Day off in Nashville

Coming off wins on consecutive nights in Columbus and on Long Island, the Devils will not practice today in Nasvhille. They'll get back on the ice for the morning skate Monday in preparation for Monday night's game against the Predators, which wraps up their season-long six-game road trip.

Brendan Shanahan is expected to make his season debut Monday night after officially signing a one-year, $800,000 deal on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see who comes out of the lineup to make room for Shanahan.

Will it be Jay Pandolfo? Mike Rupp? John Madden? Someone else?

The Devils are 4-1 so far on this trip with wins in their last three games, including a 3-1 victory over the Islanders on Saturday.

Travis Zajac and Zach Parise have four goals apiece on the trip to lead the team. Scott Clemmensen and Kevin Weekes both have won twice. It will also be interesting so see which goaltender starts in Nashville. My guess is that it will be Clemmensen, but it's not nearly a sure thing. I would not be surprised if both goaltenders get a start in the two games remaining before the all-star break.

The Devils flew to Nashville Saturday night. My flight is this afternoon, so I'll miss most of the football -- and the inaugural concert from DC.

Comments

[CH]

Madden has really showed the last few games that he wants to stay in the lineup, and that we NEED him in the lineup...Rupp should be the odd man out, which is tough because he has played really well also...Typical Lou...depth is really good right now...We still need to upgrade the D before the playoffs....

[Jim]

Rupp has brought more to the table lately than Pandolfo. As good as he's been for the club, I feel he's the odd man out when Shanahan hits the lineup.

[HF]

The odd man out right now should most def be Pando. Rupp adds a physical dimension that the devs need on a 4th line with holik and soon to be clarkson. Pando has been a good soldier for many years but has really lost a step. His absence out of the lineup will now pave the way for Rolston to return to the PK where he has been extremely productive in recent years. Sutter has numerous players to chose from on the PK. ie. madden,zajac, elias, langs, rolston, gionta that pando is just not needed. removing pando doesnt mean permanently as Rupp will have to be consistent to stay in the lineup and of course Shanny will have to be productive as well. But the first move on monday night must be to sit Pandolfo.

[Pete]

You know what would happen if we remove Rupp? We have no toughness, and any team who wants to can run at our players. Nobody is scared of Clarkson, he's just a pain in the butt. He can't stand up to the other team running at us and prevent them from doing it the way Rupp can.

I think Zubrus should come out. He's the only player right now that doesn't seem to have a role and doesn't seem to be playing very well. I thought he was supposed to screen the goalie and be strong on the puck but neither one has happened at all this year.

[HF]

zubrus out? r u joking? watch a game, he's been consistently strong along the wall, in the corners and on the forecheck. If theres one knock on his game, it's that he needs to shoot more. His effort has been there and his size and skill is valuable to the lineup.

[Tapiolevo08]

I think they could determine who to sit out based on the match up. For instance, Nashville doesn't have any heavyweights, unless you consider Jordin Tootoo a heavy..I don't.....Therefore, Rupp is not needed vs. the Preds.

[Captain Cornholio]

I could see Zubrus getting scratched from tomorrow. The Devils have stopped short of admitting he has a wrist injury, which could explain his recent lack of success on face-offs. For other reasons than you listed, Pete, you may ultimately have the right guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Mike]

Its a tough call but I think Pando should come out of the lineup for now. Its not that big of a deal anyhow..Think about it, with a veteran lineup containing many guys in there 30's somebody is evidentally going to get injured. Depth is a good thing. It would not surprise me at all if the injury bug hits this team again down the strech and into the playoffs. All 13 guys plus a few more im sure will be needed.
Also why is Greene still playing? Put Leach back in or bring back Annsi, I believe his game is rounding into form.. I found it interesting that last night he had his 2nd fight since being sent down to the minors.

[MTLsDevil]

I think that under Sutter, Pandolfo is not as needed anymore. I think yesterday there was a pk where he wasn't even used at all, it was something like : Madden-Elias, Zajac-Langenbrunner and Gionta and someone else.

If the guy is not on the pk, really, what can his role be then?

[Pando20Rules]

it should definitely be Pandolfo, unless Zubrus (or someone else) would benefit from some time off injury wise. To me, it's not even close, the other 11 all have more use then Pandolfo. Let's see how Shanahan does, and against a team with less size, maybe sit Rupp to give Pando a game.

That's how I'd play it.

[Jeff O.]

i think i agree with what people are saying. i love Pando as much as the next guy, and i'm extremely appreciative of everything he has done. however, his recent play leads me believe that he will be the one that sits out for Shanahan. Shanahan can do everything Pando does plus SCORE. again, i love Pando, but we need to have someone in his place that can score. Shanahan can do that.

[bobo]

If we sit Pando his trade value decreases even more. Therefore, Pando plays until Lou unloads him.

Wow...watching the Rags/Pitt game. Crosby just went right around Redden as if he was cemented to the ice. I remember a lot of you calling for Lou to sign Redden over the summer. $33M and a +/- of -8 with 2 goals.

[Pat]

The one thing Rupp has over Pando is he can play all 3 forward positions. That way, if Shanny isn't comfortable on one side, he can switch over during the same game. Talk about being flexible.

[Speedz]

I just feel bad for Pandolfo. But he hasnt been contributing.

[george]

I think for now it should be Zubrus, he really seems to be injured, he can't carry the puck. Let him sit until he's healthy, and put Elias at center with Shanny on LW, or put Rolston at center like in the beginning of the season.

[Puckster]

It's a tough call, but I also think it should be Pando. He's been great for us for many years, but this year the team just isn't really using him and Madden in the shutdown role like they used to.

[jdog]

It should definitely be Pandolfo....

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/112539-who-sits-for-the-new-jersey-devils-brendan-shanahan-expects-to-play-monday

[Pando20Rules]

I don't think Pandolfo's trade value is or should be a concern. In fact, if I remember correctly, he received a NTC with the contract he signed in the off-season (maybe TG or someone else can confirm either way)

[Sean]

Pando does have NTC

http://www.nhlscap.com/no_trade.htm

[Devilswede]

A NTC really doesn't mean much these days. If you approach a player and tell him you don't want him anymore, they usually waive the clause. I love Pando, but he's sucked this year.

[bobo]

So with a NTC he'll sit and Lou will buy him out when he can.

[Brodie30]

It's Rupp. With the PK playing so well you don't sit Pando. The only other option would be Clarkson, but he's been very effective. You don't mess with the top two lines. Maybe he puts Shanny with Madden and Rolston, adding a third (responsible) scoring line. Or put Shanny with the fourth line but first PP unit.

[Pat]

Dump him to Lowell and he can teach the kids. Doesn't that clear him from the cap too?

[Nick]

Doesn't he have to clear waivers then?

[95-00-03]

Ok I need to vent. Watching the Rags/Pens game on NBC.

I have no problem with NBC airing this game, espescially with the Rags gettin an @ss whoopin, my problem is the next game on NBC will be Detroit vs Pitt.

Detroit just did the winter classic and S!ittsburgh is playing today. The NHL seems to promote 3 teams in this league and leaves the rest out to dry!

Bettman needs an enema to cleans this obsession out of his colon!