As the Devils threaten to break the record for worst point falloff in NHL history, the lesson is this: The Flyers, who fell from 101 points to 56 in 2006-07, rebounded with 95 the next season.
Catastrophe can present an opportunity, and this one is the Devils’ chance to restock and rebuild after refusing to for so very long. General manager Lou Lamoriello’s old renewal formula of thirds — kids, primes and vets — has become very age-heavy.
With their 13-season playoff run, the Devils have almost always drafted late in the first round, where the superstars aren’t. Then they’ve dealt other first-rounders — and kids — in their bids to win Cups. Their depth has precluded them from paying big money to keep some of their big players. Now they have the chance to begin repair.
They’ve lost four straight by a combined 20-4 score as the Maple Leafs visit Newark tonight. The Devils have lost nine of 10, cost John MacLean his job and Jacques Lemaire his serenity, reeled back from retirement to coach.
Conveniently, the scouts are circling, and the player they want most is the captain with the no-trade clause, Jamie Langenbrunner. Start with the Sharks and Red Wings — although cap considerations must be addressed — and the Stars, then add in almost every other top team as a possible bidder for Langenbrunner’s services.
When Christmas shopping ends, rental shopping begins in the NHL. Teams that want to stock up for a Stanley Cup run dredge the bottom-feeders for vets who can improve their chances. Only two months are left before the Feb. 28 trade deadline, and there will be 10 teams who dream they can win the Cup this year.
They have plenty of choices among the Devils; the contenders already have passed on grabbing Brian Rolston and his $5 million salary next season on waivers. If the Devils demote Rolston and then put him on re-entry waivers, someone might put the Devils on the hook for half his remaining pay and cap hit.
Teams also are looking at the Devils’ upcoming unrestricted free agents. At the deadline, there will be only one-quarter of salary and cap hit for an acquiring team to absorb. Jason Arnott, still leading the Devils with nine goals despite a 10-game drought, told The Post he has already thought, and deferred decision, about waiving his no-trade to ask for a deal to a contender.
The Senators are looking for forwards, and have defensemen like Filip Kuba and Chris Campoli, if not Chris Phillips. Familiar Sergei Gonchar lurks at minus-19.
Langenbrunner’s salary is a now-bargain $2.8 million, meaning only a $700G cap hit for an acquiring team. A move to a contender might help contract negotiations next summer for the leading goal-scorer in the 2003 playoffs.
But he says he won’t ask out.
“I understand the situation we’re in, what the team might do going forward. But that won’t be me, asking to be traded,” Langenbrunner told The Post.
Teams will ask Lamoriello, though, and prospects and draft picks are what the Devils need. In the end, it could be Lamoriello asking Langenbrunner.
*
The Devils’ 3-1 loss in Toronto Nov. 18 was the second of their current nine-game road losing streak.