NHL

QUESTIONS AND REGRETS AS DEVILS SAY GOODBYES

Captain Jamie Langenbrunner swore his T-shirt, portraying the flaming Hindenberg, a la Led Zeppelin, crashing in Lakehurst “wasn’t trying to make a statement” that there were worse crash-and-burn disasters in New Jersey history than the Devils’ Game 7 collapse Tuesday night.

That was little solace as the still-reeling Devils bade each other farewell yesterday in Newark, some never to return, all lamenting the 80 seconds that scuttled their season. Some, like Travis Zajac (Canada), Patrik Elias (Czech Republic) and Johnny Oduya (Sweden), headed last night to Switzerland for the World Championships. Some are unrestricted free agents — Oduya, John Madden, Brian Gionta, Mike Rupp, Scott Clemmensen, Kevin Weekes, Bobby Holik, Brendan Shanahan.

But perhaps the most vital question went unanswered. Coach Brent Sutter would not discuss his upcoming self-evaluation of whether to return.

“We’re 48 hours away from the most devastating loss I’ve had as a coach or a player,” Sutter said. “I’m still thinking about what transpired, the most difficult thing that ever happened to me in hockey.”

General manager Lou Lamoriello left little doubt of his intentions about, for example, Madden, Gionta and Oduya.

“We have a couple of unrestricted free agents who have been integral parts of our team,” Lamoriello said. “We have to do anything possible to bring them back.”

Those words might ease Madden’s concerns.

“I want to go where I’m wanted,” Madden said. “If I’m wanted here, I’ll be here. If I’m not wanted here, I won’t. I never thought we’d be having this conversation. I thought it would be a given, to keep on going.”

Madden responded strongly to whether he’s “over the hill.”

“No, I don’t believe that at all,” Madden said. “And I’ll prove it.”

Shanahan, 40, said he will weigh his options, mostly regarding his family.

“In the last couple of [weeks], I had my lip split open, my chin split open, stitches in my eyelid, and hit so hard in Game 6 that it knocked one of my false teeth out,” Shanahan said. “And I loved every minute of it.”

Holik sounded annoyed at injuring his back “badly” during a “conditioning skating” session administered by the coaching staff when he wasn’t going to play.

“It was an emotionally tough time,” said Holik, who fell out of favor as the year progressed. “I’m not ruling out anything. The way my season ended is not the way I wanted it to finish.”

Gionta indicated that he wants to return, but hasn’t considered his strategy. Oduya expressed similar sentiments. An increased role might make a difference in whether Rupp remains.

It’s a 1-of-30 shot to win the Stanley Cup, even money to win once every 15 years. The Devils have three in 14 seasons. By going to Game 7, they were among the last 10 teams standing this season. But their standards are high, and this crash-and-burn won’t be forgotten soon.

mark.everson@nypost.com