The Devils are hardly the only team facing some uncertainty as Wednesday’s trade deadline approaches, but most teams aren’t considering moving the most iconic player in their history.
Despite the fact Martin Brodeur doesn’t know where he is going to be playing by the end of the week, the man who is filling his shoes insisted both the Devils and the future Hall of Famer don’t appear to be bothered by the situation, even after Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Sharks at the Prudential Center.
“I don’t think we’re thinking of when the deadline is,” said Cory Schneider, who stopped 18 shots in the defeat. “I think we’re thinking of getting to the playoffs. We’ve done a pretty good job of keeping the distractions to a minimum.”
Jaromir Jagr, who became the seventh player to score 700 goals in NHL history Saturday, is another possible trading chip for a team whose postseason chances seem slim.
“There’s always going to be rumors,” Schneider said. “We’re just trying to push and get back in this thing. We had a good start and tonight it didn’t work out.”
After sputtering before the Olympic break, the Devils looked sharp in their first two games since returning, with wins over Columbus and the Islanders. They scored a total of six power-play goals in the two victories, but were held scoreless in four chances with an extra man on Sunday.
“You’ve got to have short-term memory this time of year,” head coach Pete DeBoer said. “We’ve got to regroup.”
After Saturday’s win on Long Island, DeBoer said his team had to be “greedy” and not be content with two straight wins. On Sunday, he believed three games in four days, including two back-to-back, got the better of his team.
Still, the Devils took a 2-1 lead at 14:22 in the second when Patrik Elias scored on a deflection, beating Alex Stalock. But just over a minute later, San Jose’s Raffi Torres tied the game and then in the third, Matt Nieto scored the game-winner. Patrick Marleau netted the clincher on a breakaway at 17:35 in the third.
The loss dealt a blow to their postseason hopes as the Devils prepare for a home-and-home against the Red Wings that starts Tuesday in Newark.
All eyes figure to be on Brodeur, who might be in a Devils uniform for the last time that night.
Schneider hasn’t seen any changes in his teammate.
“Not that I’ve seen,” Schneider said. “He’s kind of been himself. He seems like his normal, laid-back self.”
And he hasn’t given up hope that the Devils can look to make an addition to help make a playoff push.
“I’ve never been on a team that’s been a seller and traded away some good pieces,” Schneider said. “I know this organization is not used to that, either. … I know we’re a little shorter on time here than we were 20 games ago, but stranger things have happened.”