Devils Cut Brendan Shanahan

by Steve Lepore on Oct 1, 2009 12:11 PM EDT Comment 10 comments

Well, this is certainly shocking news to us on opening night of the NHL season. Rich Chere reports that Lou Lamoriello and the New Jersey Devils have cut future Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan. This comes after earlier reports from Gulitti that Shanahan was missing at practice today.

Shanahan originally signed to a $1 Million contract with New Jersey over the summer. His cap hit remains on the books until further notice, or until Shanny finds another team.

Lamoriello had this to say:

"Over the past couple of days Jacques (Lemaire) and I have had conversations. The unexpected has transpired," Lamoriello said. "It's not that Brendan cannot play. It's that these (young) players have become something special at this time."

Well, that's all well and good, here's Shanahan's statement:

"I have not decided to continue with the New Jersey Devils for my 22nd NHL season," Shanahan's statement read. "When I signed this past summer, Lou Lamoriello, Jacques Lemaire and I agreed that if we were unable to find a suitable fit in which I would be able to compete and contribute at the level I expect from myself, then I would simply step aside.

"I have great respect for Lou, Jacques and the entire Devils' organization. This decision is both mutual and amicable. I am planning to spend the next couple of weeks with my family to reflect on and evaluate my plans for the future. Most importantly, I would like to thank my former teammates and wish them the best of luck this season."

Well, you can't say that the Devils don't have a flair for the dramatic. I've heard rumors that Shanny will retire. There's also conjecture that he will be traded, find another team, or even come back later in the season, though that seems unlikely. For now, we thank Shanny for wanting to come back and give it another try, being a good veteran presence in the locker room and for reminding us that there will be another former Devil in Hockey's Hall of Fame in a few years. For now, let's see how this so-called youth movement works out for the Devils. The fact is, there needs to be more offense from someone. Shanahan felt that couldn't be him, so maybe it'll come from somewhere else.

0 recs | Comment 10 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Wow....

This certainly was shocking to me, so much so that it inspired me to cross the line from reader to poster…

My first thoughts were “why shanny and not Ilkka” because it seems to me that even if he would not be more offensively productive than Ilkka (which I’m assuming he would be), then his role as a veteran would still be very valuable to all the more inexperienced players. Ilkka seems expendable to whereas I would think a future hall of famer like Shanny would be able to provide more to a team that what shows up in a box score.

That being said, I think this needed to be done. There would be no sense in saying these young guys are ready to contribute at a higher level or that they had such impressive pre-seasons only to keep them in Lowell. I was a little disappointed toward the end of the summer when our “youth movement” seemed to transition into more of a “sign career journeymen movement.” I was excited at the end of last season because of the prospect of trying to replicate what we did at the beginning of the decade when we brought in guys like gomez, gio, madden, and rafalski. I thought (like many others) that we still have all our core players while having all these young, supposedly very good players waiting in Lowell at our disposal, so why not give them the chance and see what kind of hand we truly have. WIth this Shanahan move today, we have taken a giant step in that direction by ensuring a more steady role for someone promising like Halischuk. This comes at no slight to Shanahan to whom I’m sure we all wish the best and thank for his service as a NJ Devil. It’s just time to get some more young blood on the ice.

Ultimately, Saturday night can’t come soon enough…ive been counting down the days since July and counting down the hours for at least 2 weeks.
LETS GO DEVILS

by JoeyV on Oct 1, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions

Initial reaction...what the f#ck?!?

Hmm..now this I just don’t get. This ranks up there with letting Claude Julien go. “It’s not that Brendan cannot play. It’s that these (young) players have become something special at this time.” Really? I have played and watched enough hockey to know that none of the young players on the bubble are worth letting a player of Shanahan’s caliber go. Is he toward the end of his career? Sure. Is going to break a speed skating record and score 50 goals? No. Is his character,leadership,experience,craftiness around the net and still dangerous shot going to be missed? Yes. Not to mention…his sarcastic always on point entertaining interviews!!! Sigh…well good luck Brendan Shanahan…we knew you when.

by HELLAWAITS on Oct 1, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

RECALL ZHARKOV

At first I was stunned. Shanny is incredible to watch and was a class veteran presence.

If this move gets Zharkov on the team and allows more time for Halishuk then I’m all for it.

If however this is because of PL3 or Pikkarainin than I dont get it. We just can’t have a fourth line of PL3/ Peters/ Pelley. Essentailly that would make us a 3 line team.

I don’t get the infatuation with Pikkarainin. Maybe he gets healthy and is a help, but as of today he has had ZERO impact for us because of his illness. Signing Peters makes PL3 an extra part.

I would much rather see Pelley center Zharkov and Halishuk. Bet that would be something to watch…..

by pepe22 on Oct 1, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

I think Lemaire was more forthright on the reason.

Per this later report by Gulitti, Lemaire said this:

“When we sat down at the start of the season, I told him him that I’m going to give him the chance to play, to prove himself and I’d like him to be in the top three lines,” Lemaire said. "It’s not that he doesn’t do the job. It’s not that he cannot play. You know he’s getting in better and better shape. His last game was the best game he played. You could see that there was an improvement. The problem is the kids.

“At the start of the season, these kids, I didn’t know them myself. Maybe Lou thought that they had a long chance to make the team. But these kids they’ve shown that they’re ready to play.”

To me, it seems the plan that Shanahan, Lou, and Lemaire all agreed upon was that Shanahan had to prove he wouldn’t be fourth line fodder. Shanahan had an OK camp, his best game was the last one, but did he impress? I don’t think he did. Rather than clog the fourth line further, this move is made.

Honestly, I don’t think one could say they honestly expected a lot of Shanahan. I mean, I was saying 10 goals, 20-25 points from him would be swell back when he was signed. But after this camp, one now has to ask: couldn’t Bergfors contribute that much on one of the top 3 lines?

In any case, I don’t think the move was made to allow Pikkarainen on the roster – even though now he can be activated for the roster and the team will then be at 23 people. I think he’ll get a fairer shot to prove himself – after all, Lou said he was signed for New Jersey way back in July, so Lou’s not going back on his word here. In my opinion, Shanahan leaving/being cut really allows Halischuk to remain on the roster – at least until Elias gets healthy. I believe that’s who the move was made for because the Devils are quite high on him and Bergfors after they had very good camps. As an aside, I don’t think Zharkov’s coming up unless there’s an injury or there is a trade and another spot is opened.

Then again, once Elias is healthy, the Devils will have to move one down or off the roster…maybe this is a precursor to another move? I don’t know.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Oct 1, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Sad to see shany go but a good move.

Its defiantly sad the see shany go. Hes a future hall of famer and was good on the devils. The move in the end makes sense. the devils right now cant fit shany where he should be and he shouldn’t be on the 4th line of any team. This move thou brings the devils right wing situation together and to 4 wingers. Bergfors will now get the chance to play with players of his skill probably on the second line. Jamie will be first obviously clarkson 3rd line and halischuck on 4th. So this works out cause bergfors shouldnt play on the fourth line if shany were to stay thats where bergfors would be, and he doesnt fit there. So in the end its sad to see shany go but this could be perfect for bergfors to break out this season. also this pretty much give halischuck a 4th line spot on the team so good for him too

by NJDevilsSteve on Oct 1, 2009 5:58 PM EDT reply actions

makes a lot of sense and if no one picks up would love to have him in some sort of special assignment coaching role for the year. he shouldn’t let his lease go to waste!

by dsarch on Oct 1, 2009 8:15 PM EDT reply actions