The Devils can effectively, if not mathematically, void James Dolan’s Ranger playoff guarantee and prompt a paper blizzard of GM resumes into the Garden.
They should, for the first time this season, sell out the Meadowlands tonight when Bobby Holik returns to New Jersey as a Ranger.
Those are just the side issues. What’s important, Devil-wise, is that with one small step, Lou Lamoriello has started New Jersey’s maneuvering for the trade deadline and the load-up for another Stanley Cup run.
It is a minor move, but by re-acquiring center Pascal Rheaume from Atlanta for a 2004 conditional draft pick yesterday, Lamoriello began setting the table for the March 11 deadline.
While this trade deadline could be a wild scene of salary-cutting, star-grabbing and player rental, next year will only hold more of a “win now” mentality. Competition for the last pre-lockout Cup will be crazier as the rich teams figure their purchasing days may be ending.
This, then, stands as Lamoriello’s likely last sane chance. Scott Stevens is nearly 39, Joe Nieuwendyk is likely to leave, the Devils are two years removed from their second Cup, and if play resumes in 2005-06, the landscape will be very different, even if Lamoriello himself remains.
Lamoriello refused to discuss last week whether he has any wiggle room above his $52M budget, and the guess is that he doesn’t. If that’s the case and he takes on one of the $7 million Wonders of the Hockey World, it will signal the departure this summer of Nieuwendyk, freeing up the $5 million he is earning this season.
There is considerable disbelief that Lamoriello is ready to acquire controversial Owen Nolan and his two more years at $6.5 million, his lockout guarantee still in question. It seems more likely that Ziggy Palffy is the big game being considered.
As for Jarome Iginla, word is that the Flames are demanding at least three can’t-miss prospects for their star scorer. The Avs are said to be offering the ranch for the chance to have Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk on one line, Iginla and Joe Sakic on another. Chris Drury is said to be off the radar scope, while Teemu Selanne is on, as is Vincent Damphousse. Chicago is shopping Sergei Berezin and Theo Fleury.
The rental market is flush with hopefuls, Geoff Sanderson, Andrew Cassels and Ray Whitney being Columbus’ offerings, wanting Scott Gomez for two of those upcoming unrestricteds. Atlanta still has Slava Kozlov.
The Devil everyone is seeking is Gomez and his 900G salary, but if the Devils also are going to lose Nieuwendyk next year, they’ll need someone else at center besides John Madden. Rheaume adds depth for the playoffs, but he may just be rental insurance on Madden.
Phoenix is said to be pressing to acquire Gomez, and perhaps Tony Amonte is their offering, perhaps not. The Devils could come to decide that Patrik Elias is worth more in trade than he is on the third line, and he’d certainly bring plenty back.
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Should Devils beat Rangers tonight, Blueshirts would have to go 10-6 just to reach 79 points, which wouldn’t be enough if Tampa goes 8-12 in its final 20.