Interesting developments

There were a couple of interesting things that happened tonight that might directly or indirectly affect the Devils leading up to the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

One was that ex-Devil Bill Guerin was pulled from the Islanders' lineup after warm-ups for tonight's game against Buffalo.

According to multiple reports, the Islanders have agreed in principle to a trade of Guerin to an Eastern Conference team. According to www.islanderspointblank.com, the deal is not with the Devils or Boston. Guerin would have to approve the trade because he has a no-movement clause and, according to islanderspoint blank that might not happen until Sunday morning.

It is notable that the Islanders had two scouts, including Director of Pro Scouting Ken Morrow, at the Devils' 7-2 win over Florida today. There has been some speculation that the Devils are interested in defenseman Brendan Witt, who is serving a five-game suspension for his elbow on Toronto's Niklas Hagman on Thursday. Witt, 34, has another season left on his deal, which would make him slightly less attractive.

Another name that's been floating around is Atlanta defenseman Niclas Havelid.

The other interesting development today was that the Phoenix Coyotes have told defensmen Derek Morris that he won't play again until he is traded. Morris sat out the Coyotes' game against the Blues tonight and apparently will sit until he is dealt.

Apparently, there are a bunch of teams lining up for Morris, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

***

Another thing that I heard today was that the Capitals are one of the most serious contenders for Chris Pronger, if he is traded.

Comments

[Sergei]

I really wouldnt be too surprised if we got Guerin.

[Robbie]

I think Niedermayer will be traded from the Ducks. The way I see it, Whitney is a Niedermayer type of player and could possibly replace Niedermayer giving Anahiem options at the deadline. But there is also the possibility that they brought Whitney in just in case Niedermayer retires at the end of the season. Just wanted to get that out there.

[DH]

Guerin on the Panthers would be a good move for them. They should try for another veteran. If Pronger goes to the Caps the Devils may be in a better position to get Nieds. Will he want to stay in Anaheim? Will his GM risk losing him for nothing? How many teams can be on his list? Will the GM trade him to a contender in the West? Doubtful. Does he really want to play for the Flyers, or Boston, over Jersey? I find it hard to believe he wouldn't consider playing for the Devils again, even if it is only for 4 months.

[Andrew]

I'm not a fan of Brendan Witt. I hope nothing comes of this "rumor".

[njhillbilly]

I wouldn't mind Witt or Morris, but I'll pass on Havelid. The big rumor for Pronger now is Boston, that would be scary.

[JT]

wow. interesting stuff...thanks for the updates.

[Baggy Spandex]

"I'm not a fan of Brendan Witt. I hope nothing comes of this "rumor"."

I agree 100%.

[DevilsCapsGal]

@Andrew:

Agreed - I was glad to see Witt leave Washington when he didn't want to go through the "rebuild" (how'd you like life on the Island, Brendan?) and after that hit last week I would hate to see the Devils pick him up. Does not seem to be the kind of character Lou would want in the room.

[RG9]

i thought the same thing why would lou even consider him after that

[NJD26]

I don't think Havelid ever played with Ottawa, I know he was on the Ducks before though.

[Braddock]

According to Pierre LeBrun from BSPN, Niedermayer has been told by Anaheim's management that he will not be traded and St. Louis has stepped up to reacquire Chris Pronger.

Lou will go off the grid as usual and at a discount. And after tonight's shellacking in the Music City, Detroit definitely needs a 1A type tender. I'm putting my money on Clemmer for Andres Lilja.

[crashlanding]

Morris also reportedly only listed Western Conference teams that he would waive his NTC for.

[Kasey]

I don't know if TG saw them there, but when I was at the Avs game there were DET scouts at the game, but I think that is more likely for prep of their game @ COL this coming week.

For Clemmy's sake, I hope DET does have interest in trading for him. He gave us one heckuva run, so I wish only the best for him.

