Pelley still unsigned; Fedorov intends to play in NJ

Center Rod Pelley was among the players to take part in today's on-ice sessions at the Devils' development camp, but he remains unsigned.

"We're just in negotiations right now," said Pelley, who is a restricted free agent. "I don't get too involved with that. It's my agent and Lou (Lamoriello)."

Pelley, who has been living in New Jersey and working out at Prudential Center for most of the off-season, didn't sound worried about his contract situation.

"I am not concerned it won't get done," he said. "I don't know too much about it."

Pelley, who said he has insurance in case he is injured, and defensemen Sheldon Brookbank and Andy Greene have been working out at the Devils' facilities with team strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Vasalani and decided to take part in the development camp to get in some extra on-ice work in.

"They've been working out here and they asked if they could jump in and I said, 'yes,'" Lamoriello said. "I think it's great for them to want to do that."

**

Fedor Fedorov made it clear this morning that he didn't sign with the Devils to play in Lowell this season. "That's the only reason I'm here," he said. "(Otherwise) there's no point in me being here."

Fedorov, 27, said he signed a one-way deal, meaning he'll receive the same salary even if he's in the AHL. It's a one-year contract for $500,000.

Fedorov, the younger brother of Capitals center Sergei Fedorov, also stated firmly that the he is no longer under contract with Moscow Dynamo, the Russian team he played for last season, and doesn't understand why he's been suspended from international play by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

"My contract was over last year," he said. "I haven't signed another one (with Dynamo). (The contact) was over fourth months ago now."

**

Although it was never mentioned by Lamoriello before he signed with the team two weeks ago, goaltender Scott Clemmensen said he understands that part of his job will be tutoring rookie Jeff Frazee in Lowell.

"It was never mentioned specifically," said Clemmensen, who signed a one-year deal to return to the organization after spending last season with the Maple Leafs organization. "But I've always done that. It's always been like that here. The older players help the younger players."

Clemmensen said he had a similar role last year with Justin Pogge with the AHL Toronto Marlies.

**

It was interesting to see former Devil Slava Fetisov, now Minister of Sports in Russia, and International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel at Prudential Center this morning. They and two guests got a short tour of the facilities from Lamoriello. I jokingly asked Lamoriello if he was negotiating a new transfer agreement.

"It has nothing to do with the IIHF agreement," Lamoriello said.

Lamoriello said Fetisov often returns to New Jersey to visit and still has a place to live here.

**

Today's black-white scrimmage was still 1-1 after three periods, so it was decided by a shootout. After having to leave the ice earlier to have a cut on his face treated, center Adam Henrique, the Devils' third-round choice in June's draft, returned to give the White team the win by beating Clemmensen for the deciding goal.

John MacLean, Tommy Albelin and Jacques Laperriere (still a special assignment coach in the organization) ran the drills on the ice today. MacLean and Laperriere ran the benches during the scrimmage while Albelin officiated. Brent Sutter is not attending the development camp.

One observation from today: 2006 first-round pick Matt Corrente appears to have filled out his 6-foot frame well. He's no longer the skinny kid he was in camp two years ago.  Also, Mark Fraser (6-3, 220) looks like he's filled out.

**

Finally, I have to apologize for and correct my error on why 2008 first-round pick Mattias Tedenby is not at this development camp. I misunderstood Lamoriello yesterday when I asked about Tedenby.

When Lamoriello said Tedenby was in Sweden, I thought he meant with his pro team in Sweden. What Lamoriello meant was that Tedenby is practicing with the Swedish 20-and-under national team that will be playing in Lake Placid next month. That is why he is unavailable for this camp.

Also, left wing Mike Hoefflel, the Devils' first pick (second round) in the 2007 draft, was unable to attend because he's taking summer classes at the University of Minnesota and then is headed to Lake Placid for the U.S. junior team evaluation camp. Although he is still in college, Hoeffel would have been eligible to participate if he paid his own way to New Jersey.

Comments

[HeyNow!]

Wow, we have an overabundance of forwards. Pelley, Vrana, Bergfors and Fedorov are all hoping to get into the lineup... yet we are quite full... I wonder what will happen...

[MoonDragn]

What will happen is that they will all compete for a spot and Pelley and probably Bergfors is gonna probably end up in Lowell. Looking at their videos, I think the best of the four are probably Federov and Vrana.

Either way, lets hope we get to see some new blood in the lineup.

[mikeford]

nuts to resigning pelley, resign jimmy dowd instead.

[Mike from Elmwood Park]

TG,

Did any of the younger prospects, particulary any of this June's draft picks stand out to you with skill or speed?

Thanks again for these updates.

[Xander Crews]

TG do you know who scored the 2 goals in the scrimmage? Id be curious to hear about that.

[TG]

To be honest, I didn't see either goal. I spent most of the scrimmage trying to figure out who the players were from their numbers (other than the obvious ones --Greene (6), Brookbank (8) and Pelley (10). I wasn't sure if either team had scored until someone said the score was 1-1 before the shootout.

