Brylin, Devils talking

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said today that he still has not made a decision on whether to pick up the $1.52 million option year on Sergei Brylin’s contract after a face-to-face meeting with the three-time Stanley Cup winner on Monday morning.

“Everything is status quo,” Lamoriello said.

When asked if he might hold off on his decision until Monday’s deadline, Lamoriello replied, “I don’t want to get into that.”

Brylin, 34, also has a player option for next season at $1.52 million for next season and has until Monday to pick it up or become an unrestricted free agent, but has said he would prefer to sign a multi-year extension. It is believed that the sides are now discussing a multi-year deal. Brylin flew home to Russia for the summer on Monday, though. Before anyone jumps to any conclusions about that meaning something about him signing to play in Russia next year, Brylin returns home every summer.

Brylin’s agent, Paul Theofanous, has not returned my telephone message today. I’ll update later if he does.

**As for Jay Pandolfo, it appears Lamoriello has finally gotten down to negotiating a new deal with Pandolfo’s agent, Bob Murray. Pandolfo is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, which is now only a week away. Word has it that the Tampa Bay Lightning, who introduced Barry Melrose as their new head coach today, are one of the teams interested in signing Pandolfo.

I’m waiting for a return call from Murray. Pandolfo has been laying low all off-season and has uncharacteristically not been returning phone messages.

**I just got off the phone with defenseman Bryce Salvador's Auburn, Wash.-based agent, Carlos Sosa, who said, "All is quiet on the Western front, so to speak."

In other words, there have been no recent contract talks with Lamoriello. Salvador is also eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

"That's not really surprising," Sosa said. "He's got Brylin coming up and Pandolfo and us. He's got a week to do it and he knows how to manage his time."

Sosa did not rule out Salvador re-signing with the team before or after July 1.

"If there's an opportunity to sign with them before July 1 or afrer July 1, that's something we'd look at," Sosa said.

**Lastly, teams have until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to make qualifying offers to their potential restricted free agents. When asked if he would definitely qualify all of the team’s restricted free agents – RW David Clarkson, C Rod Pelley, and D Olli Malmivaara  (who signed May 1 to play in Finland next season)-- Lamoriello replied, “not necessarily.”

Lamoriello has already been working on a deal with Clarkson’s agent and it’s highly unlikely that Clarkson won’t be qualified (a one-year contract with a 10 percent raise on his $555,000 salary for last season). The same would go for Pelley, who would also be due a 10 percent raise on his 2007-08 salary of $522,500.

Comments

[JW]

I thought Malmivaara had already signed with JYP Jyväskylä?

http://www.njdevs.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=36774

[Kelly]

Any update for Salvador? I'd love to see the kid come back.

[Zo]

Yeah I also read that Malmivaara had already signed with Jyvaskyla...

[TG]

I just updated above with news (or non-news) on Salvador.

As for Malmivaara, then it would make sense for the Devils not to make him a qualifying offer since he signed already to play in Finland. They could still qualify him just to maintain his NHL contract rights, but there really isn't much of a reason for that.

[CB]

Malmivaara did sign in Finland and Tallackson is a Group VI free agent, so he's unrestricted.

[lori d.]

TG, what do you read into pandolfo's situation and behavior?

[Huh]

Brylin's been a stand-up, team-first guy his entire career. Unfortunately, last season it was painfully obvious that he no longer has what it takes to warrant a roster spot (even on the Devils). He can follow in the footsteps of other ex-Devils who have taken coaching positions in the organization. No Brylin in 2008-2009, please.

[LuziferDevs]

Brylin you have filled holes for too many years and it's time for someone to try and fill yours. Your not the same player you were, good luck getting signed somewhere else (try Russia they give out mad cash)

[LuziferDevs]

also any word from Lou on what prospects he is considering bring into Lowell?

The russians? Halischuk?

[TG]

I had seen Tallackson listed as restricted, but CB is correct. He is a Group VI (25 or older with at least three year as a pro and fewer than 80 NHL games) and thus unrestricted.

Sorry, my bad.

[TG]

I believe Halischuk has one more year of junior eligibility and, thus, would not be allowed to play in Lowell next season.

[jdr30]

It would be a major waste of money to re-sign Brylin.

[billie]

what do you make of pandolfo's situation, TG? what is the general feeling you're getting from his camp?

[TG]

I believe Jay wants to come back. I think he's just laying low because Lamoriello generally doesn't like it when the player talks a lot about contract negotiations.

Still, the Devils are going to have to pay him and make him feel appreciated. I'm sure he looks at his rolled-back salary of $836,000 and see that Madden made about $4 million and thinks he deserves a lot more.

Also, I've corrected my errors concernning Tallackson and Malmivaara above.

[Uli]

I hope LL does not overspend on Pandolfo. He's over the hill now at 34. I think we can find a younger, quicker, penalty killer/checker who can put up 12-15 goals a season. Those third liners are a dime a dozen.

[Pat]

I don't want Brylin back and think if we spend > $750k then we are wasting money and no more than 2 years, if at all. Pando would be over-priced if more than $2.5M. He would be worth bring back for 3 more years. The team would miss his character and leadership. Brylin's just the old, little man in the room.

[Sarah]

Uli -- I think what Pando brings to the locker room is just as important as his on-ice contributions. He is consistently voted as the team's "Player's Player" and is clearly well respected by the team. Take that in addition to the on-ice chemistry he's developed with Madden over the years, and I think we'd find it to be a big loss if he ends up elsewhere. If that means dishing out a little extra money, so be it.

[Shari]

TG, thanks for all of the updates, I know that We can always count on You for keeping Us posted like nobody else can. I really do hope that Pando comes back, but I'm not going to do what I did last year and think that He is absolutely coming back and it's in the bag, I learned My lesson with Raffy, (what a shocker that was.)

[tyler]

I saw that the Leafs put Andrew Raycroft and Kyle Wellwood on waivers. If they lose Raycroft, does that mean Clemmensen is the number two goalie??

[TG]

Clemmensen is a UFA again. And the Leafs have Pogge in the minors, too.

But, maybe they'd re-sign Scott to be their backup in Toronto. I'm not sure having Pogge as their NHL backup would be good for his development. He didn't even start in the AHL playoffs for the Marlies until the end of the their last series.

[Jeff]

What a sad commentary on our prospects for next year. All of us waiting with baited breath to see if we are going to sign Brylin and Pando. The rest of the East is loaded with real stars and looking to add more. Last year the Devils were the worst value for your entertainment dollar (2 goals or less over 60% of the time) and it looks like next year won't be any different.

Devils file for Bankruptcy within 2 years thanks to Lou's interchangeable parts philosophy

[Jeff]

Every player mentioned in these posts are pedestrian players who are easy to replace...Lou doesn't get it, you need game breakers and they don't want to play here even if Lou went after them. Scorers always sit for Checkers....That's why Gomer left..who can blame him.....Lou must go.

[Shari]

Jeff Your right, We are a sad bunch aren't We? Clarkson is the best We have to look forward too any time soon, Oh the humanity! bring back Ken Klee!

[Shari]

The NHL Networ rules, last night was classic Dev's, tonight is more Dev's. They may be games I've seen already but hey a fix is a fix.

[billie]

you're a class act jeff. brylin and pandolfo are valued members of the devils organization. it would be stupid and classless of lou for him to just ignore two veterans to find some young prospects whose outcomes are unpredictable.

I also don't see how the team's growth in the post-lockout years completely lies on lou's shoulders. he is not the one that is on the ice everyday, getting paid good money to score some goals and play decent defense. it's unfair to blame the ineffectiveness of this team solely on lou.