Martin placed on injured reserve; Davis returned to Lowell

The Devils announced today that they have placed defenseman Paul Martin on injured reserve retroactive to the last game he played on Nov. 1 against Atlanta.

Also, the Devils returned right wing Patrick Davis to Lowell after he played in his first NHL game Sunday night against Edmonton.

Martin, who has missed the last four games with upper body soreness, will still be eligible to play in Wednesday's game against the Rangers because he has not played for more than the seven days he would be required to sit out.

I think this was one of those roster tidying moves that was actually made on Sunday. With Barry Tallackson activated from long-term injured reserve, he actually counts against the team's NHL roster even though he is assigned to Lowell on conditioning.

So, the call-ups Sunday of Davis and defenseman Jay Leach would have put the Devils at 24 players if Martin wasn't put on IR.

Davis' return to Lowell is probably a positive sign that Brian Gionta is feeling better and will be ready to play on Wednesday.

That Leach has stayed probably is insurance for Martin and Bryce Salvador, who missed Sunday's game after being hit in the back of the left foot with a John Madden shot on Saturday in Detroit.

Comments

[Drew]

why davis and not Leach I wonder?

[JZ]

This is AWESOME!

[Joey]

What does it mean to be on IR? What does it say about when Martin is coming back?

[Joey]

Sorry, I guess I didn't read far enough

[Robbie]

If Davis was sent down, that must mean Gionta is coming back and Martin is probaly doubt full for the Rags game

[TG]

I updated this a couple of times. Hopefully, I've explained everything now.

[FOTC]

TG, is this an NHL record for injuries or something?

[JCdevs]

Just read through the recent posts & comments. Take it easy everyone. The season is young and we are a glorified AHL team right now. The Devils world is not ending. Our record is still decent and we will start to get guys back. Even if we lose Wed vs. the Rags we will be okay. Plenty of season left.

[Pat]

This team desperately needs a #1 center, the same thing they needed last offseason. I agree with the previous posting that we need to consider some trades, but not until we get some players healthy. We have an easy 9.5M coming off the books this year in Gio, Madden and Holik. I think they are all expendable and I'd rather trade them this year than get nothing in return next year, especially if this season becomes as bleak as it is progressing lately.

Possible suggestions are:

Elias - TBD - Rolston
Parise - Zajac - Langenbrunner
Pandolfo - Zubrus - Clarkson
PLLL/Halischuk - Vrana - Bergfors

Of course I'd rather see Bergfors, or possibly someone we get in a trade, crack the top 6 and shift Langenbrunner and Clarkson down a peg. I don't like having Vrana wasting away with the bangers but it'd be nice to either see another scoring line develop since the Zubrus line would be the shut-down line.

For D:

Salvador - Martin
Oduya - Salmela
Corrente/Greene/Mottau - White

What stinks here is Oduya is a UFA and one of our more favorable trade chips. However, we do still have Corrente and Eckford developing to backfill. God, how bad do I want to trade Whitey and get another true brusier to compliment Sal.

I think our D is halfway solid, as much as we would love Bou or someone else this offseason. Unfortunately, our offense is atrocious and needs primary consideration.

Possible UFA targets are: Andy McDonald, Nik Antropov, H. Sedin.

RFA: Paul Stastny, Tomas Plekanec, Brandon Dubinsky, Jordan Staal.

Top picks would be McDonald, Dubinsky and Staal.

[Robbie]

haha would anyone else love if Lou stole Dubinsky from the Rags?

[Pat]

They can keep Gomer.

[njdave]

I'm sorry but your stupid if your calling to trade Madden; he is not expendable and he should to be a career Devil. Maddens consistent effort and defensive style help to define what the Devils are and have been for the past 2 decades. Gionta I'm not so sure about, he is here to put up alot of points which he hasn't been doing. If you really follow this team you know that Madden is an amazing checking line center who goes against the leauges top lines and the best players in the world. If any changes are done regarding John Madden it should be placing a "C" on his jersey and stripping it off Langs who doesn't deserve it!

[Robbie]

Well said njdave

[Pat]

He better start to step it up then b/c he and Pando haven't been shutting down teams like before and he still can't hit the broad side of a barn. I don't doubt his leadership and intangibles for one second and understand team chemistry, but we need offense, not a collection of checking forwards. I wouldn't go calling him "amazing" unless he could start pocketing his chances like he used to, especially on his shorthanded breakaways.

