Fire & Ice

Devils didn't make qualifying offer to Andy Greene; Walter signed for one year, $500,000

After saying Saturday that he would make qualifying offers to all of the teams restricted free agents, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello revealed today that the team did not submit a qualifying offer to defenseman Andy Greene before Monday's  5 p.m. deadline. As a result, Greene, 26, will become an unrestricted free agent at noon Wednesday.

"We're going to talk to him and try to work something out," Lamoriello said.

Greene made $600,000 in 2008-09, so the Devils would have had to make him a one-year qualifying offer for $660,000 (10 percent raise). Lamoriello would not discuss the reasons for not making that offer. He sounded confident he would still be able to re-sign Greene, though.

"We're very comfortable we'll get him signed," Lamoriello said.

The Devils did make qualifying offers to the team's other restricted free agents -- center Travis Zajac, center Petr Vrana and left wing Patrick Davis. Although Vrana has signed to play in the Czech Republic next season, the Devils retained his NHL rights by making him a qualiftying offer.

Devils acquire center Ben Walter from Islanders

The Devils acquired center Ben Walter and a conditional draft pick in 2012 from the New York Islanders today in exchange for the rights to center Tony Romano.

Walter, 25, is the son of former NHL center Ryan Walter, who won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1986.

Ben Walter had 20 goals and 30 assists for 50 points and 10 penalty minutes in 65 games in 2008-09 with Bridgeport of the AHL.  He had no points or penalty minutes in four NHL games with the Islanders last season.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound native of Beaconsfield, Quebec was Boston's fifth pick, 160th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.  He has one goal, no assists and four penalty minutes in 22 career NHL games with Boston and the Islanders.

The Devils selected Romano, 21, in the sixth round, 178th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Smithtown, N.Y. had 36 goals and 33 assists in 65 games with Peterborough of the OHL in 2008-09.

It's kind of a strange coincidence that two players from Smithtown were traded within minutes of each other. Christopher Higgins, who is also from Smithtown, was traded to the Rangers in the deal that sent Scott Gomez to Montreal today.

Elias' best moments on MSG Plus

In addition to its "Hockey Night Live:  Free Agency Special," which will air at 10 p.m. Wednesday on MSG, the  MSG/MSG Plus' summer hockey programming will include a tribute to left wing Patrik Elias, who became the Devils' all-time leader in points on March 17 against Chicago.

"Patrick Elias: Re-writing Devils History" will premiere Thursday at 8 pm. on MSG Plus. The network will re-broadcast seven memorable games in Elias' career, including the record-breaking game (which also happened to be the game in which Martin Brodeur broke the NHL regular season wins record). 

The two-hour episodes will be hosted by Steve Cangialosi and Ken Daneyko;

The schedule of games. 

Thursday,  8 p.m.: Episode #1: 2000 Eastern Conference Finals—Game 7: NJ Devils at Philadelphia Flyers (5/26/00) -- Elias scores series winning goal.

July 9:  Episode #2: 2000 Stanley Cup Finals—Game 6: NJ Devils at Dallas Stars (6/10/00) --Elias sets up Jason Arnott's Cup winning goal in second OT and wins first Cup.

July 16: Episode #3: San Jose at NJ Devils (10/18/01) --- Elias— three goals, two assists; A-line combines for 12 points in a game.

July 23: Episode #4: NY Islanders at NJ Devils (3/30/03) -- Elias— four-goal game; Devils win 6-0.

July 30: Episode #5: 2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals—Game 1: NY Rangers at Devils (4/22/06) -- Elias has six points.

August 6: Episode #6: NJ Devils at Philadelphia Flyers (12/4/08) --  Elias scores game tying & game winning goals; OT goal ties Jaromir Jagr & Mats Sundin for most in regular season with 15

August 13:  Episode #7: Chicago Blackhawks at NJ Devils (3/17/09) -- Elias breaks Devils franchise all-time scoring record with 702^nd point.

Oduya re-signs with Devils for three years, $10.5 million (updated)

It's official. The Devils have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Johnny Oduya, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent at noon on Wednesday.

It is a three-year contract for a total of $10.5 million. Oduya will make $3 million in 2009-10, $3.5 million in 2010-11 and $4 million in 2011-12. That's an average -- and annual cap hit -- of $3.5 million.

Oduya earned $600,000 last season.

“We are delighted to have Johnny Oduya stay with the organization,” Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. “He has developed into one of the more talented young defensemen in the National Hockey League."

Oduya, 27, posted career highs of seven goals, 22 assists and 29 points with 30 penalty minutes and played in all 82 regular-season games in 2008-09.

"His objective before the negoiations started was to stay in New Jersey," Oduya's agent Don Meehan said. "That was his preference and we conveyed that to Lou and we were able to reach an agreement that makes both sides happy. We felt that we were able to reach an agreement that was reflective of the current market and, on the basis of that, he decided to finalize with New Jersey."

Parise, Martin, Langenbrunner invited to U.S. Olympic orientation camp

Devils left wing Zach Parise, defenseman Paul Martin and right wing Jamie Langenbrunner are among the 34 players invited to participate in the U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team orientiation camp from Aug. 17 to 19 in Woodbridge, Ill.

