If Anton Volchenkov is going to play on this road trip, his best bet will be next Wednesday night in Chicago. Lou Lamoriello told reporters this morning that he is progressing and is very close to returning. Vancouver looks out of question unless he boards a separate charter tomorrow night to meet up with the team there. So, the best likelihood is next Friday at home against the NY Rangers, though after that the Devils do not play again until the following Wednesday November 10th against Buffalo at home. It would not surprise me if the Devils hold him out until then to give him quality practice time. Usually, the Devils prefer a player coming back from injury to have at least two full contact practices.
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Brian Rolston continues to skate on his own lightly and work out off the ice. The question now is who will finally be that salary cap casualty for the Devils. When Bruce Salvador is also cleared to return, someone will have to be traded. Once the Devils are 100% healthy with the exception of Anssi Salmela and their salary cap problems are taken care off, it is very likely that Lou Lamoriello will conduct contract extension talks with Zach Parise who is set to become a restricted free agent this Summer of 2011 and an unrestricted in Summer 2012. Parise and Kovalchuk much like Crosby and Malkin in Pittsburgh along with Toews and Kane in Chicago are the Devils future and present. But for now the focus for the Devils must be to dig out this massive early season slump. It seems as if tomorrow's game in Anaheim, which will be very tough is a must win. There is no word on who will start in net for the Devils.
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