Martin out tonight with upper body soreness; Still no update on Brodeur

Defenseman Paul Martin won't play in tonight's game against Buffalo because of what Devils coach Brent Sutter called, "upper body soreness."

"He can't play," Sutter said.

Rookie Anssi Salmela, who was called up from Lowell today, will play in Martin's place.

Martin practiced briefly on Sunday, but left early. Sutter said the injury did not take place in Saturday's win over Atlanta specifically.

'It's something that's been nagging for a bit," Sutter said. "It's to a point where it's just too sore."

Martin joins a long list of injured Devils that includes Martin Brodeur (left elbow), Brian Rolston (high right ankle sprain), Bobby Holik (broken right pinkie), Andy Greene (broken right hand), Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (cracked orbital bone).

"It's something that's built up here over the last couple of weeks, but it is what it is," Sutter said.

As I posted earlier, Johnny Oduya will play with Bryce Salvador -- Martin's usual defense partner -- tonight. Colin White and Mike Mottau will play together and Salmela will play with Sheldon Brookbank.

***

There is still no update on Brodeur after he had X-rays and an MRI on his elbow on Sunday. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello was not at the arena this morning.

"Martin Brodeur's situation is status quo as (Sunday)," Sutter said. "He's day to day and Lou will update you further as we go along once we find out more. It depends on how Marty is feeling."

***

Goaltender Scott Clemmensen, who was called up from Lowell today to back up Kevin Weekes in tonight's game, said he did not have to clear re-entry waivers because of his two -way contract and the level of his AHL salary. He did have to clear waivers to be sent down at the start of the season, but won't have to again.

"If I made one more dollar (on his AHL salary) I would have had to (clear re-entry waivers)," he said. "That's why they made my contract that way, so I could go up and down."

***

Salmela said he played "OK" in his seven AHL games with Lowell after he was sent down on Oct. 17. He had no goals, two assists an a team-worst minus-6 defensive rating.

"It's a little different game," he said.

Sutter said Salmela is still adjusting to the North American game. He played professionally in Finland for four years before signing with the Devils as an unrdrafted free agent in May. He made the team with a strong training camp and preseason and made his NHL debut on opening night against the Islanders, but was sent down after three games.

"I think he's come along and we'll see where he is," Sutter said. "The team we're playing tonight they've got a good group of forwards. They're creative and they've got speed and they make things happen with their speed and their puck-handling skills. We'll see how Sammy adjusts to that."  

***

The Devils' expected lineup for tonight.

Forwards: Patrik Elias-Dainius Zubrus-Brian Gionta; Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Jamie Langenbrunner; Jay Pandolfo-John Madden-David Clarkson; Mike Rupp-Petr Vrana-Nicklas Bergfors.

Defensemen: Bryce Salvador-Johnny Oduya; Colin White-Mike Mottau: Anssi Salmela-Sheldon Brookbank.

Goaltender: Kevin Weekes.

Healthy scratches: none

Injured: G Martin Brodeur (left elbow), C/RW Brian Rolston (high right ankle sprain), C Bobby Holik (broken pinky), D Andy Greene (broken right hand), D Paul Martin (upper body soreness), LW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. 

Comments

[mikeford]

Lets see... I think when I translate "upper body soreness" from Lou-speak to English it comes out as "dislocated shoulder".

Man, this season just keeps getting worse.

[mikeschoenf]

i say we dont play parise until this crap stops.

[Nanoose]

wow, we're cursed.

[Dark Prince]

Wow....might as well bring in the entire Lowell squad if this keeps up.

There is a light at the end of this tunnel, right?

[Chico Eats!]

WE SHALL OVERCOME

[titans04]

It's running throw the entire org, Lowell has a couple banged up and Trenton has 8 injured starters, most of them serious injuries.

[Hot Dogs]

Tonights game is on VERSUS. This sucks, that means NO Doc and Chico. Doc is really a joy to listen to every Devils game. We are really blessed to have the best hockey play by play announcer.

[David]

TG, any word if this is the same sort of soreness which plagued Martin at times last year?

[Brodie30]

Look at the bright side. If a lot of these guys are on IR, and we can hold the fort. That's a little more cap space at the trade deadline.

[TG]

I believe Martin's soreness last season was lower body soreness, which turned out to be his hip. This is "upper body."

Also, Doc will be doing the game tonight for Versus.

[tailfins]

@Brodie30 - there's no cap space generated by putting players on IR. What happens is that the team gets an exception to go over the cap to replace the injured players while they are out. Once the players return, the exception is eliminated and the team needs to clear room again. This is one reason Matvichuk was held out the entire year a couple of years ago - the team couldn't afford for him to come back. This year, with the Devils under the cap, there isn't an immediate need for an exception, so there's actually no cap benefit short-term or long-term with the injuries.

[TG]

Teams only get that cap exception when someone goes on long-term IR. So far, Tallackson is the only player on the long-term IR.

Also, it only allows you to go over the cap while that player is out and since the Devils are not over the cap and don't have to go over it, the LTIR expeption means nothing to them.

[mikeP]

fyi tailfins, the exception you're talking about only applies to players on LTIR (long-term injured reserved), which I believe is a minimum of 10 games. Normal IR (7+ days) has no cap exception, meaning you can't go over the cap by the salary of those players. Only applies to LTIR

correct me if I'm wrong, TG, but I don't believe NJ ever moved Rolston and Holik to LTIR, only regular IR, meaning all the call-ups are counting against the cap with no allowed overage adding up to Rolston/Holik's contract amount.

[DcDevil]

I'm trying to find something good about all these horrible injuries - I guess the only thing positive to say is at least they're happening now, in the beginning of the season, rather than in March or April!

LET'S GO DEVILS!

[Steve Lepore]

Doc Emrick and Daryl Reaugh have the call for Versus.

It's Doc with a funny goalie either way.

[Jason]

Oh god, is this game on Versus? What happened, they ran out of fishing shows and bullriding?

[Triumph]

I don't see what the big deal about Versus is. While no Chico sucks, the lack of Steve Cangelosi's Ranger homerism makes up for that.

[Josh]

Plus, Daryl Reaugh's one of the better color men in the league. I wish I was going to be home to watch this, I like the idea Doc & Razor.

[Maxwell]

Tonight we will see the true face and depth of the NJ Devils. It will also be interesting to see Parise and Vanek on the ice against one another. Let's go Weeksie!

[Hard Hat Nick # 3]

Hey TG, what are tonights complete lines and pairings?

[mikeschoenf]

maxwell,

how could it be the true face when we are missing 25% of our roster?

[joe]

guys get real. chico is the worst announcer out there. you guys don't get sick of his homerism? i've heard him say 'that was the best save i've ever seen' on fifteen separate occasions. chico should be in the seats with the fans because thats what he is. his analysis is very shallow and I don't think doc respects what he has to say because he doesn't comment much on what chico says

[Jennings]

Don't mess with Chico!

[TG]

I added the complete lineup for tonight with the expected combinations and defense pairs at the end of this post.

[HF]

chico is great for what he does, so what if hes a homer, hes broadcasting on Devils network, who else is watching these games anyways.