Former Devils Brian Rafalski and Scott Gomez were also invited.

Somewhat surprisingly, three-time Olympian Mike Modano was also invited. Modano, 39, was highly critical of USA Hockey following the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

Keep in mind, however, that a player does not need to be invited to the orientation camp to be selected to the team that will compete in the 2010 Vancouver Games from Feb. 12 to Feb. 28.

Here's the full roster of invitees: 

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas
Defensemen: Tom Gilbert, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Suter, Ryan Whitney
Forwards: David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Mike Modano, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny.

Lemaire at Prudential Center? Lamoriello "no response"; Devils won't have head coach for July 1

Was former -- and posibly future -- Devils coach Jacques Lemaire at Prudential Center this morning to meet with general manager Lou Lamoriello about the team's head coaching opening?

Lamoriello wouldn't say when I spoke to him a few minutes ago.

There was word  (which some of you may have seen) that Lemaire was seen entering the building this morning. When I asked Lamoriello for his reponse to this, he said, "I have no response. But don't misinterpret that as yes or no."

You can interpret that anyway you want, but if Lemaire was at the building this morning, it wasn't a sign that a coaching announcement is imminent.

In fact, when I asked Lamoriello if he expected to have a head coach in place by the time the free agent market opens at noon Wednesday, he said, "No"

He the said, "There is no time frame."

Lamoriello also said he does not think not having a head coach will be a factor in the team's proceedings before and after the free agent market opens.

Will the Devils be looking to fill any specific needs through free agency?

"If we can get better, we'll get better," Lamoriello said.

Will the Devils be looking to add a center and/or a defenseman?

"If we can get better, we're going to get better," Lamoriello repeated.

Oduya signing to become official later today

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said this morning that he expects to finalize the signing of defenseman Johnny Oduya "later today."

That means Oduya will not hit the unrestricted free agent market when it opens for business at noon tomorrow. Oduya is expected to receive between $3 million and $3.5 million per season. 

I will post the official numbers when they are released.

Don't expect anyting on Travis Zajac re-signing today, though. The CBA includes a window that prohibits resricted free agents from signing between midnight Monday night and noon Wednesday. They are allowed to negotiate during that time, but can't sign until after noon on Wednesday

Parise invited to U.S. Olympic ice hockey orientation camp

The offiical announcement won't come until noon, but Devils left wing Zach Parise has been invited to take part in the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Orientation Camp from Aug. 17 to 19 in Woodbridge, Ill.

I spoke with Parise on Sunday night and he said he will be at the orientation camp.

Devils defenseman Paul Martin is also a sure thing to be on the invitee list that is released at noon.

Other Devils expected to be invited include right wing Brian Gionta, left wing Brian Rolston and right wing Jamie Langenbrunner.

I''ll post the full list when it is released.

***

I spoke to Langenbrunner last night. He called me back from a message I left him last week about Brent Sutter being hired in Calgary. (He had been away on a fishing trip).

Of Sutter taking a job with the Flames so quickly after leaving the Devils, he said, "I wasn't thrilled with it, but I understand his reasons for leaving and he's in a situation now that's much better for him (as far as being closer to his family)."

***

There is no official word yet on the Johnny Oduya signing. When I get it, I will post it as soon as possible.

Agent: Gionta likely to field offers on July 1 despite "mutual interest" in return to Devils

Add Brian Gionta's name to the list of the Devils' potential unrestricted free agents who will likely hit the open market at noon on Wednesday.

After not having any contact with the Devils since the end of the regular season, Gionta's agent, Steve Bartlett said today that he's had "a few casual conversations" with general manager Lou Lamoriello in the last week.

"I think everyone is on the same page in that there certainly is mutual interest and respect from both parties to get something done, but also an acknowledgement that that might not be possible to do so before July 1 for a lot of reasons," Bartlett said.

The biggest is the salary cap. Teams were able to finally start budgeting their payroll for the 2009-10 season after it was announced on Friday that the salary cap will be $56.8 million.

Although Lamoriello has been trying to re-sign defenseman Johnny Oduya before he hits the open market and also has been working on a new deal for restricted free agent center Travis Zajac, re-signing Gionta apparently falls a little farther down the team's list of priorities.

"I just think in this enviroment of cap issues, with multiple pieces of a puzzle you can't always get them to fit in until you -- one may depend on another and it doesn't alway work that way," Bartlett said.

Lamoriello: Nothing done with Oduya

Several of you have seen the internet reports that Johnny Oduya has re-signed with the Devils. One out of Sweden said he Oduya re-signed for approximately $3 million per season (after it was converted from the figures that were in Swedish Krona). The other one, from a site which I have no idea if it has any actual sources in the NHL, NHLPA or with the Devils, said it was a four-year deal for $3.6 million per season.

Well, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said he was aware of the reports too and did not confirm either.

"No, there is nothing ofificial," he said.

When I asked if "nothing official" meant that the sides had agreed to deal, but it just had not been signed and registered yet or anything like that, he said, "No. There is nothing that has been done."

That said, it is clear that there have been talks between the Devils and Oduya. Lamoriello would not speculate, however, when I asked him whether Oduya would be re-signed before he can become an unrestricted free agent at noon on Wednesday.