I don't think they'll do it b/c it leaves too big a void to fill at center and he's really good on faceoffs, something we've been terrible at for decades. At least Zajac is doing better there and Holik is always good.

[Brodeur30]

With his goal last night Parise now has the same amount of goals as Elias, Gionta, Zubrus, Zajac, and Langenbrunner combined. Bravo guys...

[Robbie]

If were looking for a center, could always give Forsberg a try

[Brodeur30]

btw I'm not saying trade Madden, but him and pando and whoever's on the other wing have been ineffective in the playoffs for numerous years now. They got lit up by the Vinny-Vinny-St louis line, the Alfredsson-Spezza-Heatley line,and the Gomer line in the playoffs last year. They're not as fast as they used to be and, as a result, aren't going to be able truly shut any top line down. They have to rely on playing smart positional hockey to stop any top line...Not saying they're bad, but they just aren't a shutdown line anymore like they once were..

[Jeff]

I think this is caused by the new approach Sutter has not really their play. Sutter wants them to be more of an offensive threat and they are taking more chances now than they use too.

[Salvatore from Garfield]

Pat- quite the turn around. Now you like Holik?

[Jim B]

As of today the absence of Brodeur has not been fully felt, but the injuries to the front of this lineup have been, and I agree that langenbrunner, gionta, elias, all have to start to score goals. This is Gionta's last year with the team in my mind, Lou will try and sign somebody to replace him this offseason or trade Gio away at the deadline.

[Kevin]

I guess the only thing about the Madden talk is the fact that this league requires guys who make $4MM+ per season to score goals. Now, this is not to say he can't score, but I don't know one fan with any serious understanding of the sport who thinks of Madden as a player with touch. The guy is a total mess when he has the puck near the net. Parise has a knack for scoring goals, Madden does not. You don't keep the Parises of the world while paying the Madden's 4MM per. The 26% discount made Madden worth keeping and if he signs a three year 9MM deal, I say keep him. But if he expects to be paid better than that, let him go.

I don't want to get into effective talks, the guy makes plays and if he had Elias' skill set, he would be a top line forward/perrenial all star. But he doesn't and guys who don't score don't deserve big dollars. Brian Rolston works just as hard as Madden every year and pots 30+ goals per season. He got $5MM per. Madden has averaged exactly 15 goals per for the last 4 seasons. Regardless of his contributions defensively, and taking into consideration his age (35+ guarantees the contract years and count against the cap) there is NO WAY you give him a dime over 9MM for 3 seasons. Facts are facts folks, and fan or not, you cant over pay for defense in the New NHL.

[Pete]

Gionta and Zajac, packaged with a draft pick, could get us a decent return. Both are players who are fairly young (Gio was a rookie in 01-02), who have shown potential, but just may not fit with us.

You wanna say it's too early to give up on Zajac, I disagree. This is year 3 now and he still has no puckhandling, no finish, no skill.

So why would someone want him? There have been plenty of trades where another team is willing to take on underachievers because if they can get the most out of them it pays off.

In return, we can get a decent player

[Pete]

Gionta and Zajac, packaged with a draft pick, could get us a decent return. Both are players who are fairly young (Gio was a rookie in 01-02), who have shown potential, but just may not fit with us.

You wanna say it's too early to give up on Zajac, I disagree. This is year 3 now and he still has no puckhandling, no finish, no skill.

So why would someone want him? There have been plenty of trades where another team is willing to take on underachievers because if they can get the most out of them it pays off.

In return, we can get a decent player who CAN finish.

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

wow..... i gotta say i really don't agree with almost anyone on this post. Zajac has played really well this season. Infact i would call him our second best player this year so far after zach. and trade Madden... for what kind of return? what can we really expect for the guy. Yeah he has slowed down a little this year, but he is still the best leader we have in the locker room not named brodeur. Honestly everyone here needs to sit down and pour a stiff drink(if legal, if not go checkout redtube.com) and just chill out. nothing is in shambles.... were injured it happens but its still only November. its not even half way through november yet. This roster has talent and when it gets healthy we can and i believe we will be a force to reckon with in the league. Just have a little faith.

[Orrduya]

Even though it's looking bleak for the Devils at the moment I still have faith.
Weekes/Clem haven't done bad (Hey, still better than Turco) and I'd rather see money going towards forwards who can score rather than a temporary replacement for Marty. I'm a big Paul Martin fan and hopefully he gets back for the Rags game on Wednesday. I sort of see him as a Daneyko-type guy not in playing style but as an unsung hero type of player and I'd be more than happy to see him as a career Devil.