NJ needs 1 more NHL calibre player. Boucher isn`t ready & playing sparingly well covering for some injury`s is fine but he needs to play & play a ton in all situations down on the farm.

If Briere could be had for Volchenkov & know 1 really knows if he is or if NJ or Mtl are even willing to swap those 2 assets but to me if it could be done it should be done. We have Harrold returning from injury & Larson; another solid prospect, now down on the farm. The D could get by with out Volchenkov & his 2 more seasons after this season at 4.25 to Briere for 1 more season after this at 4.

I have NJ to make the playoffs in my early preseason projections.

Injuries are becoming an issue. Lossing Elias; almost 2 years older than Briere, arguably our best player hurts as do injuries to almost all NJ players as again this team has very little depth to cover for any losses.

Fleischmann & Kopecky are possibilities but neither can be had for Volchenkov. The cost for Dubinsky & especially Kane are simply to much for NJ to bare. The assets to get them either hurt us now or significantly down the road.

Trading 1 bad contract for another is our best bet. As Volchenkov has 2 years left NJ may have to include a nominal pick 3rd or 4th or possibly even eat a little cash to facilitate moving him for anyone who`s dollars don`t match up.

Kane, Dubinsky, kopecky, maybe fleischman
- shvingter88

Forget Kane or Dubinsky as either one would most likely require Merrill or Larsson. The other 2 maybe but what do they really bring? If the Jets are the target, I'd wonder if I could pry Blake Wheeler from them.

Speculating although fun is essentially a waste of time. I`m sure Lu will do something soon.

I have Greene & Ryder; traded for Ryder & a 12th last week, moved Palmieri & a 5th, dressed in my fantasy league this week. Gelinas on the bench & am going to add drop Brunner again this Saturday as he should be returning in the next 7 to 10 days. Unless someone cuts my grass that is. I pick 7th & he is certainly the best RW potentially available currently.

Gentlemen. Have to run. Pleasure as always. Have a great day & enjoy the game tonight.

1 last point.

I don`t mean to slight Volchenkov in any way. He is a solid stay at home Dman who hits & blocks shots. He`s just holding Gelinas, Merril & Larsson back. An obvious asset that should be reasonably appealing to a team that would like to move a contract they don`t like as well.

I`d be very happy with Kopecky. Big body with ok hands. Almost the perfect NJ type player.

Devils beat writer Randy Miller of NJ.com makes a case for New Jersey to acquire veteran forward Daniel Briere from the Montreal Canadiens, saying that Briere may not be happy with his playing situation in Montreal, could be a top-line centre with the Devils and would be closer to his sons who live in Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Miller suggests that swapping Briere for defenceman Anton Volchenkov could work, as Volchenkov carries a $4.25 million cap hit through 2015-16 and Briere has a $4 million hit through next season

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=441149


thoughts?
- Symba007

I would do that deal in a heartbeat.

Devils beat writer Randy Miller of NJ.com makes a case for New Jersey to acquire veteran forward Daniel Briere from the Montreal Canadiens, saying that Briere may not be happy with his playing situation in Montreal, could be a top-line centre with the Devils and would be closer to his sons who live in Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Miller suggests that swapping Briere for defenceman Anton Volchenkov could work, as Volchenkov carries a $4.25 million cap hit through 2015-16 and Briere has a $4 million hit through next season

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=441149


thoughts?
- Symba007

MTL wouldn't take Volchenkov's contract. I'd do it simply to clear cap. Briere is only on for another year and he isn't completely shot. Can play 3rd line minutes here for sure.

Just what we need a guy that shows up in the playoffs. We won't even make it there at this rate.
- shvingter88

Briere (frank)ing sucks. Don't know how anyone thinks he would actually help. Getting rid of Dman is the only beneficial thing.

Briere (frank)ing sucks. Don't know how anyone thinks he would actually help. Getting rid of Dman is the only beneficial thing.
- NickA

Maybe a change of scenery will do him good.
No pressure playing here, and he'll even be rewarded for his sh!t play!

Maybe a change of scenery will do him good.
No pressure playing here, and he'll even be rewarded for his sh!t play!
- FAZOOL

That is very true, I've just never thought all that much of the guy and he was complete poop his last few years in philly. 5 years ago he was sort of good not so much anymore. Plus he is small and im just tired of being a bunch of small pushovers.

If a rumor is out, there is little truth about it. You guys know how Lou is....

