NHL

Devils trade talks depend on dollars

It’s smoking, but the Devils’ potential trade for Wild defenseman Marek Zidlicky might not burst into fire unless the team finds a way to balance the budget.

“They’re going to have to move some salary,” said one interested figure, noting the advance payments the NHL is making to the debt-ridden Devils against anticipated revenue.

Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher told the Minneapolis Star Tribune yesterday he had not asked Zidlicky to waive his no-trade clause, though the defenseman appears anxious to do so to come to New Jersey.

Sources also have said Johnny Oduya might be coming back to the Devils if the Jets conclude they won’t make the playoffs.

Though the remainder of Zidlicky’s $4 million salary would fit under the Devils’ cap, it seems likely it would burst their secret payroll budget, set before the NHL began its payments, perhaps as part of that arrangement.

That concern suggests that in addition to draft picks and young players, the Wild would have to take back someone with a similar salary to Zidlicky’s, and that would mean Dainius Zubrus or Anton Volchenkov. It could hold up a trade.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello refused to comment on the reports.

“I don’t get into any discussions about anything to do with players,” Lamoriello said.

Though Lamoriello said little, Patrik Elias has his opinion on the 35-year-old Zidlicky.

“I’ve known him since I was 15 years old — we played together for [Czech] national teams,” Elias said. “He’s a good player.

“I actually texted with him [Tuesday], but it was regarding [other matters]. I just said hi to him. He just asked how we played. I said, ‘We won.’ He said, ‘Good, keep it going.’ Then this morning I read that, so … ”

Zidlicky is at odds with Wild coach Mike Yeo, but has had five seasons with at least 42 points and three of 12 or more goals.

“We’ll see I guess,” Elias said. “But he’s a good player. He’ll get back from last year. Offensively he’s very good. He’s a right-handed guy. He has great hockey sense.

“But he’s mean, too, when he wants to be. He’s a little [agitator].”

The Devils, who play host to the Ducks tomorrow, already traded for righty point man Kurtis Foster this season.

“I’ll make him have to take the job away from me,” Foster said.