Having avoided Friday's arbitration hearing with Travis Zajac and re-signed the restricted free agent center to a four-year, $15.55 million contract, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello can now turn his focus to re-signing Brendan Shanahan.
Shanahan's agent, Rick Curran, said today that things have remained quiet so far this week concerning Shanahan, though.
"There's nothing to report," Curran said.
Lamoriello has previously stated his interest in re-signing the 40-year-old left wing and Shanahan is interested in returning to the Devils.
I'd like a 2nd goon on the squad to replace clarksons role. It makes good for TV... If Devils are down by 3 goals with 5 minutes left, I wouldnt complain if we had a scrap or two. With Lemaire coming, we're gunna be branded "boring hockey" again. So, why not put on a show within a show??
Also, I'd welcome Shanny back with a red carpet
Posted by: RickyM2 | July 22, 2009 at 06:29 PM
Ugh. Who cares what we're branded as? How is a goon going to help us win? I'd like Shanahan back because I think he can contribute. Although, we are rather deep at LW if I'm not mistaken.
Posted by: Maximib | July 22, 2009 at 06:39 PM
Capgeek.com has our available cap space at $6,679,167...
Posted by: kstatik | July 22, 2009 at 06:44 PM
Signing Shanny should be no problem I doubt that they would work on more than 1 year/$1 mil contract.
Posted by: Lykus | July 22, 2009 at 06:51 PM
Shanny played decent for a late comer in the season, but his points were not great...
however I believed we signed him for a reason....experience in the post season, and he delivered
3 points in 7 games,,, he was up there with Elias, and rolston, and those guys are suppose to be our performers..
What sucks is GIO was our second leading point getter in the playoffs.....forget what his season numbers said....He is a playoff performer, and thast where the extra money fits into his contract...5 million is alot for his kind of playing in the regular season...
but a guy who doesnt let you down in the post season is worth the loot
We have to expect more from our guys in the post season, and they need to be held more accountable..
Posted by: DTK | July 22, 2009 at 07:02 PM
I think Shanahan is the perfect guy to have around when a team is having a somewhat of a youth movement. He provides a stable veteran presence who can still contribute on special teams. If he takes the salary he had last year, I don't see any reason why Lou would not want him back.
Posted by: Jim B | July 22, 2009 at 07:31 PM
I bet Shanny wants Bobby Holik money from last year. And I wouldnt blame him. Heck I'd give him around 2 mil to teach our little guys how to score some goals.
Posted by: Hot Dogs | July 22, 2009 at 07:44 PM
I remember when the team was down during that 6 game collapse, he had pretty motivating words to say to the media. Mentioning that this same thing happened to his team in '02 and they also lost the first 2 games of teh post season. Then he said "it's that one goal that sparks the team" they went on to win the cup. Behold, it was him that had that penalty shot against Tampa that became the goal that sparked the team. That's what I remember most about his role last year.
Posted by: RickyM2 | July 22, 2009 at 07:44 PM
Agree with all of the above comments, Shanahan would be a nice shot of experience on a mostly young lineup. And he also wont come so expensive that another center is out of the question.
Posted by: Pete | July 22, 2009 at 07:48 PM
I really felt like Shanny was somewhat of an outsider until that penalty shot against Tampa. He really seemed like he was enjoying playing after that and the rest of the team seemed to embrace him. He would be nice to have back and especially after having established some chemistry with other players, he should put up some better numbers with in a full season.
Posted by: Andrew | July 22, 2009 at 08:03 PM
What are the Islanders doing? They signed Biron to a one-year deal today. Is DiPietro done?
Posted by: TG | July 22, 2009 at 08:04 PM
being able to play both LW and RW is a plus too. Honestly, Pikkaranenen better freakin work out cuz i'd love to put Shanny RW next to Pelley on the 4th line so hes not beat tired @ the end of the year cuz of 3rd line AND PP duties. I feel like if we get a center AND Shanny that theres no room for both Pikkaranen AND Bergfors..
in order of good players, roughly ha..
zzpops
elias-center-rolston
then what?
Clarkson-Zubrus-Pikkarenen
Pando/PL3-Pelley-Shanahan?.. or any rotation/switching of Clark, Pikk, and Shanny.
no room for Bergfors since Lou has committed to signing Pikkarenen to 'play 3rd or 4th line on the Devils' UNLESS, Bergfors is traded in a move for that center. Honestly, we need a 2nd line center MUCH MUCH more than we need Bergfors... imo.
BUT maybe after all we'll just have
zzpops
Elias-Rolston-Clarkson
Shanahan-Zubrus-Bergfors
Pando/PL3-Pelley-Pikkarnenenenanenenn
oi.
