Devils send Salmela down, recall Leach

The Devils sent rookie defenseman Anssi Salmela down to Lowell today and recalled defenseman Jay Leach from their AHL affiliate.

This would seem to indicate that Brian Rolston will definitely play in Thursday's game in Philadelphia. Salmela probably wouldn't play on the power play point with Rolston back and that was where Salmela was most useful.

The only other thing I can think of is that Devils coach Brent Sutter mentioned Tuesday that the Penguins tried to get either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin's line out against the Devils' third defense pairing (Mike Mottau and Salmela) . There was little the Devils could do about that on the road because they didn't have the last line change and those two kept getting trapped in the defensive zone and couldn't get off the ice after the puck was dropped.

There's potential for that to be a problem again Thursday night against the Flyers, who have good depth up front.

Leach (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) is a little steadier in the defensive zone than Salmela (6-1, 200) and bigger and more physical. Leach, 29, has played four games for the Devils this season, including two last week while Mottau was suspended for his hit on the Islanders' Frans Nielsen.

Practice is not until 1 p.m. today. I'll try to get a explanation from Sutter afterward.

Comments

[titans04]

Wow so much for all the comments about Salmela being up to stay for the duration. Suprising move imo.

[mike in pa]

Wow....not sure why they did this, Salmela seemed to be getting better by the game. Wondering if this is going to end up being one of those quick down and back things....just so he isnt sitting around.

It seems like they're looking for a slugfest against Philly, what with PL3 coming up and now Leach, so maybe this isn't an extended send down.....Hopefully this wont mess with Salmela's confidence.

[Jason]

It really surprises you that Sutter made another dumb move?

[pando20rules]

definitely interesting, although it goes to show that Greene will be back in the lineup when ready

[Justin]

i cant stand sutters dumb moves

[Jeff]

This is where Sutter's thinking makes me scratch my head. Samela shoots from the point which leads to more offense and usually more success. I do understand wanting to be more physical for the Flyers and Leach is a much better defnseman that Brookbank so maybe we should just keep Leach up and send Brookbank down. I don't think him clearing waivers will be a problem.

[mikeschoenf]

Jason.. should Lou fire Sutter and hire you? Just Curious.

[Bill]

Jason what dumb move? There is obviously a reason for it. Leach is a decent d-man and so is Salmela I think Mike is right he probably wants a bigger body in front of our net because we all know Philly loves to bang at the net. Make's sense to me. What has dumb moves Sutter has done? We have a winning record and doing great recently without Marty and with tons of Injured players. I find it really hard for anyone to say that Sutter isn't going a great job. He has his mistakes like everyone else but at least he finds different ways to win.

[mike]

sutter doesn't make dumb moves, you make dumb posts

[JJ]

I guess Sutter is making roster moves now. These are group decisions.

While I admitedly have a soft spot for Salmela and want him to stick around he can go up and down all season with his 2-way and Philly & Montreal are both stacked offensively so this makes sense as TG indicated. Lowell also has four games in the next 6 days (including a rare back to back to back) so it'll be good game exp. for him to build his confidence.

[mike in pa]

Cant say that I think its a dumb move, at least yet. If it is to get a bigger guy up, then its actually a smart move. Leach has been better that expected in the small amount hes played...no big mistakes or dumb penalties, and solid enough play to be the sixth guy once and a while.

[Brodie30]

Devils HAVE to clear the puck tonight. Flyers have a way of collapsing 3 guys in the slot and scoring goals from in close.

[Rob]

Cool, we'll finally start getting to see what acquiring Rolston will do for the team..

[Al]

I love Sutter, but you know this just makes no sense. Maybe Sutter DOES have a bias against Euro players (Bergfors can't get time, Vrana sent down and now Salmela? However, we dress a LOSER like PL3 and another journeyman like Leach to skate with another going nowhere guy Mottau.

It's disgraceful

[Joe]

How does him being bigger mean that he is better? It's not like he hasn't played so we don't know, we have and its unimpressive. I don't understand Sutter's enamoration for bigger guys that act as pylons.

