The Devils have traded enforcer Cam Janssen to the Blues for defenseman Bryce Salvador. Janssen was recently activated off the injury reserve after suffering a separated shoulder in the offseason. He had yet to see action this season. Jackman has 11 points and +12 in 56 games with St. Louis thus far. The move should help the Devils on the blue line where they were thin and in need of a veteran presence after losing Rafalski, Daneyko and both Scotts over the last few years.

Dan Rosen of NHL.com and Globe and Sports' Eric Duhatschek analyzed the deal.

Dan  Rosen: "Salvador gives the Devils another physical presence on the back end to join Colin White and Vitaly Vishnevski in those roles. He has a goal and 10 assists this season, but the key stat is his plus-12 rating, which was best on the Blues. Salvador is slated to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, so the Devils are getting him for an immediate return."

Eric Duhatschek: "Salvador adds depth to the Devils' defence corps; he and coach Brent Sutter have a long-standing familiarity with one another, dating back to the four years Salvador played for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, a Western Hockey League divisional rival of Sutter's Red Deer Rebels. Salvador primarily adds toughness to a blue line that is relatively nondescript, especially when compared to the Scott Stevens/Scott Niedermayer era. Of late in New Jersey, they've been sitting Karel Rachunek and Vitaly Vishnevski; it is not clear if one or the other might be on the move now that Salvador is in the fold."

The Devils added another physical presence to their smallish roster. Since defensemen Vishnevski and Rachunek have not panned out as expected, a trade of this nature was inevitable. It's definitely not the day's biggestor most significant transaction, but for the Devils, they made a splash.

New Jersey was never going to acquire a first line center or defenseman. It's not GM  Lou Lamoriello's style nor was it his plan.

Instead, Lamoriello beefed up the defensive pairings, which were very weak. I give him credit for making another smart move at the trade deadline.

Now, I ask the question, who pairs up with Salvador?

White-Mottau

Oduya-Martin

Brookbank-Greene

Of these six d-men, one will be a healthy scratch unless Lou makes a move in the next 30 minutes. I think Mottau and White are a solid pair and maybe Martin will pair with Salvador. But, since Lou is secretive and Sutter has not revealed his plans yet, nothing is set in stone. Feel free to commen on this deal.

Notes:

Tom Gulitti reported that Salvador is on his way to New Jersey but will not play tonight.

The game will be televised on FSNY 2 and WFAN 660 AM

• ‹ previous
• 412 of 431
• next ›