Lemaire says "other moves" will be made; Halischuk's given No. 16

Interesting item from tonight's pre-game media notes. Right wing Matt Halischuk's number has been changed from 63 to 16.

Devils coach Jacques Lemaire claimed to be unaware of the change. In the past, such a number change signifies that a player has made the team, but the Devils still have one more cut to make to get down to the 23-man limit by 3 p.m. Wednesday.

"We're getting there," Lemaire said this afternoon. "I think the next decision will be made in the next couple of days."

Lemaire did say Halischuk would dress for warm-ups tonight, but had not decided yet whether we will play in the preseason finale against the Islanders at Prudential Center. The Devils will dress 13 forwards for warm-ups.

Today's moves to place defensemen Jay Leach and Rob Davison on waivers seemed to indicate that both Andy Greene and Cory Murphy have made the team. Lemaire wasn't willing to commit to that, though.

"They'll be here until other moves," Lemaire said. "We don't know when."

The Devils will have to make "other moves" when they activate left wing Patrik Elias (groin surgery) and defenseman Mark Fraser (probable head injury), but Lemaire seemed to suggest that general manager Lou Lamoriello might do more than that. Options include a waiver pickup today or a trade.

"I think Lou is looking at all the avenues," Lemaire said. "Who can play? Who's the best? Who are you going to send down? Who could be picked up? All of that. That's why a decision will be made, like many other teams, at the last minute."

I had speculated earlier that Halischuk would be the most likely to be cut because he does not need to clear waivers to be sent down. The number change seems to indicate he might be staying.

We'll have to wait until Wednesday.

If the Devils were looking at a waiver pick-up, here are the players that were placed on waivers today.

ATLANTA: D Nathan Oystrick; COLUMBUS:  D David Liffiton, LW Alexandre Picard, D Mathieu Roy; EDMONTON: LW Liam Reddox;  FLORIDA: C Jeff Taffe; NASHVILLE: C Cal O'Reilly; ISLANDERS: C Greg Moore; PHOENIX: C Ryan Hollweg; PITTSBURGH: LW Ryan Bayda; D Paul Bissonnette, D Deryk Engelland; D Nate Guenin; RW Chris Conner; TAMPA: D Matt Lashoff. D Mike Lundin; TORONTO: G Joey
MacDonald; VANCOUVER: D Michael Funk, D Brad Lukowich; D Lawrence Nycholat; WASHINGTON: LW Chris Bourque .

***

What is Lemaire looking for from Rob Niedermayer tonight in his first preseason game with the team after signing a one-year, $1 million deal on Friday?

"Just a solid game," Lemaire said. "The type of game he's been playing all of his career, that's what I'm looking for. To learn the system, learn what we want, try to do it, play solid everywhere on the ice. But mainly to learn how we want to play the game because it's a little different, just a little,"

Lemaire believes Niedermayer will be able to take a regular shift tonight.

"Instead of 40-45 seconds [per shift], he's just got to go 30," Lemaire said. "He'll be fine."

Comments

[sign-rob-schremp]

TG, you know if schremp is playing tonight? probably not but you never know.

[RG9]

y would they be changing his number if they were going to cut him right?? So this is a good thing for him?

[MoonDragn]

sounds like Lemaire is hinting at a trade to me.

[Chris]

Niedermayer? we have his brother

just a thought

[TG]

I don't believe Schremp is playing tonight. It's a long trip from Edmonton and he was just claimed earlier today.

[Lisa]

Is tonight's game on TV?

[TG]

No.

[Jason]

He must be staying with the big club. 16 is in Lou's number wheelhouse.

[Lisa]

phat

[dyeharddevilsfan]

Halischuk is not making the team. There is no room for him right now and he is still very young and should be playing in the minors with the great team we have in lowell this year. If we put him with Walter and Zharkov he will mature into a great Langenbrunner type player. And where is Marc-Andre Bergeron?

[John S]

I'm kind of surprised that Zubrus didn't want his #16 back now that Holik is gone.

[dyeharddevilsfan]

Go point John. #8 is more of a defensive number anyway

[murph]

bergeron is in atlanta if im not mistaken

[TG]

If I recall correctly, Zubrus never cared about his number in the first place. It was assigned to him when he signed with the Devils. At least, he chose 8 after Lamoriello asked him to give up 16 for Holik.

[Brodie30]

I remembered in Schremp's interview before he was drafted that he singled out the Devils as a team he would never want to play for. Scouts said his hang up was that he would only ever think offense. It's interesting how long it's taking him to make the big show.

[Nork, NJ]

Schremp is a primadonna and defensemen yearn to lay him out.

[dyeharddevilsfan]

If Schremp is so good. Why did Edmenton can him? He is just another nothing on the islanders

[Puckster]

This seems to indicate that Halischuk will make the team. This would surprise me. Perhaps, they'll make the decision after tonight's game whether to put Leblond on waivers?

Still, Halischuk seems to be the odd man out once Elias comes back.

[Mark]

Anyone else think Lou is looking to make a deal... Andy Greene for a pick? JL said they didn't need both AG and Murphy and when he's back from injury, perhaps Mark Fraser becomes the 7th D-man. I hope we can move AG and a 3rd rounder for a 2nd rounder in 2010.

I'm excited about the possibility of Halischuk making this team. I'm not expecting him to put up huge numbers but think he could get 10-12 goals. He also could be kept up until Elias gets back and then sent down without any waiver implications and recalled in case of injury.

I doubt that P3L stays up as we don't need hm and Peters. Not sure if he'd be claimed if put on waivers. Goons are a dime a dozen.

[Puckster]

I don't think we need PL3 and Peters either. The more I think about this the more I think Halischuk will stay up until Elias comes back and PL3 will go down (unless he's claimed off waivers).

[frankied]

I applaud Lou if he has decided to keep Halischuk up here. The kid is a hard worker with great hockey instincts who plays a great 2-way game. He's probably a better player (at least offensively maybe even defensively) than Pandolfo. Also, maybe Lou senses that the Devils will have trouble scoring this year. Halischuk does have a nose for the puck, being in the right place at the right time, evidenced by his golden goal for Canada in the WJC and his breakout year in the OHL.

[Scotty K]

Halischuk is my man crush, that said he should be in the AHL getting top 6 minutes to continue to develop

[Number6]

I'd give Halischuk number 11. In my eyes he seems to be the heir to Madden. Hard worker, good defensively with a scoring touch, and tenacious.

[NJromano]

pick up Oreilly from nashville lou

[Scotty K]

Matt Lashoff is on waivers too. Someone before us will claim him if anyone does.