Shanahan nervous about making season debut

Brendan Shanahan admitted he was a little nervous today in anticipation of playing his first game this season with the Devils tonight against the Nashville Predators at Sommet Center.

Shanahan signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Devils on Wednesday after sitting out the first half of the season while waiting for a team to sign him.

"I'll definitely have some butterflies and some nerves," Shanahan said. "But I'm sure also (head coach Brent Sutter) is going to work me into the lineup. I'm getting a crash course on their system and things like that. I don't entirely know what to expect, but I will probably just go out and try to build my game."

Shanahan said his goal was to get in two games before the all-star break, which begins after Wednesday night's game against Montreal. But he also wanted to make sure he got in some practice time with the Devils before he played in a game.

That's why he resisted playing in Columbus on Friday and against the Islanders on Saturday even though Sutter would have let him play if he wanted.

"I just thought that flying out to Columbus and getting on the ice for the first time (on Thursday), I could have played and Brent felt and the trainers felt that I was ready, but I just thought a couple of days of practice would be a little bit better," Shanahan said. "At the same time, I wanted to get in at least two games before the all-star break to give me a little bit more of an idea of what I need to do during the all-star break and have a gauge and a reading. I think these games will be good for my timing and my conditioning. It's as good as it can be doing non-game stuff, so I have to get in games now and start working on building my game game by game."

Sutter is anxious to see what Shanahan can do.

"I defnitely know he is (anxious) and I certainly want to get him in there and get him going," Sutter said. "He's a very high quality player that's going to help us and play in a lot of different situations. So, it's good to get him going and yet I think we've got to be patient through the game-like process. We've got to be patient through that now and let him find his way through that now."

Shanahan has scored 22 goals in 41 career games against the Predators, so the timing for his return worked out well. He was thinking more today about the Devils' chance to move into first place in the Atlantic Division with a win tonight.

"We have a chance to move into first place with a win and to me that's an exciting way to step on to this team in a game like that," he said.

Shanahan will skate at left wing tonight on a line with Bobby Holik at center and Mike Rupp at right wing. Holik measures 6-foot-4, 235 pounds and Rupp is 6-5, 240. So, Shanahan is actually the smallest member of the line at 6-3, 220.

"It's not too often I'm the little guy," he joked. "That is a big line."

Shanahan wants to be careful not to try to do too much in his first game.

"I've gone through this before -- first game with a new team -- and sometimes you try to do too much," he said. "But, again, you try to draw from experience and do my best to approach this in the best way possible and if at the end of the night we come away with a win it's a success."

Sutter said he will monitor Shanahan's minutes. After all, he has not played in a game since May 4 of last season in the playoffs with the Rangers.

"I'm not sure how many minutes it is at the end of the night, but I will make sure we're doing the right thing for him and I'll gauge him on how he's feeling shift to shift," Sutter said.

Sutter said Shanahan will "possibly"see time on special teams tonight.

"I think there's a good chance that you could see him for some on the power play," Sutter said. "When and how much? We'll see. We got him for part of that reason. That's why we wanted him here with us and not somewhere else."

The Devils are 6-for-12 so far on this road trip. 

I asked Shanahan if there was any significance to his 40th birthday on Friday.

"(Brian Gionta) turned 30 yesterday and he was very stiff looking today," Shanahan said. "It doesn't really matter to me. Everybody ages differently. Like Lou (Lamoriello) said, I've seen 40-year-olds behave and be built like 25-year-olds and 25-year-olds that are built like 50-year-olds."

By coincidence, the San Jose Sharks called up 43-year-old ex-Devil Claude Lemieux from the minors today.

"I'm like a spring chicken compared to him," Shanahan said. "Thank goodness for Claude and Chellie (Chris Chelios)."

Comments

[Devs]

WOW..watching the Bruins/Blues game on ATDHE..DID ANYONE SEE THEIR LAST GOAL...WOW..not sure if it counted yet but what a finish

[Johnny SB]

Shanahan is a good addition for the shootouts when needed I think. I like Elias, Parise, Langs, Gio, followed by Shanahan now when / if it goes that far.

[Nick]

@Devs, yeah that was pretty awesome. Going to a shootout now.

Hopefully Shanny gets an early goal tonight and shakes it off right away.

[Captain Cornholio]

End of OT: St. Louis 4, Boston 4

Devs, it's been a heck of a third period in Boston, hasn't it?

[Nick]

Nicely done on the shootout by the Blues, they deserved the two points even though that goal was questionable.

[Devs]

Cornholio that was a great third period...kinda glad the Bruins lost, what a goal though that was amazing and two great moves to score in the shootout, good for Boyes to score against his former teams...anyways back to the best hope the Devs can win tonight and get first place...Hope Patty gets a couple of points and get Shanny on the scoresheet

[YEAHw/e]

That was a sick game! Looked to me like it was a high-stick but it was ruled a goal so its all good. TG, will Shanny get a chance on the PP tonight?

[Tom Gulitti]

I added above that Sutter said there's a "good chance" Shanahan will play on the PP tonight.

[lightrail rider]

Shanahan seems to say all the right things Just hope he can do all the right things

[Jeff]

I don't think we should get our hopes of seeing what he can do tonight. I don't think the real Shanny will show up until after the All-star break.