Brendan Shanahan returning to the Devils? Brian Rolston likely will wing it

For Brendan Shanahan, that's the way it's looking right now, though nothing is done, yet.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said this morning that he expects something to happen either way with 40-year-old left wing by the end of next week. (Perhaps another Friday announcement?)

"I'd say by the end of next week there will be something," Lamoriello said.

It is clear that the Devils want him back. It's also clear that Shanahan, 40, wants to return. At this point, it just seems to be a matter of time before the next step is taken, though Shanahan does have interest from other teams.

Are the Devils waiting on Shanahan to make up his mind or is the team holding up the process?

"I thiink it's really a combination of everything with reference to where Brendan is in his career," Lamoriello said. "He knows his abiltiies. He knows where he wants to be. It's just making sure that everything is in order. He has some opportunities and I just want him to make sure that this is where he wants to be with the role he plays and all of that so that you never look back.

"It's been straightforward from both sides and honest. There's no gray area. Brendan and I go back too far to have anything other than complete understanding of what the situation is.

"Do we want him back? We would not be talking to him if that weren't the case. Does he want to come back? He wouldn't be talking (to the Devils), but it's just making sure that everybody knows the role."

Lamoriello is rarely this open in discussing signing a player and, though it's never safe to make assumptions, that openess and other signs (which I can't discuss at this time) point right now toward Shanahan being back with the Devils in 2009-10. Until it's done, however, nothing is certain.

I spoke to Shanahan's agent, Rick Curran, Thursday evening and he said there was still "no news," and would not discuss whether there was a timetable for Shanahan to sign somewhere with the Sept. 12 start of training camp for veterans rapidly approaching.

***

The final answer to the Brian Rolston question won't be known until after training camp, but right now the Devils' plans are for Rolston to play wing in 2009-10 and not center, which he played for most of last season. Rolston flourished as a left wing in his three seasons with head coach Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota and he admits that is the position in which he is most comfortable. 

"We'll see how training camp goes, but most probably he'll be at wing," Lamoriello admitted.

If that's the case, then the Devils almost certainly will have to add another center. Lamoriello would not answer when I asked him if he planned to do so.

I've maintained throughout the summer that the Devils will trade for a center to play with Rolston.

Comments

[HF]

great work TG getting some quotes from Lou. Pretty shocking how open he has been with shanny. good news keeping rolo on the wing to start, however patty might be the one to move into the middle....

[Johlmri's Ghost]

Really wouldn't be all that shocked to see Zubrus start the year as the second line center, though I'd still like to see the Devils inquire about some of the centers mentioned in the other thread.

Quick recap:
- Matthew Lombardi, PHX
- James Sheppard, MIN
- Andrew Cogliano, EDM

They'd all be great additions, but they'd cost the Devils a lot - maybe more than they're willing/able to give up at this time.

[Tom]

I think it's interesting that Lou didn't answer TG's question about acquiring another Center. He simply could have said "Zubrus is our second line center".

JG-I don't think we have the prospects/assets to get those guys. The only players people will want from our team is Clarkson, Tedenby and Josefson. Maybe Bergfors.

[njosh]

thanks again tg. do you know what other teams are interested in shanahan? and do you think they have a chance of taking him even if lou has expressed such a high interest in bringing him back?

[Devilswede]

If they're planning on using Rolston as a LW, then where does Elias go? It's not Rolston that's in need of a good centerman, it's Elias first and foremost IMO. Parise is our no.1 LW, Elias is no.2 and now Rolston will be on the 3rd line again? I doubt that...But hey..we'll see what happens...

[Johlmri's Ghost]

@Tom,

Yep, right there with ya. But couldn't hurt to see what the asking price is, or if they're even available. Who knows, maybe Minnesota would rather solidify its defense and would be willing to take Salvador (experience vet) or Greene (cheap young puck-mover) along with a draft pick and a prospect like Eckford.

Overall I agree that the Devils probably won't be able to get one of those guys easily, but ya never know until ya ask.

[NJromano]

njosh - Montreal is intrested in shanny to i heard

[Johlmri's Ghost]

@Devilswede,

Notice Lou never says "left wing" in the article, but rather "wing." Rolston did have the most success at left wing, and the Devils are stacked there, but he is capable of playing RW, too.

Another option would be to solidify the second line with a center and move Rolston down to the third line... provided the second and third lines get solid ice time and the fourth line is seeing somewhere around 8 to 10 minutes per game.

ex:

Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner
Elias-xxx-Bergfors/Clarkson
Rolston-Zubrus-Bergfors/Clarkson
Pandolfo-Pelley-PL3/Pikkarainen

If the Devils could have that kind of balanced attack, and they didn't get preoccupied with matching lines, they'd be a real pain to play against so long as Bergfors is the real deal.

[Merms]

JG, you suggest Sheppard and Cogliano (Lombardi isnt a top 6 forward). It doesnt make sense to trade for either. It would be cheaper to trade for Kessel who is actually on the block.

[modnarm]

Eliase-Parise-Clarkson
Rolston-Zajac-Langenbrunner

no reason why it wouldn't work and be a BETTER option then having Zubrus as our 2nd line center and 2 rookies having 3rd and 4th line center responsibilities.

Shanahan-Zubrus-Bergfors
Pando/PL3-Pelley-Pikkaranen

if we trade for a center AND sign Shanny we have one less roster spot, meaning Shanny, Pando, PL3, Bergfors and Pikkaranen will be duking it out to hold that spot all year.

