Nothing done with Brylin, Pandolfo and Salvador

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said tonight that decisions on Sergei Brylin, Jay Pandolfo and Bryce Salvador will have to "wait until tomorrow."

Of course, tomorrow at noon, Pandolfo and Salvador will become unrestricted free agents if they haven't re-signed with the Devils before then. And Brylin will become an unrestricted free agent if neither he nor the Devils decide to pick up the $1.52 million option on his expiring contract for next season and the sides are unable to agree on the two-year contract they have been working on.

Salvador's agent, Carlos Sosa, said he expects to talk with Lamoriello again before noon tomorrow, but the sides haven't been able to agree to a deal, yet.

So, it appears it's likely that it will go down to the last minute with all three players -- if they re-sign at all.

Sosa said Salvador is prepared to start fielding offers from other teams if he isn't signed before noon. I'd imagine Pandolfo is ready to do the same. If he or his agent had returned any of the many messages I've left for them in the last week, I'd let you know what he's thinking.

I have heard that Scott Gomez and Chris Drury (Pandolfo's former Boston University teammate) have given glowing recommendations to Rangers' management about Pandolfo.

Comments

[adel]

I was hoping it was just chatter, but there's no serious belief that Pandolfo would pull a Gomez and sign with THEM. Right?

[mikeP]

redden & commodore signed by lou to replace salvador ?
I can accept gomez going to the rags because he was all about the $$$ but pando too ? say it aint so Lou !

[MAS]

I really don't know how to feel about this. My initial gut reaction cries out in agony about how this is being handled. Yet, at the same time I'm a huge proponent of having some youth injected into the club.

I can't help but feel this is not being handled well, and this is now the second off-season in a row I'm feeling this way.

[TG]

I didn't say the Rangers would definitely want to sign Pandolfo (they have some younger players they want in their lineup) and that he would definitely sign there. But there is a connection there.

[Josh Burnett]

Last year, I was convinced for weeks that Gomez was signing with the Rangers, making it no big shock when he actually did.

This year, I have been convinced that Pando wouldn't even hit the open market, let alone sign somewhere else, let alone with the Rangers. I don't know how to react to the possibility.

If he does sign across the river, will the venom be the same for him as it was for Gomez? I mean, it's a different type of player signing for (presumably, anyway) different reasons...Would we boo Pando every time he touched the puck next season? I'm quite conflicted here...

[aarrgghhhh]

I could care less. It's a sign of progress, if even by accident. Of course, there is no evidence that the Rangers actually want him, just that his friends on the Rangers do.

I would guess he walks, because if they wanted each other back, this would be a pretty easy deal to sign.

[Al]

Pando was grossly underpiad for years and now we should over pay him a bit to keep him. To let him go would send a horrible message to the locker room. Give Brylin a two year deal and resign Pando. Just let Sal walk because he is average at best.

Not resigning Pando would be a tragic mistake, not only on the ice but in the locker room.

[modnarm]

PANDOLFO A RANGER!?!?!?! even the slightest possibility puts a horrible taste in my mouth. This is worse than Gomez leaving.
Pando has been one of our most coveted players for YEARS. Hes been a workhorse.. a shutdown man.. and now that we're seeing offense from him and Madden we're gonna let him go!?? and.. that he'd be playing AGAINST us.. shutting down OUR top line.. to aid the RAGS!???!

MY GOSH LOU!!! LOOK AT THIS CATASTROPHY! WHy would you give a division rival one of your best players. He would help the rags in their attempts to become a trapping, defensive team too. Why hurt ourselves by giving him to THEM. What is so hard about keeping our BEST players! Gomez and Rafalski last year.. and now Pandolfo. my gosh. Its like i can't get attatched to any great players on my team because they may be traded or lost to free agency the next year!

If Brylin goes to Dallas, it will be rough cuz i know he'll fit like a glove.. but i won't get to feel it that much.. Pando on the Rags will be thrown in our faces 8 times a year!.. let alone the playoffs!

THIS MUST BE STOPPED LOU! PUT AN END TO THE MADNESS!!!!!

[FOTC]

Bye bye Pando.

[modnarm]

in conclusion.. even if we sign Hossa.. Pandolfo being let go, not wanted back... really gives me a bad image of Lou .. and will make this year's offseason go down as the worst so far.. at least in my memory.

[Steven]

I still think that Pandolfo and Salvadore will resign. It said in a different article that the Devils and Salvadore were very close on a deal and I think Pandolfo would prefer to stay in New Jersey rather then having to move to a new city/state. I am convinced however that Brylin's time in New Jersey is done.

[Al]

I stil think Pando will be a Devil, but remember..Gomez is Pando's best friend.

[topshlf]

Let Pando sign with the Rangers. It would be like a hockey version of the Trojan Horse. They had a hard enough time last year trying to score goals over there, add Pando to the mix and good luck!