[Bill]

Al you are way misinformed. Sutter likes Euro players hello he has Elias, Oduya, Holik on the team. Bergfors isn't ready that's apparent. Vrana was a fill in for Rolston which now he is playing so we don't need him. Salmela and Leach were a fill in for Green and Salvador when he got hurt so we alternate those two now. PL3 is a fill in for Holik. Anything else you want to say? Ohh Mottau has been holding his own way better this year than last year at this exact time last year. It makes perfect sense. A team with big guys your going to need a big D-Man. Don't be surprised if he gets called up again for the Montreal game because those guys have speed and Leach doesn't have the speed that Salmela has. If Sutter didn't like Salmela than why does he always put him on the 1st PP Line. Ohh wait it's because he doesn't like guys from Europe. LOL!!!!

[Joe]

Wow you are ignorant, if he benched elias like he took his captaincy then he wouldn't be coaching anywhere. What part of the equation does brookbank on the 4th line fit into? The answer is bigger, he goes with the bigger, slower players then don't belong, frustrating to say the least.

[Kevin]

I really am scratching my head after this move... Does the value of a "better matchup" really compensate for the adverse affect in development of someone I seeing a future star in Salmela? I could understand if the move came when Greene returned, and similarly understand that Salmela can go back to the AHL without going thru the waiver process, but why for Leach? Leach is a poor mans Colin White, when a rick mans Colin White is barely an NHLer. I'm sorry, but I tend to agree with Jason on this move, it doesn't make sense when looking at anything besides Thursdays game.

[Bill]

Joe im not sure im following you. Are you saying Sutter's move is a good or bad one? Im not sure who you are calling Ignorant? We had fast team with no big hitters on the team against the Flyers on Oct.24th and 25th and we lost both games. Fast guys didn't work last time so maybe big hitters will help us against the Flyers we haven't tried this yet. Im assuming your agreeing with me.

[Bill]

Kevin. We don't know what the reason is all we know is that Leach is coming up and we know he plays a simple game and rarely makes mistakes. I don't see the downside to this. I love Salmela don't get me wrong but I don't see the big deal why Sutter can't try a different guy. If you want some reason to backup on it. Salmela was completely out of position the last game against the Pens. That was his worst game to date. But like everyone in the league they have there bad games. Lets give Leach a chance I doubt you can find anything bad to say about him he has been solid.

[Kevin]

OK, but he's 29 years old. How many chances has he already blown to be a career AHLer? I don't want to get into a back and forth and you're right in saying we don't know the underlying reason why he was demoted. But this is a young guy making his way in the game. I feel like he has tremendous upside. But truth be told, he only signed for one year. Why risk alienating the kid if he can just turn around and play elsewhere next season? To me, it's not worth the risk of losing him unless you have a better, long term solution.

[Craigwell]

I like this move. Leach is steady, plus.. Rolston is only going to get into game shape and regain some chemistry if he plays minutes.

Having Salmela getting 3rd pairing time without the PP action does nothing for his development.

Bigger is better vs the next two opponents, enter Leach.

[Bill]

Totally agree with that point Kevin. I think we need to worry about this if he doesn't get pulled back up in the next few games.

[JJ]

Roster moves are made by the GM "in consultation with" the coaching staff, so if anyone thinks that this is Sutter's move they are mistaken. This is also not a knock on Salmela (who Sutter loves and has consistently praised btw) and shouldn't be taken that way. Salmela's defensive game is obviously not quite there yet and the best way for him to get it where it needs to be is to play in a situation that will build his confidence. Lou must feel he's better off playing in Lowell where they have 4 games in 6 nights coming up this week/weekend rather than vs. two of the top offensive teams in the league right now. If anything it's a knock on Brookbank because if they want size vs. Philly he should be the guy to go but he's been absolutely abysmal on D this year thus far.

[Kevin]

That would make sense, good perspective JJ.

TG, what do you think about this move?