Players I noticed: D Matt Corrente -- The player whose number (33) I memorized the fastest and it wasn't just because he's filled out physically. It's hard to describe, but he just has that look of an NHL player (I also noticed it in his two training camps with the Devils). D Harry Young-- mostly because he's huge (6-4, 205); C Tyler Burton -- the kid from Colgate is tiny (5-9), but quick; RW Nathan Perkovich-- I didn't notice him much during the scrimmage, but he scored a nice goal in the shootout, snapping the puck over Jeff Frazee's glove and under the crossbar; C Patrice Cormier -- He showed one nice burst, but later fired high off the glass during the shootout. D Brandon Burlon -- I noticed his size (6-1, 195). He actually looks bigger than those numbers. C Adam Henrique -- for his shootout winner and bleeding on the ice. RW Matt Halischuk -- he had a couple of nice bursts of speed, but he needs to put on some weight to play in the NHL. He's pretty thin.

It's difficult to make any real evaluations off of today, though, especially because I was mostly trying to identify who the players were. I think I'll have a better take on some of these guys by the end of the week. But, also it's hard to tell much when it's mostly prospects playing against mostly prospects.

[TG]

I failed to mention that Pelley scored a nice goal in the shootout, beating Frazee between the legs with a backhand after a nice move.

[JJ]

Gotta wonder why Fedorov is so confident he'll be playing in NJ. No way any promises about a guaranteed spot were made.

[2600]

that's probably just part of Fedor's personality.

[Brodie30]

I believe Pelley is earmarked as Madden's heir apparent and could prove a valuable asset as a checker. Let's not be so quick to trade prospects. We'll see on Federov. I think the team is really hoping that Bergfors makes the big club long term. Since he is young they would probably allow him another year in Lowell before losing patience (see: Suglobov) It sounds like Corrente keeps giving the team a reason to stay up at a very young age. Not bad for a guy the CSS had as a mid third rounder.

[MoonDragn]

CSS had Corrente as a mid third rounder? Then why did we pick him in the first round?

[Jill]

I'm so excited for Corrente. Whenever I've seen him play in any pre-season games, even the year of his draft, he was so impressive. He's got some Scott Stevens genes in him I think, I don't see how he can't make the lineup out of training camp this year.

[mikeK]

MoonDragn- Most of the time I find we have an excellent scouting system. I doubt Lou even reads the publications about the prospects.

[Scott731]

Just to add to the pile of people who have thought Corrente looked very good during his playing time in the last 2 training camps.

[Xander Crews]

MikeK i think the point MoonDragn was making is if no one expects him to go untill the 3rd round why not take someone else with our #1 pick then get him in the second round?

Much like our wasted pick on Adrian Foster. We picked him first round and he wasnt even ranked. So why waste our first rounder when we could have gotten someone good and he would have still been there in the 5th round since no one even knew who he was.

[Brodie30]

Because Central Scouting can't have the best projection on every single prospect. Central Scouting and ISS sometimes disagree on a particular prospect with as many as 80 draft positions. Besides that it's hard to grade the "rest of the pack" against each other especially when they are even through growing. Independant scouting bureaus grade the field. Team scouts have a frame of reference to what the team will need five and ten years down the line. Corrente was as home with his agent and family because he wasn't projected in the first round (the Devils traded down because they knew they liked him and knew he would be there).

[Falcone]

Pelley will be around for a little while. Maddog and Pando are getting older. Don't heal as fast. He'll be there to jump in if necessary. Needs to find a better scoring touch though.

Trades need and will happen soon. If we can bring some young guys up? And trade a vet or two, so there's room...as long as it makes us better I'm all for it.

[Scott731]

@ Xander, Foster was on all the teams radar screens, going into that season he had been ranked ahead of Danny Heatley, his injury gave everyone concern and he was never able to get over them. The Devils did the same thing when they drafted Sykora and they'll probably do the same thing again. I believe you're thinking of Kadeykin(sp?) as the unranked player.

As for Corrente, obviously the Devils didn't feel like they could get him with their next pick or they would have traded down like they did this season to pick up Tenedby. My impression is the Devils have players sorted out into tiers of ability in some fashion and then if one guy falls too far they'll trade up to get him and if there are multiple players in the same talent tier left then they'll trade down until there is just one left.

[Brodie30]

Adrian Foster was drafted in the same manner that Petr Sykora was. Both were once extremely well thought of (like pushing top ten) but had injuries that scared teams away. In Foster's case, the injuries continued. In Sykora's, he recovered and was an excellent NHL prospect turned player. It's a risk/reward situation. It's similar with player attitudes (see: Cherepanov, Vasnuyov, in some eyes Corrente)

[Brodie30]

Holy echo, Batman! Beat me to it.

[Hoosier]

Thanks for your great reporting TG.

As to why Corrente was drafted earlier, teams lists vary greatly both from one another and from the scouting services. It's possible the Devils had Corrente ranked in the top 25 and felt there was a strong possibility of him being taken by another team in the top 40 or so. So you don't risk him being off the board.

I hope Corrente pans out especially because the Devils traded down from I think the 25 spot, where Patrik Berglund was taken. Berglund looks like a very promising center.

[Pat D]

Thanks for the evaluation TG, how did Fraser do?

[FOTC]

TG, how did Frazee look out there?

[Al]

Thanks for ALL of your work TG...without you we would be lost. I guess Rich Chere is "too big" to care.

THANK YOU!!

[modnarm]

i'm pumped Corrente looks good from TG's standpoint. If this kid is solid, it will really help our D. I'd much rather have a solid Corrente than Mottau, Brookbank, Vishnevski.
I wonder what his weight is.