Devils could trade veterans to cup contenders as season free fall continues

Usually, the Devils are the team trying to pick up the pieces to try to win a Stanley Cup at this time of the year. Now, the tide is likely to turn as the team with the highest expectations before the season started is in the midst of their worst season in franchise history. Now, the question is, will the Devils become sellers by the trade deadline? Brian Rolston and Jason Arnott could be the likeliest of trade baits and the Devils could use 2nd or 3rd round picks and prospects for next year. The team still needs to address cap problems, so maybe a bad year could be better for them, because it makes addressing those problems somewhat easier.

Both Rolston and Arnott have no-trade-clauses, but they are veterans who might want to see some playoff action and could be headed to teams in contention for the Stanley Cup. A team like the Detroit Red Wings could use a Brian Rolston, since he is from Michigan and could be a guy who could play on one of their grinding lines. Jason Arnott could also be moved once again and maybe his former Dallas Stars team could be a good fit. Legendary Devils goaltender Marty Brodeur has told reporters, he has no intention of being traded, but the most unthinkable and unlikeliest of things could happen. Brodeur's trade value is diminished based on his stats this year, but it could bring the Devils a top end prospect and maybe even a future 1st round pick or multiple 2nd/3rd rounders.

The only untouchables from the Devils are Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Mattias Tedenby, Jacob Josefson, Adam Henrique, Alexander Vasyunov, Vladimir Zharkov, Anton Volchenkov and Henrik Tallinder. Everyone else seems touchable even Andy Greene, who seems to have regressed this year. Greene has played well, but is missing his defensive partner Bryce Salvador, who could also be on the move. It should be an interesting few weeks for the Devils personnel decisions. So far, John MacLean is still the coach and is likely to remain the coach until the season ends. Beyond that we do not know.