Frazee. Zharkov among latest cuts; Mottau practicing, Pandolfo not; Punishment skate today

The Devils have made another round of cuts before today's practice, sending goaltender Jeff Frazee, center Ben Walter, right wing Vladimir Zharkov and defenseman/right wing Olivier Magnan-Grenier to Lowell of the AHL.

The latest cuts leave the Devils with 29 players on their training camp roster, including Patrik Elias, who is recovering from groin surgery, and Rob Niedermayer, who is supposed to take part in his first practice with the team on Monday. The list includes two goaltenders, 10 defensemen (including the injured Mark Fraser) and 17 forwards (including Elias and Niedermayer).

[NOTE: I forgot about Niedmermayer earlier because he's not here, yet, so that makes the roster 29].

Defenseman Mike Mottau is practicing today after leaving Thursday's game in Philadelphia with an upper body injury. Defenseman Mark Fraser, who sustained a head injury in a fight with Daniel Carcillo in Thursday's game, remains off the ice.

Left wing Jay Pandolfo also is not practicing after missing Saturday's win over Philadelphia because he was -- in coach Jacques Lemaire's words -- sore.

This looks like a punishment practice today after Lemaire was not happy with how the team played in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Flyers. Goaltneders Martin Brodeur and Yann Danis were on the ice for some drills at the start of the practice, but left after about 20 minutes.

Now, the rest of the players are skating laps as Lemaire repeatedly urges them to pick up the pace. It's pretty quiet out there. The players are not saying much.

Ilkka Pikkarainen, who was ill last week, and Tim Sestito were lagging behind their group. Andrew Peters also had some trouble keeping up with his group.

Comments

[Tapiolevo09]

I like it. Reminds me of Herb Brooks after Team USA's pre tournament game against Norway. Again!

[NJromano]

could the devils be preparing to grab scott niedermayer at the trade deadline..

"The shrewd Lamoriello, the president/CEO/GM of the franchise, might be thinking down the line, as the Devils have room under the salary cap and could very well make a play for an experienced top-pairing defenseman"

http://www.examiner.com/x-9183-New-Jersey-Devils-Examiner~y2009m9d25-Rob-Niedermayer-joins-Devils-could-Scott-be-coming

[Tapiolevo09]

Thanks NJromano...Last night I was thinking the same thing, though it's probably a longshot.

[devilstown]

Peters can't keep up because he can't skate.

[NJromano]

devilstown- peters is horible... if we were gonna play a tough guy who cant figt, we shouldve ept rupp... at least he can skate an play a decent defensive game

[devilstown]

Tell me about it NJ, I have a Rupp jersey, I wouldn't take a free Peters jersey.
The one way contract is the thing that really pisses me off. I was at the game yesterday Peters was completely lost out there.

[BF]

AGAIN!

[95-00-03]

I don't get why they sent Zharkov down already. He looked like he had alot of potential and stood out the most out of the young guns from what I could see.

[devilsfan]

One way doesn't mean he can't get sent down, just that he would still get his NHL salary while playing for Lowell. Of course the main point is he's a stiff that can't play a regular shift, never could. Thankfully Lou signed him to a two year deal.

[devilstown]

The only way Peters belongs in an NHL arena is if he bought a ticket.

[Stan Fischler's Beard]

They won't be grabbing Scott at the deadline...the Ducks won't be missing the playoffs. They did with Pronger what Lou should have done with Gomez---trade him for quality prospects and picks instead of letting him walk for no return. If he had maybe the players he would've gotten in return would now be helping the Devils and we wouldn't be wondering who our #2 center is gonna be. We'd probably also have a stud D-man and we wouldn't be wondering if Murphy is good enough to help the team. Oh well.

[mikeP]

Scott Niedermayer has a NTC and is very happy in Southern California. Like SFB said, the Ducks aren't going to miss the playoffs - they have a very good team - so it's a moot point. The brothers already gave up on playing together anymore this offseason, when the Ducks announced they wouldn't be bringing Rob back. Scott will retire as a Ducks after this season.

[RandomHero]

TG, aren't there 29 players left. I think you left out Rob Niedermayer.

[ClarksonFan23]

We should claim jones and see if he would sign ,Flyers just waived him

[NJromano]

jones is yet to play a full season because of injuries.. he does have potential but then again he is come off a horrible yr of 8 pts in 47 games..

[Drew]

Peters was a joke last night....

And I am suprised about the Zharkov cut, I liked what I saw from him. Wasn't surprised about Frazee... he needs alot of work and the AHL is where he will at least get to play.

[devilsfan]

Why sign Jones we have way too many marginal defensemen already. Even at half his salary he's way over paid.

[NJSwampdragon]

Ducks barely made the playoffs last year and lost Pronger. Not sure it's time to write them a ticket to the playoffs just yet.

[dennybrute]

yeah..just what we need ...another defeneseman-

we need a guy that can put the puck in the net PERIOD.!

[brian s]

we definitely need another solid offensive player. i wish/hope lou is going to be giving his current roster a shot with the new guys. i give it about 1/4 of the way in for a deadline to obtain a solid goal scorer. lous got alot of cash to play with this year.

[Derek]

Some of you guys need to relax...pre-season hockey wtf

[nnjrules]

Well said derek, the preseason is BS and players hold back, another reason why I give away my preseason tickets. Peters is now our biggest issue it seems, I mean he is making 500k and if he fails we have the next bob probert in PL3. I have seen so much of PL3 to see he will be a 20 goal scorer and rack up 400 pims make the all star team and take over this blog. Who cares. The guy will play a boogard role, in that he will get 8 min a game, do his job, and have parise, rolston or who ever else is going good take shifts for him. JL knows what he is doing.

[TG]

I realized I left Niedermayer out when I was in the locker room. I added that info above.

[NeilS]

Peters says he's saving himself for the regular season, would it kill him to hit SOMEONE while he's out there in a preseason game? I'm not saying the guy has to take someone's head off or fight 3x every game, but for cryin' out loud you'd think you'd maybe want to give your new fans a reason to get excited about signing you. Instead he peels away from hits like he's scared to hit anyone and even after several Flyers threw some questionable hits on Devils and gave a few extra shots he had nothing to say to any of them. Ponderous.

[Matt]

Sestito has been getting pretty banged up as well the last few days. So I'd imagine he's sore but doesnt wanna wuss out.