Welcome Back Jason Arnott

While I’m glad we have our second line center now, I still thought Halischuk had a future with the Devils and now we gave up our second round pick for 2011 already. Although, I will always love Jason Arnott just for that cup winning goal.

Wow there goes my Seguin rumor. Ha ha great pickup as it seems Nashville is trading away everyone. I think the A-Line is in the past but he would fill the RW spot if Kovalchuk doesn’t re-sign. I am loving Lou this off-season.

Yeah I meant Sykora. But I think he aged to much and is on his way to the KHL sometime. I would rather go after Stempniak, Armstrong, Afinogenov, or Pisani. Or go with Zharkov or another rookie or Clarkson too.

And can you add the link for this? I am not sure where you got this from.

Nevermind. Found it on Fire and Ice.

Initial reaction: HOLY $&#@!

Second reaction seconds later: Wait, what?!

Third reaction seconds after that: If Elias and Arnott can recapture half of what they had 10 years ago, we’re in good shape.

Fourth reaction: So, um, who’s going to play on this team in 5 years when all of our old players are retired and all of our young players are playing elsewhere?

Fifth reaction happening almost simultaneously with the fourth: Man Lou really does bringing guys back.

Sixth and final reaction: Who cares about the future, we’ve got a legitimate 2nd line Center who brings leadership and size! Whoo hoo!

Interesting. I guess he waived his NMC clause, although I’d guess anybody would to get out of Nashville. At $4.5M for one year, it’s not a bad gamble. He might be slowing down a little, only 19 goals last year, but if Rolston could play the right side, Elias-Arnott-Rolston could be quite productive. Maybe just the shot in the arm Brian needs…

In the dealing with the Predators category, I’ve got to say:

Devils 1, Flyers 0

Welcome home, Mr. Arnott!!!

Cross it off your list!!! Lets look at defenseman. I guess no more Kaberle then. O well. See you in 2011 Kabs! ha ha

He is with MacLean now and can mean moe offense and now you think the Devils could sign a RW (not meaning Sykora). Surprised Eklund didn’t pick this up yet? Ha ha

And now a good number 25. So long to Peters being #25.

Hell I would pay to get rid of him.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this yet. My immediate reaction is: who did we give up? In this case, it was Matt Halischuk (who was a -4 after 20 games but is only 22 years old) and a 2nd round draft pick in 2011. In exchange , we get the stanley cup game winning center from 2000 who is now 35 years old and put up 46 points in 63 games last year. Do I love Jason Arnott and think he should be considered one of the all time clutch Devils of the past decade? Yes. Do I think it was a good idea to trade away our future for someone who is 35 years old? No. Once again, Lou has gone nostalgic on us and has brought back an old face. With 4.5 million on the table for this year, it was another “win now” move that hopefully pays in dividends next season. But one has to wonder at one point should Lou be more concerned about building the future instead of bringing back the past? I’m up in the air about this right now but I will say this: Arnott was one of my favorite players on the team back in the day and I hope he can produce with Elias like he did in the past.

If we let Niedermayer and McCammond and Pandolfo go, absorbing Arnotts cap hit wouldnt be a big deal. Now we need to sign Madden back as the 3rd line center and defensive specialist and let the kids fight it out for the 4th line.

if Lou is filling the obvious center need this way, it may mean there is some light at the end of the tunnel with Kovalchuk and/or Martin.

Lou said there will be more trades to free up cap space for Clarkson and Martin and other FA’s.

on NJ.com thru Rich Chere are pretty surprising to me. I wouldnt think he would flat out say these things (which I agree with of course). But the possible “surprises” concern me. Could this mean Langenbrunner may be shipped out?
"No. You have to do other things to make room," the GM said. "We didn’t win. We’re going to have to make some changes. There are going to be some changes that might surprise some people.

"We definitely will do everything we can. The priority right now is to get David Clarkson signed and Paul Martin signed. And we’ll see what Ilya Kovalchuk’s thought process is."

And him being the Captain next year but he said Lemaire was the coach next year and he is gone. I know retirement but maybe Lou did know something. I think Langs will be traded at some point in the off-season or during the year. Were not going to sign him after this year and I would rather acquire a young prospect. Just send him to Minnesota and he will waive his NTC. Maybe a Nick Schultz.

I think he is trying to move the heavy contracts. Not the players that actually contribute something to the team. I think Zubrus, Langenbrunner, Salvador, White, and Rolston are on the chopping block. I think there are a few teams that maybe can figure out Rolston. He still has a big shot as we saw in the playoffs Zubrus is a good 3rd liner with size and strength down the wing and middle, Salvador is a big defender that “stays at home” and protects the lead, Langenbrunner is all leadership who put up pretty good numbers over the past 2 or 3 years, and White is still effective but his hitting has gone down. I think a couple teams would be willing to take atleast one of these players and try to make them their own. Langenbrunner still has a couple years in him too. But you have to take on salary to give salary… I am going to say it again. Minnesota and Colorado seem to be great trade partners.

I think Colorado would be a great trade partner. For these two reasons they have a solid team so the players we would lose wouldn’t be stuck on a loser team. Secondly they need more veterans Foote is probably in his last season, Tucker will probably be released. So i think they would be in the search for a Langenbrunner or a Salvador.

Though i want us to keep Langs. Just he needs to move off top line. Though maybe we could get Jones for Langs then i’d be ok seeing him go.

Chris Stewart or Marek Svatos wouldn’t be bad either. Liles would be an option for maybe Salvdor. Stewart picked up 64 points last year but I think he could be untouchable but you never know. Svatos picked up 11 points in an injury plagued year in only 54 games. He would be a gamble but it would be a good return if he returns back to the way he was, but he never played a full 82 or even a full 70 games. Liles picked up 31 points last year playing in 59 games. It would take some picks to get atleast one of these players. I would rather see a 2011 or 2012 pick. I think Galiardi, Yip, Mueller, and O’Reilly are untouchable. Maybe Hejduk for Langenbrunner, Hejduk has this year and next year left in his deal getting 3 million. Langs has this year getting 2.8. I don’t see Hejduk as an option right now as he is old. Just a possibility.

Why do people want to trade Langs again? Because he brought up the fact that Lemaire had no idea how to coach their team. Seems pretty stupid to trade someone who is in his mid 30’s and playing the best hockey of his career.

I don’t want him to be traded but if Lou as to sign Martin and Clarkson to free up some space, I would rather see another player go but if they want Langs then farewell. Who’s more valuable now? Martin and Clarkson or Langenbrunner?

Think Tampa Bay still wants him? ha ha.

I think both Martin and Clarkson will be signed, being they are the Priority according to Lou. Kovalchuk is the one who is as good as gone, and hopefully we use the money that would have been allocated to him (after acquiring Arnott) to get another Top-4 Defenseman. Someone who is a UFA that we aren’t necessarily talking about, like Willie Mitchell or even Scotty Niedermayer if he takes a discount 1-year deal to compete for the Cup again.

I was just wondering, if he could be a captain and if anyone could see this happening.

Kovalchuk was the captain in Atlanta, no change there. I don’t see it for Arnott either.