Other than Scott Niedermayer, who would have been expensive to acquire, was there really anyone out there who would be better than a returning Paul Martin? It seems like the only D-men who would be at or above Martin’s level were included in trades that involved more than just draft picks, such as Seidenberg to Boston, Corvo to Washington, and Whitney to Edmonton.

well, let’s think about what Skoula gives us – a defense corps of Martin, Salvador, White, Greene, Salmela, Fraser, Skoula, and Mottau. That leaves a top two pairs of some combination of Martin/White/Greene/Salmela/Skoula – not exactly the Stevens/Nieds/Rafalski/White top 4 of yore, but the best that Lou could get this year without giving up Corrente, Eckford, Murphy, or any other prospects/roster players – and only for a 5th-rounder and a low cap hit.

I agree this isn’t the best defense the Devils have had – on paper – but frankly until Corrente/Eckford/Fraser/et al develop into the monster D-men we’d like them to be I doubt we’ll see a defense like that for a few seasons at least.

Honestly – I don’t love the Skoula deal, but it at least provides depth where there hasn’t been much this year. Besides, in a couple weeks, we get Paul Martin back – for free!