PHILADELPHIA — The Devils passed up a better offer from the Flyers for Jamie Langenbrunner, The Post has learned, but general manager Lou Lamoriello says he wouldn’t refuse a bid just because it came from a rival.
Asked if he wouldn’t deal to a division foe, Lamoriello said, “That’s not the case at all. Sometimes there are other considerations.”
Lamoriello accepted a conditional third-round pick from Dallas for Langenbrunner Friday, while the Flyers are believed to have offered a firm second-rounder, and perhaps a fourth as well. The third-rounder the Devils acquired will become a second-rounder if Langenbrunner re-signs with Dallas or the Stars reach the second round of the playoffs.
The Devils completed their 10-29-2 first half by losing their 11th straight road game, 2-1 to the Flyers yesterday. Before the game, Jacques (1-7) Lemaire spoke of his team being a cardiac patient that won’t recover quickly. Failing to obtain the most possible for the captain suggests a malady further north. It may be Lamoriello had already said “yes” to Dallas before Philly leapt in.
The last time the Devils traded with the Flyers, Max McNab shipped Chico Resch to Philly for a third-rounder on March 11, 1986.
Lamoriello has never dealt with the Flyers, nor the Rangers. Perhaps such selectivity has merit during competitive seasons, or when likely to meet in the playoffs, but not this year. And Langenbrunner can sign anywhere in July. He wanted to play near his family, which remains in New Jersey.
For the second straight game, the Devils fell without their former captain, but they’ve lost 10 of 11 and 15 of 17, so that’s not necessarily related. It was the 24th time in 41 games they failed to score more than once in regulation.
The Devils have gone more than two months since last winning on the road in Chicago Nov. 3 and are one short of their team record road losing streak of 12, set in 1983-84.
“This team is like heart surgery,” Lemaire said. “With all the losses we had and the hole we dug ourselves, we don’t just recover in the next couple of weeks. It’s going to take a little time.”
Despite his record, which compares unfavorably even to the 9-22-2 that cost John MacLean his job, Lemaire was also saying things are getting better.
“I see huge improvements in their way of working, their way of thinking. I’m seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” Lemaire said.
It was only the runaway train barreling down on them.
Making his third straight start, Johan Hedberg lasted 14:41 before being replaced by Martin Brodeur, after allowing two goals on 10 shots. James van Riemsdyk and Danny Briere, who had two against Hedberg Thursday, prompted Lemaire to send out Brodeur. Andy Greene’s fluke that popped over Brian Boucher off the stick of Ville Leino pulled the Devils back within one at 8:07 of the second.
“When you’re a competitor, you play hockey to win,” Brodeur said. “Right now, we’re playing hockey to get better. That’s kind of new territory for a lot of guys. It’s definitely something I’m not used to. I believe we’ll bounce back next year. We’re going to have a great team.”
*
Vice President Joe Biden attended game and afterward said, “The right team won.” . . Trade rumors from Canada suggest the Canadiens are trying to get Jason Arnott from the Devils, but Arnott says he has not been approached to waive his no-movement protection. . . The Devils play host to Tampa Bay at 5 p.m. today with Brodeur expected to start. . . Matt Corrente and Mattias Tedenby were Devils scratches. . . Lemaire said he’ll operate without a captain “for now,” with Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk the only two alternate captains. . . The Devils almost matched their worst-ever first half, 8-30-2 in 1983-84, and 9-30-2 after 41 games that season, their second in New Jersey. They are 10-29-2.