NHL

DEVILS SAYING ‘SLOW LONG’ TO MATVICHUK

SUNRISE, Fla. – New coaches usually mean new players, sooner or later, which means some old ones depart. Sooner came yesterday for Devils defenseman Richard Matvichuk.

Lou Lamoriello said he is seeking a deal for the 34-year-old who has not played this season, with Brent Sutter opting for quicker, more mobile defensemen.

“We will be doing something with Richard to give him an opportunity to play somewhere else,” Lamoriello said. “We’re going to talk to other teams, and most likely, something will be done in the near future.”

Matvichuk sat out practice yesterday and did not accompany the Devils here for tonight’s rematch with the Panthers.

Lamoriello indicated he’d pursue a deal rather than seek waivers on Matvichuk, who is slated to earn $1.3 million this season. He is in the last year of a contract he signed as an unrestricted free agent July 12, 2004, before the last lockout and before the advent of the “new” NHL.

Matvichuk was a popular, lively member of the Devils’ room, but his stay was spoiled by a herniated disc in his lower back, diagnosed late in his first season with the team, 2005-06.

He played through pain at the end of that year, including the playoffs, and underwent disc removal surgery that summer. He suffered a setback in his recovery early last season, and when finally ready to return to action, was kept out by the Devils’ salary-cap trouble. He remained on long-term injury cap exemption until the final game of the regular season, then played in nine of 11 playoff games, going plus-5, tied for second-best on the team.

Lamoriello, asked if Matvichuk was not suited to Sutter’s more aggressive system, said, “I would have to say that, yes.”

Martin Brodeur said, “He proved last year when he stepped in that he could do the job. He’s still a pretty gritty player, blocking shots and being mean. His speed has a lot to do with it.”

Defenseman Paul Martin said, “I know he can still play and that he should be playing. He still has it in him. He knows what he’s doing. But he didn’t want to be the seventh [defenseman].”

With Colin White out long term due to an eye injury, the Devils’ back line consists of Martin, Johnny Oduya, Andy Greene, signees Vitaly Vishnevski and Karel Rachunek, and Mike Mottau, who spent last season in the AHL. The Devils also claimed Sheldon Brookbank on waivers last week, and he remains with the team.

“[Matvichuk] was having a tough time getting into our lineup,” Sutter said. “We’re trying to help him.”

Clearing Matvichuk’s salary also would create more cap space in case Lamoriello wants to sign another defenseman, such as Danny Markov.

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The Devils visit Atlanta on Saturday, then Pittsburgh on Wednesday and the Flyers next Thursday, the fifth, sixth and seventh stops on their season-opening, nine-game road slate. . . . The Devils beat the Panthers 4-1 here Saturday, their lone victory of the opening three games.

mark.everson@nypost.com