Posted by: modnarm | July 22, 2009 at 08:08 PM
hes even more insurance TG, they are afraid of DP getting hurt once again so they are taking their experience from last year by becoming a deeper goaltending team
Posted by: YEAHw/e | July 22, 2009 at 08:18 PM
Sounds like a conterversy if Biron is about playing time but then again, I think that was what Nittymaki's deal was. Regardless, they probally had plenty of cash to throw at Biron and that seemes like what he was most concerned with, especially since the flyers let him go. imo.
Posted by: Speedz | July 22, 2009 at 08:21 PM
What does Biron signing with the isles for only one year for so cheap do to Kevin Weekes Hope. Is this be best deal and opportunity Marty Biron could get? They have 3 goalies that are starting goalies for some teams, of course 1 is always injured, but still, to sign this deal makes me wonder about what Kevin Weekes thinks he is going to get. Biron is better and more valuable then Kevin right?
Posted by: mikeschoenf | July 22, 2009 at 08:48 PM
I hope for their sake that the Islanders aren't getting rid of DiPietro (though I doubt it and Biron is likely to be the backup) , no one will want that contract...
Posted by: Alex | July 22, 2009 at 09:06 PM
If we don't get a center, I think the lines will look like this:
ZZPops
Rolston-Elias-Bergfors
Shanahan-Zubrus-Clarkson
Pandolfo/PL3-Pelley-PL3/Pikkarainen
If we do get a center, then I think it will look like this:
ZZPops
Elias-(center)-Rolston
Clarkson-Zubrus-Bergfors
Pandolfo/Shanahan-Pelley-PL3/Pikkarainen
Thoughts? Opinions? Concerns?
Posted by: Jeff O. | July 22, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Rick DiPietro is listed in the Islanders "Tax Write-Off" roster
Posted by: RickyM2 | July 22, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Can we please start a Clarkson wrap-around tally this season?? We can make a huge sign hanging from the upper sections of the rock just like what fans do in baseball with strikeouts! He's got to average one or two a game!
Posted by: Hot Dogs | July 22, 2009 at 09:16 PM
They aren't wrap-arounds; they are Clark-arounds!
Posted by: RoShaCla | July 22, 2009 at 09:30 PM
The Islanders drafted two goalies and signed two free agent goalies. Sure sounds like they're worried about him.
Posted by: TG | July 22, 2009 at 09:50 PM
Clarkson is almost the ideal complete player - his hard working, hustles, trys to play the best defense...
The only thing he lacks that keeps him back from the 2nd line is his not so creative passing abilities...
when passing the puck he doesnt have the best on ice awareness for playmaking...but the way he has improved in other areas, if he were to have langenbrunner( great passer) and elias teach him some tricks and stuff - Clarkson could be your classic 25g 25a guy -
Posted by: DTK | July 22, 2009 at 09:57 PM
Yes, I've been a Clarkson fan since seeing him at Lowell a couple of seasons ago. He reminded me of Randy McKay and it was cool to later read that same comparison in a few scouting reports as he was breaking in.
TG- Anything to these Davison posts? Also, is there any way Tedenby can be bought out of his Swedish contract this year? I know the 4 goal thing was against other rookies but every year some little known rookie makes it in the NHL right from their draft year (i.e. Patrice Bergeron, etc). Tedenby is now a full season removed from his draft year, maybe he's close enough now.
Posted by: Tapiolevo09 | July 22, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Hey! Remember when Milbury traded Luongo so that he could draft DP? He traded Roberto Luongo AND Olli Jokenin to Florida for like Mark Parrish and some other mid-level player. Think about that: he traded a goalie they used a top 5 pick to get and a future top line centermen just so he could justify drafting Rick Dipietro. Who else could they have used that top pick on? Heatley and Gaborik were still on the board. Then again he probably just would have traded them away for Viktor Kozlov or something. And this isn't even a hindsight is 20/20 thing! They already had a top goalie in the making! It's just plain stupid!
Why do the Islanders suck again?
Posted by: RoShaCla | July 22, 2009 at 10:19 PM
They got Biron for 1 year. Looks like they are solidifying their back-ups. They have 3 starting caliber goalies. Thats unheard of unless, like TG said, they dont tihnk he's healthy yet.
I'm no doctor, but I would think that a guy with a hip surgery, then knee surgery is bound for shoulder surgery.
Even if he is on schedule, the guy hasnt played much at all for 2 years. Gotta be a bit rusty. Meaning, the guy can suddenly suck. Islanders have to look at that option too. They are looking for a big year this season. They have to have success. They have to get to R2 this year. Last I heard, there has been no movement on their new arena
Posted by: RickyM2 | July 22, 2009 at 10:19 PM