In Lou We Trust, a New Jersey Devils community

The ZSC Lions website has announced that Cory Murphy has signed with the Swiss team for 2 years. At least, that's what I understand from this Google translation of the original article. Murphy was a low-risk signing last summer, trying to add some offense to a blueline that lacked it. Murphy started off in New Jersey but couldn't stick around; yet he had a good and productive season down in Lowell with 6 goals and 38 assists in 64 games. I don't know if the Devils still have his rights though. He won't be going to Albany with the AHL team, but to Europe, and I wish him the best of luck. (Hat-tip: Matsku on Twitter for initial news, confirmed via Zurich site)

The Lowell Devils beat the Providence Bruins 6-3 on Sunday and with a loss by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Lowell has secured a first round matchup with Worcester, the Atlantic Division champions. Their series begins on Wednesday. This is huge news because it is the first time since 1999-2000 that the Devils' AHL affiliate has made the Calder Cup Playoffs. Congratulations to John MacLean, Kevin Dean, and the L-Devils players! Give the Sharks a scare!

I'm guessing it's a concussion though no one wants to admit it. Editor's Note: You're sort of right. The word is concussion symptoms, according to Lou as reported by Gulitti. Not the same thing, but the Devils are wise to play it safe all the same. Patrick Davis and Nick Palmieri have been called up in the meantime.

Per Tom Gulitti, the New Jersey Devils moved the young winger to their AHL farm team, the Lowell Devils, today. This leaves the Devils with, well, no extra players on their roster. This tells me that Patrik Elias must be getting ready real soon for the Devils to make this move. There was no pressure to create extra space otherwise.

Petr Vrana apparently will not return to the Devils next season, as he has signed a 2 year deal with Vitkovice. Spector has a link to the original article at Sport.cz (translated via Google here). It's a bit of an unfortunate occurrence that he makes this move now. With Holik retiring, that's at least one roster spot open that Vrana could have competed for and won in New Jersey for 2009-10. Alas, he feels otherwise. Best of luck to him in his career. Thanks to Don for the heads up.

Check out the Hockey's Future review of our farm team in Lowell!

Gulitti has reported that Anssi Salmela has been called up. With Paul Martin's upper body soreness muscle pull the Devils do have no spare defenders. But given that Andy Greene hasn't played all that well recently, I think the Devils want to give the Finnish international another, well, shot with the big club. I think a good outing could help make his case to stay with New Jersey, really. Salmela has had 8 goals, 15 assists in 36 games with Lowell this season.