[Pearl Jammed]

Its entirely possible that Lou could look to make a trade. I am not holding my breath however on that. As for the names listed above, i don't think any of them would command that much in return at all, there is no superstar among them, but they are all solid for sure.

[Johlmri's Ghost]

@Merms

Lombardi is absolutely a top-six forward, just not a top-line center. He's got the speed and skills to stick up there but he's young, turning 27 this year. He got derailed a few seasons ago with an ankle injury, but he's had a solid last three years. When given more responsibility and ice time with the Coyotes last year he put up 16 points in 19 games.

He played about 17 minutes per game with Calgary, and nearly 20 per game with Phoenix. Regardless of what you can say about Phoenix last year, he was still pulling down 17 minutes a night with the flames.

Moreover, Kessel has succeeded as a winger in the NHL, not a center. He may have played center when he was younger, but he's not nearly refined enough to throw into center. Oh, right, and he's looking in the range of $4-$6 million per season, which would effectively mean having to ship out/demote someone AND saying goodbye to Paul Martin next year.

Sheppard, Cogliano, and Lombardi are all young players capable of playing center regularly. That's why I targeted them.

[Rob]

I wouldn't be disappointed to see Rolston-Zubrus-Clarkson as a third line. Rolston and Clarkson had some good chemistry going, and if the 3rd line is a legitimate scoring threat, who cares if it's the 2nd or 3rd line? split up the minutes a bit more evenly and keep the 2nd and 3rd lines really fresh.

[TG]

For Shanahan: I've mentioned the Rangers as another suitor. Philadelphia apparently pulled out.

[Johlmri's Ghost]

re: Kessel - Boston also wants to cut salary, so acquiring Kessel would mean the Devils then would need to find a salary-dump partner for someone like Pandolfo. Kessel would also create a big-time logjam int he top-six and I'd rather see what Bergfors can do before passing over him at the NHL level again... I fear another season of him in the AHL and he'll head back to Sweden rather than stick it out.

[mpf]

You guys think we'll be able to compete with Clarkson on one of the top lines?
I see Rolston playing RW to Elias' line next season, and hopefully we can bring in a center. The top line won't be broken up and this team can't afford to be playing Rolston below second line anymore.

[Johlmri's Ghost]

TG, did you get the feeling at all that Lou specifically meant left wing for Rolston? Or did he seem to just clarify that they don't plan to start the season with Rolston at center?

Thanks!

[Mark]

We're skipping over TG's comment that he knows a bit mor about the situation than he can let on to right now....what other signs point ot shanny returning? Does he secretly know that we will waive Pando or possibly have a pending trading in the works?

TG, you continue to reiterate that you strongly think Lou will go after a 2nd line center but in order to do so, we have to give something up and make room in the line up.

The bottom 6 seems to be pretty fluid right now and it's questionable if Bergfors will play on the 2nd line or not. I like having 3 balanced scoring lines where the 4th line can be limited to 7-8 minutes a game. Shanny would be on the 4th for 5 on 5 and then get extra time on the 2nd PP unit. Which brings up another interesting question. We had Shanny and Gio on our 2nd unit...who replaces them? Bergfors?

[Tom]

I would love to get Cogliano (help our PK unit)but Edmonton-unless getting a major player back-has little reason to deal him. Especially at his cap hit of 850K this year.

[Topshlf]

I hope 2 years of trying to bang a Square (ZubUst) into a round hole has finally taught Lou that he needs someone else to center the second line. I am hoping that TG's feeling about Lou making a deal is true.

[Scratch]

@modnarm--Parise as a center?
We need a center there's no question about it, we only have 2 centers right now, Zajac and Zubrus, so no matter which line Zubrus ends up on we need at least one more center, it's that simple. I cannot wait what the actual line up will actually end up being this season.

[Johlmri's Ghost]

@Mark

I'd imagine the 2nd PP unit to consist of Oduya/Murphy and Rolston at the points, with Zubrus, Clarkson and Bergfors.

[bobo]

Andy Greene isn't being traded as someone commented on. He was a RFA that Lou could have signed for $665M and chose to let him be a FA, only to then sign him to a 2 yr deal at $735M. Why? And if any team did want him they could have had without giving up anyone, so why trade for him now. I maybe the only Devil fan who does like what Greenie can do. Lets hope our new coach want destroy him like Sutter did. Sutter really abused the kid.

[rlg]

TG, Who do you think some canidates would be if the Devils did trade for a center? Does Chicago have to get rid of someone like Sharp or is Prospal a possibility? thanks so much,

ps. What ever happened to former devils beat writer Mike Kerwick? Is he still working for your paper or is he working with the WWE now?

[TG]

The other Shanahan signs are not related to any potential trade or moving of another player.

And I did not specifically ask Lamoriello whether Rolston would play left wing or right and he did not indicate which wing.

If the intention is for Rolston to play on the top two lines -- and I think that is the intention -- then either Rolston or Elias will probably have to play the right side (assuming Elias doesn't shift to center). Elias played briefly at right wing last season (I think Jamie was injured or something and he moved up to play with Zach and Travis) and I think he's more than capable of doing that if Rolston really is better suited to play the left side.

But I think these things will be figured out in training camp and the preseason.