So Lou pulled the trigger and signed Brendan Shanahan (well, in thought if not on paper quite yet), just as the team was shipping out for a long road trip.

While Shanny and his three Cups are a welcome addition, the timing of the announcement seems unusual to me.

I’ve had a few days on the couch and some solid high-fever thinking time to start wondering what kind of message you send your locker room by signing Shanny right before a long road trip.

How about “Play well enough on this trip and we won’t send you to Lowell to make room on the roster for him,” or “I had to sign a guy who’s turning 40 in two weeks and hasn’t played all season to help our power play - how does that sound?’

Another thought is the two teams ahead of the Devils in the standings passed on him this season. New York (R) didn’t want him, Philly couldn’t afford him. I would hope their loss truly becomes New Jersey’s gain.

Whatever the message, hopefully Shanahan’s return to the Dirty Jerz can light the fire of a team that has been snuffed out here at the midway point.

The Devs are 2-1 so far on their road trip, squeaking out an ugly 5-3 win over Vancouver last night. The Canucks know a thing or two about losing a star goalie - Roberto Luongo has been out of the line up for almost as long as Marty, the result being a 9-12-3 stretch for Vancouver.

New Jersey has three more road games before coming home on Jan. 21. Thursday, they take on Columbus, Friday, the Islanders and Tuesday, the Devils visit Nashville. 

Montreal comes back to the Rock on the 21st. Last time, the Habs had fans fill half of the Prudential Center (or Centre, depending on which side of the border you’re reading this from).  Watch for a potential seventh “road” game at home, especially with the Dev’s poor Wednesday attendance record.

This is the rough part of the season. The best teams slog through January and February with winning records and minimal injuries. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s catching quite a glare off of Lord Stanley’s trophy.

Posted under Uncategorized