[jermz]

yea i don't recall havelid playing with ottawa but good point about how overrated that ottawa blueline turned out to be! and i completely agree about brendan witt, i don't see why lou would pick up a dirty player (not to mention the extra year remaining on his deal). the character issue is the same reason why lou likes to draft his college hockey players, isn't it?

obviously the devils aren't going after big-ticket guys unless they're UFAs at the end of the year. zajac and oduya need to be re-signed and they will probably cost at least 6 mil combined next year. lou might have to make a choice between keeping gio or madden, depending on their contract demands. these rumors linking pronger, bouwmeester, jovanovski, and olli jokinen to the devils are absolutely ridiculous.

nieds would be a dream, obviously, but pierre lebrun at espn is saying that ducks management has told niedermayer that he will not be traded. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3942775&name=lebrun_pierre

i don't know how solid derek morris is in the defensive zone but his stats are adequate and it seems right-handed puck-handling defensemen are hard to come by in this league. a right-handed powerplay quarterback to play the point with rolston is what this team needs the most right now. kaberle would be ideal but i wouldn't pay burke's price.

havelid is a plus player on an awful team and would be a good depth addition, but he doesn't address any particular needs...just insurance for injury and forces greene and mottau to battle for regular playing time.

lou will pick up a depth defenseman and it will be the unspectacularly correct move. i think kuba and morris would be at the high end of the spectrum of possibilities. he could also pick up a center with some offensive upside...but the pickings are slim. i've heard that vermette might be available from ottawa.

[Braddock]

I could see Gio and Madden both gone next year, unless they're both willing to take a cut. Lou will probably move their rights before July 1st depending on how far a run the team makes in the playoffs. Gio isn't worth 4+ and Madden is getting long in the tooth, particularly with the resurgence of depth on the farm now. Pelley? Halischuck?

Zajac will get Madden's 3, Oduya might see 2. They're putting a lot of time in with Salmela in Lowell. Big Bird and Scotty Stevens made trips up to work with him.

[The Flying Dad Bomb]

Other than the usual suspects of Nieds and Jay-Bo, I would like to see either Morris or Cory Sarich come to New Jersey in a trade. Despite his five-year contract, he is being shopped around by Calgary due to the depth in defense. Plus, he's like Colin White, except he gets injured less. Yay or nay for Sarich?

[jermz]

haha big bird. best nickname ever.

i agree that both could be gone next year. gio's chances of staying are slim if he asks for more than 3 a year and if bergfors is deemed ready to step up to the nhl, i would think. madden is getting old, but he's still better than pando, yet it's hard justifying salaries of 2.5 mil for each of them, esp when they're likely to be playing a fourth line role. it's hard to forecast - holik and shanny aren't likely to be around either though i have a sneaking suspicion that lou will re-sign rupp.

god, keeping a team together is hard.

[Will in Maine]

Witt I think is another Ken Klee.. a bad trade which did very little for our defense a few years ago. Derek Morris on the other hand sounds enticing. good updates TG!

[Braddock]

I think Sarich is signed for too long for too much for Lou's liking. You'd probably see Vandermeer before Sarich, provided his ankles don't break during the flight from Cowtown.

[Pearl Jammed]

Well first off....
Baby Boy born on 2/27 8lb. 13oz. everyone is healthy and happy thanks for all the warm wishes guys...

Second....
Morris i guess wants to stay in the West.... Pronger, i don't understand how they can trade him when, including him, they would only have 2 true defensemen signed for next season, unless they get someone of that calibre back, and really why would anyone trade a Defenseman of equal value back to them for an older guy who's wife might not like the area.

I agree with Braddock, Lou will go off the grid and get someone that isn;t in the rumor mill, because he doesn't seem to like to do deals he is rumored to do

[jermz]

sarich? i say nay...not that he's a bad player but we need cap space to re-sign paul martin after next season and parise the year after that and to have white, salvador, oduya, and sarich all at or above the 3 mil mark is just too much.

[DH]

Congrats Pearl Jammed

[Topshlf]

Brendan Witt?

We'd be better off just putting a cone out there on the ice that can move from side to side that will trip someone at some point and take a bad penalty once a game. It would cost a lot less.

I'd be surprised if we got Guerin. If we get a forward, it needs to be a center.

I doubt Garth Snow is dumb enough to take Die On Us Zubust in a trade. One can always dream....

[Pearl Jammed]

Thanks DH!

[brian s]

the only player of these guys with a plus rating is havelid. with the plus rating he only has 14 points. none of these guys are "devil" material. salvador is/was also career "negative" player, so does lou want more of folks like this? salvador brings the grit, but how much "negative" grit do you need? the gm may do something, but whatever it is it will not effect the roster's chemistry for this year. it will be clemmer and a minor league guy. wouldnt know who, but the offensive guys from lowell they used this year were very ineffective. it will be one of them with clemmer. they owe clemmer a chance to play somewhere after this season. lou will pull an unsung hero out of his pocket somehow. please not nieds...that guy is out after this year. plus he is socal soft now.