They have a bunch of young forwards over there that they need to give ice time to. I hope that they sign Jay and he helps block their progress.

The Rangers totally screwed Petr Prucha who could have been a big scorer for them had they given him the ice time. Let's hope they do the same again to guys like Dubinsky and Dawes.

[jim b]

i will not go to a devils game this year if they do not resign pando and salvador and make some major moves. it is not worth the amount of money to see these guys be mediocre and lose in the playoffs, i could spend that cash elsewhere

[AreJay]

Pandolfo has been a Devil for a long time. He's very good at what he does. But I think some of you are over-valuing a player because of your heart. To overpay for a defensive third liner is folly, especially when YOU ARE THE DEVILS and you are literally second-to-none in the entire league when it comes to developing third line checkers.

What if Pandolfo's injury has changed him? What if he's even slower than before?

If Pandolfo walks, it's possible they use Zubrus in his place. I think Zubrus with Madden could be an interesting duo, with Clarkson on the right side or Langenbrunner depending on if Lou signs a top six forward. Might actually see a little offense out of that.

[Madden4C]

I have a question...how is gods name do the rangers have money to spend year after year? Its rediculous!

[topshlf]

I'd rather see Zu-Bust play on the checking line. He's big, he can be physical, and he can create more offense than Pando. On either the first line or the second though, he's a stiff.

We saw this year that either on the first or the second line, whichever one he was on, it sucked.

I'd love to see a Langs, Mad Dog, Zu-bust checking line. It's a checking line that can actually counter and score some goals. Looking back on Devils history show that we need that kind of line to succeed.

Of course to move Langs and the Zu-Bust back there, Lou's going to need to add some forwards....

[Bill]

tom, instead of Lou signing a free agent. do you see him trading for a rfa contract such as joni pitkanen? a dman with niedermayer like potential.

thank you.

[Al]

Zubrus to replace Pando? That's a pretty good joke. Zubrus is SLOW and does not have the agility nor the skating ability to do what Pando does. Rod Pelley should be our fourth line center and who is going to replace Pando? Barry Tallakcson? Umm NO> Pando is also a true LW and we don't have too many of those.

Another thing, you can tell people who know hockey, especially Devils hockey when you don't just rate a guy on how many goals they score.

By the way, Marion Hossa is a joke and underpoerformer in the playoffs. He was LOST with the Pens most of the time. TO voerpay for him would be a huge mistake.

Also, if Pando walks our next best defensive forward after him (OF COURSE MADDEN IS OUR BEST) is SURPRISE: Serge Brylin. If we lose them both it would be a horrific day.

The Devils do not have the quality of defenseive forwards in our system like we used to. Should we get ready for Jason Ryznar? Tallackson a RW by the way, or who else? Bottom line Rod Pelley is a true prospect but this could be a horrible day tomorrow.

Zubrus??? Wow, most of ya's really are stupid.

Also, for the FRAUD who said he wil not go to any games thie year, there is noone worth paying to see? Ever hear of MARTIN BRODEUR?

I think Pando is coming back..but if we lose him, it's TRUE setback.

[aarrgghhhh]

Letting Pando go would make it the worse offseason ever? Yeah, god forbid we opened up spots and brought in actual skilled players.

Geez, some of you people are enablers and then a few years down this course, you'll be some of the biggest loudmouths whining that we can't succeed in this different league.

[aarrgghhhh]

Zubrus is easily a better player than Pandolfo. Even this season, even playing with Mike Rupp/Pelley/Asham, who, while I admire Mike Rupp's work, they're black holes.

[JoeDevs]

If Pando goes to the Rags it will be because Lou did not want him back.
Jay has been a great Devil but there comes a time when a team has to rebuild.

[Josh]

Not much of a surprise. So long as none of them sign in New York, it's okay, although I would still like to see us get Salvador back at the very least. Pandolfo is 49/51 for me and Brylin I would like to see let go, as sad as that will be.

TG, I saw your article about Hossa and all that earlier. Giving us Devils fans hope, when we really know that if we get Hossa, it'll be Marcel. Oh, and I really wouldn't understand getting Jason Smith if we pass on Salvador. Well really, I wouldn't understand getting Jason Smith for any reason.

[TG]

Smith is a 5-6. Bryce can play in the top four

[scotty c]

i like salvador and would love to see him crush some people against the boards for the next couple of years, i am fine with brylin not coming back, (i would like him to be on the farm teaching the kids) you have been a warrior sarge but it is time for some youth ... pando is another story, he is 33 and coming off that injury but had such offensive improvement under sutter his career high is 14 goals (i think), he had 12 in only 54 games last season, the real question how much money & length of contract does that deserve ... im not sure,but i do not want to see him in a rags uniform next season, unless it means getting someone like hossa who is a game changer, we need offense bottom line, if we rely on madden to be one of our top offensive weapons again (cringe) we are in for another frustrating inconsistent season