The Devils’ GM says he was just browsing yesterday, but would have priced a top center or chased the right righty defenseman, under the right circumstances.
“We really did everything we had to do [earlier], with Brendan Shanahan and Niclas Havelid [Monday]. We were really just seeing if there was something we could add without subtracting,” Lou Lamoriello said after standing pat yesterday as the trade deadline passed.
His team 18-4 in 22 games, leading the Atlantic Division, 4-0 with Martin Brodeur back and welcoming Havelid to practice yesterday, Lamoriello still didn’t ridicule the idea that a major playmaking center, say, to fit between Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta, would have helped Stanley Cup aspirations.
“If you could find one, I’d have loved to know about it,” Lamoriello said.
He also acknowledged his strictly-lefty defense corps.
“If there was a right-handed shot that could have helped us [without substantial roster loss], we probably would have looked at something,” Lamoriello said. “But I’m not concerned. We’ve gone the whole year like this.”
Credit must be given Lamoriello for declaring Tuesday that he hoped to fulfill his promise to Scott Clemmensen to try to find to a place where he could play in the NHL the rest of this year. This was when Clemmensen would be cheap, yet already proven insurance in case Brodeur suffers even a groin pull, and the Devils might need someone to win a couple of games to advance them in the playoffs. Yet, he was unable to complete a deal, so Clemmensen remains with the Devils.
The Devils also sent defenseman Jay Leach to Lowell for conditioning for “a couple of weeks,” Lamoriello said.
Lamoriello refrained from mounting the soapbox and proclaiming his team poised for the playoffs.
“You go in steps. We have to keep going on the same path. Our best players have to be our best players, and our role players have to accept their roles,” Lamoriello said.
“And one step at a time.”
Devils visit Isles Saturday afternoon .ñ.ñ. Brodeur has 548 victories, three behind Patrick Roy’s record, which he could break a week from Saturday in his native Montreal.