Pandolfo unhappy about being a healthy scratch tonight

Devils left wing Jay Pandolfo was understandably disappointed when head coach Brent Sutter told him before today's morning skate that he would a be a healthy scratch tonight against Nasvhille so Brendan Shanahan could make his season debut.

"I'm not happy," he said.

Pandolfo's pre-skate conversation with Sutter spoiled the morning for him.

"It wasn't too much fun out there, that's for sure," he said.

Pandolfo, who signed a three-year contract at $2.5 million per season only hours before he was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, said he had "no idea" of the last time he was a healthy scratch in his career.

"It's been a while," he said.

Pandolfo admitted Sutter's decision was not a complete surprise to him.

"Someone had to come out, so I figured it was a possiblity," he said.

Especially because Pandolfo knew he was not playing up to own standards. He has only four goals, five assists and a minus-8 defensive rating in 45 games this season.

"I obviously have not had a great year up to this point, which is pretty obvious," he said. "But I thought our line was pretty good the last few games. Someone had to come out so that's the decision they made and I have to live with it right now."

It appeared Sutter had to choose between sitting Mike Rupp or Pandolfo, who was a Selke Trophy finalists two seasons ago and has been voted the Devils' Unsung Hero and Players' Player by his teammates the last three seasons.

Shanahan will play on the a line with Rupp and Bobby Holik tonight.

"It's a tough decision to make obviously," Sutter said. "Yet, a decision has to be made and we just felt at this point in time this was the decision today for tonight's game. It could change for the next game, but tonight we have different guys than can kill penalties that aren't killing right now like Zach (Parise) and (Brian Rolston) and Brendan can kill penalties. 

"I guess there's no real easy way to look at it. I like everybody on the team. It's just that you have to make decisions and this is a decision that has to be made today. I don't expect Pando to be excited about it. I'm sure he's somewhat disappointed. Yet, this is professional sports and decisions are made."

Pandolfo isn't just any player, though. He has played 12 seasons for the Devils and was an important part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams.

"You think about what he's accomplished here in this organization," Sutter said. "Yet, for a coach it's never easy to sit down any player. We have a lot of experience on this team and an experienced player is not playing tonight. So it's not an easy thing to do, but it's part of being a head coach and you have to make those decisions."

Sutter's decision to use Dainius Zubrus' line against the opposition's top line on most nights had resulted in Pandolfo getting less ice time. But he admitted his play has contributed that as well.

"My role is diminished and ice time is diminished and it kind of shows right there," he said.

Pandolfo said he has had no injuries this season after missing 28 games last season with a strained pubic bone ligament.

"Physically I feel fine," he said. "It's just personally I haven't had the greatest year. But there's still a lot of year left so I can make up for it."

Pandolfo never thought this was a possibility when he re-signed with the team last summer.

"You never think about this," he said.

Pandolfo said he's never gone through something like this before in his career. He just hopes he gets another opportunity soon.

"When I get a chance again, I've got to make the best of it," he said.

Comments

[JT]

you know you've got a deep team when someone like Jay Pandolfo - part of the core of the team for a looong time - has to sit out.

i wouldn't say he's permanently going to be out for Shanahan. I am sure they'll be rotating who sits out based on play and game day situations.

[jdr30]

Good. Maybe next time he plays he will be fired up and step up a little bit.

[Speedz]

If Shanahan has a subpar game do u think its apossibilty he'll sit out against the Canadiens?

[Al (Philly Devil)]

This show's no respect for a guy who always wins "the unsung award" every year. It's probably just a message. Bottom line, Rupp should be sitting..I have always defended Rupp to others when people wanted him out last year and in October. However, at the end of the day Clarkson can give you what Rupp does. Pando should be playing.

[Arteg]

I feel for Pandolfo. He's been around forever and has been a pretty productive player. But the writing's been on the wall for a while now. He's gotten slower and never was able to recapture the scoring touch he had at BU. With the demise of the fixed checking line, Pando had to realize that he wasn't immune, and the addition of Shannahan confirms that.

My question is, what the heck happens when Marty gets back? We already have logjams at defense and now forward, and we'll have three capable (including one outstanding) goaltenders in a few weeks. I sense a move of some sort, hopefully for a top 4 d-man with some offensive touch.

Looking forward to tonight's game. Go Devils!

[FOTC]

Yea, but at $2.5M per, Pandolfo isn't a guy that should be rotating in and out of the line up. Lou didn't give him that kind of dough to sit out every other game. He needs to pick up his play soon.

[jerseytom]

I think what all of the players have to realize is that none of their jobs are secure when you have someone else waiting there to take it when you can't perform.

The Devils have, for the past few years, been the kind of team that will randomly seem to phone it in every couple games, and hopefully this kind of thing will keep them on their toes if they want to keep getting ice time.

I agree with this move. Pando may be a great guy, but being a "great person" doesn't mean they'll be a great player, as I'm sure Tom Renney has found out.

[Pat]

I think only if he falls flat on his face and is completely out of place. Considering he'll get 4th line and PP minutes, I don't see that as a major probability.

[Captain Cornholio]

I think Pandolfo should take this opportunity to think long and hard about what he has to do to keep himself in the lineup. Sometimes watching a game from the stands gives a player the perspective he needs to improve his game in the short-term.

