Greg Logan of Newsday speculates that the team is pursuing free agent center Mike Comrie, who would fill a void at the center position and add credibility to …
According to The Fourth Period, the Devils have agreed to terms with free agent forward Dainius Zubrus, signing the former Sabre to a six-year, $20.4 million contract. Zubrus is the third free agent center that Buffalo has lost in the first three days of free agency. Daniel Briere signed a lucrative deal with the Flyers while Chris Drury left for the greener pastures in New York.
Well, six years at 20 million is certainly “fiscally responsible” compared to the seven years and 51.5 million that the Rangers handed to Scott Gomez. Of course, Dainius Zubrus is not Scott Gomez.
No Deal With The Devil?: “The New Jersey Devils have enjoyed being the Atlantic Division super-power ever since their Stanley Cup run in 1995, but on Sunday that luxury may have bolted along with their top-line center and their best defenseman. Scott Gomez was expected to bolt town, but if it were up to the Devils they definitely would have chosen a different destination. The New York Rangers paid out $51.5 million to lure the 27-year old Gomez from the team’s biggest rival. In a separate and much less anticipated move, the team failed to resign defenseman Brian Rafalski. The blue-liner had maintained his desire to stay in Jersey all spring, but the lure of a bigger pay-day was too much to resist. While the Devils wouldn’t budge from their offer of four-years at $4.4 million per year, the Detroit Red Wings stepped in and gave him a five-year $30 …
