It would probably be a long-term gaffe to become paralyzed by sudden possibilities, but these wouldn’t be the Devils if they didn’t give their fans every chance, however remote, at a 14th straight trip to the playoffs.
They’re still 20 points out of a playoff berth when the record comeback under the current format (since 1994) is 12, but the Devils’ climb to the top step of the cellar may shutter their seller’s market that seemed so open three weeks ago.
Jason Arnott is an obvious candidate to rent out as an upcoming unrestricted free agent, and when general manager Lou Lamoriello and his fellow governors gather during the All-Star break this week in Raleigh, N.C., talk will surely intensify. Montreal is rumored to be interested, and Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier and a Habs scout double-teamed the Devils’ 5-2 triumph over the Panthers in Newark Sunday.
Gauthier would not confirm nor deny interest, but did note pointedly GMs should never lie to the press. Otherwise, the Caps are said to be interested, and even Nashville, which traded Arnott as captain to the Devils last summer, may be looking, regardless of any resentments from its front office.
Lamoriello seemed to signal the opening of his used player lot when he dealt Jamie Langenbrunner to Dallas Jan. 7. Perhaps that was a deck-clearing move, since Langenbrunner was asked to waive his no-trade clause just one week after Jacques Lemaire replaced John MacLean. Langenbrunner was asked the same question during training camp.
“I had no problem with [Langenbrunner],” Lemaire said. “That [trade] was the boss. I even told Lou that Jamie’s attitude was much, much better than it was last year.”
Lamoriello may even have dreamed his team would revive, since he refused to ship Langenbrunner to the Flyers, whose offer, sources say, was far superior to the conditional third-to-second rounder acquired from Dallas, going all the way to a first-rounder from the Flyers, presumably if they won the Cup.
But Lamoriello is less likely, for now, to stifle this sudden charge of taking 13 of 14 points (6-0-1 in seven games) by dealing his vets. The GM said he and his team never threw in the towel on this season to concentrate on improving for next year and beyond.
“We would never have said that, ever, even the way we were playing,” Lamoriello said. “Unless you play to the best of your abilities and do everything you can to win, you’re not a professional.”
Those words suggest while there’s a chance, however remote, Lamoriello won’t pull the plug on this revival until it’s over. His team might have Zach Parise back by playoff time, and it already would have had to be playing great to get there.
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Colin White, who left Saturday’s victory in Philadelphia with a “lower body injury,” was to undergo an MRI yesterday. Lamoriello said the unspecified injury is “Something that’s been bothering him a while.” . . . The Devils visit Detroit tomorrow.