I also think you'll see players move in and out of the lineup more often. The more Brent shuffles the deck, the fresher he keeps the players.

Someone has to sit tonight. Let's hope Pandolfo plays well when he gets another chance.

[welcome2hell]

I feel bad for Pandolfo also, but I do think this is a move to wake him up and if not maybe something gets done by the trading deadline.

[Jason]

You are out of your mind to say Clarkson can give what Rupp does. Clarkson can barely win a middle weight scrap, let alone protect guys from the heavyweights. Rupp has been playing well, why does he deserve to come out? Pando on the other hand, has been a waste of a roster spot for about 5 yrs now. Enough is enough with him.

[Pat]

The one thing Clarkson definately does better than Pando is fall down on every shift. This guy never stays on his feet for an entire shift.

[Captain Cornholio]

As the second period begins on Long Island, MSG+ catches the future Mrs. Mike Comrie signing an autograph down near the glass.

Lucky bugger!

[Pete]

Jason is right. Nobody is scared of David Clarkson. He's not an enforcer, just an agitator, to get under people's skin. Rupp can actually fight, and is the closest thing we have to a heavyweight. (He's not one, but the closest we have.)

Rupp needs to be there tonight with a goon like Tootoo running around. Wednesday, when we face Montreal, who really doesn't have a good physical presence now that Laraque is hurt, it's a good decision to take out Rupp because he won't be needed as much. But for tonight, this was the right call.

[Nick]

@Jason Far from being a waste of a roster spot for about 5 years. This has been his only bad year, and you could argue the second half of last year. He has been one of the premier defensive fowards of the last 5 years actually, and extremely underpaid.

Though I agree he does deserve to sit out THIS YEAR. Rupp has been playing great this year, while Pandolfo's play has dropped off greatly. He's not even good on the defensive side of the puck.

[Josh]

Pando, a waste of a roster spot for 5 years? Are you kidding? What a joke, talk about a "what have you done for me, lately" mentality. I guess contributing to one of the most effective penalty killing tandems in modern NHL history, shadowing the Jagr's of the league on a nightly basis, and still generally being able to chip in a decent amount of points given his role is a real big waste of a roster spot. He has been the epitome of a role player for our club, and while he never got the spotlight, he was always plugging away and working his tail off to keep the other team off the board.

He is the right choice to come out, based on his play this season (even though it has improved lately). Hopefully, whenever he's in the lineup next he'll be back to the Pando of the last few years. Rupp has played really well lately, and Clarkson is actually creating a pretty good amount of offense to go with his energetic game and generally solid defensive play.

[Alz]

It was sad to see Sergei Brylin fade into obsolescence too. Role players are hard working guys that are just one lost step away from playing in Russia.

Maybe it should tell him something when he's being replaced by someone five years his elder.

(hint to Gionta: you ain't the Rochester Rocket anymore, either. This could very well have been you, if you weren't playing with Elias)

[Devs]

I agree with Jason..Rupp has been playing well--he is our heavyweight and one of the best fighters in the league, he has some fancy moves for a big man, he has just been playing well of late and Pando has not been playing well at all the whole year. Right move by Sutter.

[Nick]

@Josh, Thanks that is the point I was trying to make.

[JT]

healthy competition.

but really, i do feel bad for pando. how can you not? shanahan comes out of nowhere and now pando who's been a mainstay has to sit. it's rough but healthy competition...

[skeeter]

All of those dumbfounded by someone making $2.5 million a year sitting out must have short memories. Anyone remember Malakhov, Mogilny, McGillis, or Matvichuk? Pando breaks the "M" curse.

My only concern is how this might upset the locker room or chemistry of the team, but apparently before the trip it was somewhat fragile to begin with. Maybe the team knew about the signing. Tonight should be tough. Nashville got trounced at home on Saturday night by an awful team and it's the end of a long road trip for us. I'm sure they're looking forward to going home and the all-star break.

[Devs]

Good point Alz with the Gio thing..personally I think hes getting the boot and gunna be part of a trade later on

[Captain Cornholio]

Again, Pandolfo may sit for just one game. Maybe Rupp sits out the next.

But think about this for a moment . . . Could Brent have put Rupp in the lineup tonight to protect Clarkson? Not so much physically, but with Rupp in the lineup, Clarkson probably won't have to engage Tootoo. This should leave Clarkson more time to worry about putting the puck in the net and less time to worry about Tootoo et al. Rupp doesn't have the soft hands Clarkson does, so he can use his hands to ground and pound whoever offers.

I wouldn't read much into Pandolfo having to sit. Brent means no disrespect to him, but someone has to miss this one.

[Johnny SB]

Devils knew someone was going to have to sit down. Sucks it's Pando, but it would suck for anyone. Pando admits his season has been substandard. This will give him a push as it will each guy that has to sit for Shanny. Lot of pressure on Shanny as well. Things are getting interesting, no?

Let's GO Devils!!!!

[Captain Cornholio]

Update from Boston: Michael Ryder and P.J. Axelsson have scored power play goals 19 seconds apart with under five minutes remaining in the game to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead over the Blues.