Rob Niedermayer ready for his first preseason game with the Devils

Rob Niedermayer has played in plenty of preseason games during his 15-season NHL career.

The 34-year-old center ackowledged that playing in tonight's game against the Islanders will be a little different, however, because it will be his first with the Devils after signing with the team on Friday. It will also be a big test for his conditioning because, though he had been skating with a junior team before he signed, he has had only one NHL training camp practice.

"It's your first game with a new team and it will be kind of nice to see where I'm at and see what I have to do," he said.

Whether Niedermayer is in good enough condition to take regular shifts throughout the game or will have to be spotted here and there remains to be seen.

"I think we'll find it out," he said. "I'm just pretty excited about playing the first one." 

Follow this blog on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TGfireandice.

***

For the complete lineup for tonight's game, see the post below.

Comments

[NJromano]

isles just claimed schremp

[NeilS]

I had a feeling that would happen. They tried to trade for him at the draft I believe.

[TG]

Well, for those who wanted the Devils to put in a claim for him, now the argument is moot because they would not have gotten him if they did.

[mikeschoenf]

TG,

How does waiver priority work in the offseason?

[NeilS]

It goes by last year's standings up to a certain point.

[Bergfors Fan Club]

Go get em Rob!

[TG]

Neil is correct. Right now, it's by last year's standings. Islanders went first.

[Number6]

Would we have known if the Devs put a claim in? Do they announce who put in claims, or only who got him?

[Tom]

I have to say, I wasn't the biggest fan of the Rob N. signing when it first happened, but I feel a lot more comfortable now in our checking line with him included. It also gives Pelley a learning curve he wouldn't have had if he was thrown into those duties.

[Ruppamania]

Too bad Rob isn't still dating Niki Taylor, it would have helped make up for the off season loss of Mrs Rupp to Pittsburgh!

[mikeschoenf]

Tom,

I agree. He solidify's our lines.

The isles getting first waiver priority is BS. They got the first pick overall. They shouldnt get first waiver pick too! So they have first waiver options until the regular season starts? And then how does it work? Winning Percentage? Overall points? And this starts on opening night?

[anthony]

OT, but why did the Mullet say the Devils lost Madden and Pandolfo this year?
Or did I answer my own question? :)

[DevilsNorth]

Pelley will have a future in the NHL! I just hope we don't expect too much when he plays with 2 fighters. It's a tough job to play with wingers who probably won't be in very good position most of the time. From what I hear Pelley is a dream to coach! Never complains, always in top shape and will do whatever it takes, even if that means fighting. I followed Lowell last year and he took a 1 game suspension in a fight Tyler Bouck so the mean streak is there. I think he's a keeper and he's cheap with next year being a RFA he won't get too much of a raise( 650,000- 775,000) I would think, so still cheap for next year

[JerryG]

Attn all the folks who were saying we should make a bid for Forsberg a couple of days ago: Puck Daddy is reporting he is injured (yet again!) with a stress fracture of his foot. The quote from Forsberg himself states he "can barely walk."

Yep, what a prize catch he would have been. Get real people.

[SonicDude]

from your writings TG i am no longer negative on the niedermayer pick up because he does fill a hole.

but i am very frustrated that the team's primary holes -- second line center and top 4 d-man -- remain unfilled.

and it seems our farm system is not good primary enough to churn out home grown roster fillins, and instead we're again going with these stop-gap pick-ups in nieds, murphy, walter and davison.

i just dont see this team escaping another first round knockout.

[NJromano]

jordan parise article
http://theahl.com/headlines/index.html?article_id=10428

[SonicDude]

i forgot to add peters. and yes, i know walter and davison are not with us, but i dont think that was lou's thinking when he signed them. my point is, i at least wanted the roster to have more young lowell names on it.

[mikeP]

I think Murphy AND Greene have made the team.

The usually reliable Andy Strickland has posted that the Devils have waived Jay Leach:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Andy-Strickland/BoyleBlake-To-Be-Named-Sharks-Captain/5/23281

[NJromano]

so its green an murphy stickin with nj i guess

[NJromano]

Tampa Bay placed D-man Matt Lashoff on waivers. Lashoff is a former first round pick of the Boston Bruins.

i think lashoff has skills.... i cant imagine a team not pickin him up

[NeilS]

Give it a little time SD, if the Devils have shown one thing in the last couple of seasons, when guys truly struggle and they have an option, they'll take it. The only reason most people even know Leblond's name is because Rupp wasn't playing up to par. The players we have right now in the AHL, especially on D are all very young aside from guys like Fraser who are at the point where they probably aren't going to be NHL'ers. I have to disagree with you there about Walter and Davison, Walter was absolutely acquired to play in Lowell and Davison was going to compete for a 6th/7th d-man spot at best. Considering the Devils only lost 3 players from last year, who else did you expect to make the team besides Bergfors, Pelley and Leblond? Of those guys only Leblond is in real danger of not staying up till at least Elias comes back.

Anyone who expected Corrente, Eckford or any of the young D to come and unseat guys like Oduya, Salvador or Mottau were just kidding themselves.

[DevilsNorth]

Well said Neils!

[Puckster]

I think the Rangers should pick up Forsberg, so between him an Gaborik they could have the best one two punch on Injury Reserve this season.

[Pat]

You've gotta think they've got Elias penciled in on w/Neids and Bergie when he returns. Let the Zubie line gel and put Shanny on the 4th line and we've got a great lineup. We then just need to shore up our D by getting an impact guy back there.

[Puckster]

I don't think Lemaire wants Shanny on the fourth line.