If a rumor is out, there is little truth about it. You guys know how Lou is....
- bigjersey3

Perhaps it winds up being Gelinas for Briere

Briere (frank)ing sucks. Don't know how anyone thinks he would actually help. Getting rid of Dman is the only beneficial thing.
- NickA

Thank you

Maybe a change of scenery will do him good.
No pressure playing here, and he'll even be rewarded for his sh!t play!
- FAZOOL

Yeah the change of scenery from Philly to Montreal really helped so coming to New Jersey might work.

Change of scenery won't change Briere's game, especially NJ. Also, name one player (ever) who greatly benefited from relocating to New Jersey. Maybe Arnott the first time... maybe. That's all I can think of.

(And its entirely possible that Stevens would have remained on the upward arc had he not been traded.)

If a rumor is out, there is little truth about it. You guys know how Lou is....
- bigjersey3

Yeah. Though he should let rumors permeate in the blog universe for a day or two so he can get a grasp on just how much he's going to be overpaying his free agents. Also, not sure how true this is anymore. Zidlicky was talked for a while before it happened.

Change of scenery won't change Briere's game, especially NJ. Also, name one player (ever) who greatly benefited from relocating to New Jersey. Maybe Arnott the first time... maybe. That's all I can think of.

(And its entirely possible that Stevens would have remained on the upward arc had he not been traded.)
- ElvisLemieux

Briere a guy that doesn't play one bit of defense will surely blend right in with Brunner and zidlicky

Perhaps it winds up being Gelinas for Briere
- MTL1

I would probably stop cheering for NJ if Lou did something that (frank)ing stupid.

I know he's done some stupid poop recently, but that would be beyond (frank)ing retarded.

Inexplicably (frank)ing stupid beyond comprehension. That's what that would be.

I wouldn't mind Andrew Ladd coming to NJ. But NJ sucks & no one wants to play there...

He's been a healthy scrath and moved from the top six, I don't see why they wouldn't.
- shvingter88

A-train is overpaid and has a year longer term.

I'm back.

For me at all boils down to cost. If we can move Volchenkov & his 2 & a 1/2 remaining years at 4.25 million for Briere with 1 & a 1/2 a 4 I'm in.

I'm not expecting a 28 year old Briere. I'm expecting at 36 year old 1. I want him to play 3rd line minutes, 12 to 15 minutes a night & get 2nd line power play time. Bernier is getting those minutes now. Ideally I don't want to pay a 36 year old 3rd line winger 4 million a season but again if we can dump Volchenkov's contract to get the 3 kid's more games & playing time I'm in. Worth every penny saved on Volchenkov's deal

He still has easily 15 to 20 goals & 45 points in him at his current age in that role. That's more than Zajac or Zubrus will produce. The fact he can play any forward position any where in the line up is a bonus. He may have declined during the regular season in Philadelphia but he still played great come playoff time & I hope were all still hoping NJ can make the playoff's with essentially 1/2 the season to go.

A-train is overpaid and has a year longer term.
- Rseen

So one less year of female doging. I'd rather complain about volchenkov being slow and overpaid than briere not scoring goals until the playoffs.

So one less year of female doging. I'd rather complain about volchenkov being slow and overpaid than briere not scoring goals until the playoffs.
- shvingter88

Yeah but part of the issue with guys like A-Train and Sal isn't just that they're not very good but they're taking up space and playing instead of guys like Larsson, Merrill, and Gelinas.

Ultimately it's a coaching decision as to who plays but to me one of the big things to gain from unloading a couple defenders is having room to play the young guys every night. That's really why I want to get rid of A-Train and/or Sal.

Yeah but part of the issue with guys like A-Train and Sal isn't just that they're not very good but they're taking up space and playing instead of guys like Larsson, Merrill, and Gelinas.

Ultimately it's a coaching decision as to who plays but to me one of the big things to gain from unloading a couple defenders is having room to play the young guys every night. That's really why I want to get rid of A-Train and/or Sal.
- MannySilvers

Yeah but to add Briere??? The guy blows their is nothing else to say about him. He was never even that good and he's really done now. I want some room too and a move but i don't want to add a player that will not help at all and will only hurt us. Briere is a liability just as much as Sal if not more so. He was never a good two way player but yet now he is fine for 3rd line? I don't think so rather watch Sal and Anton and Teddy up front again next year than this bumhole. That is how bad I think Briere is. He's done.

And your right it is a coaching decision who plays and who doesn't. We need PDB to step up and bench Sal or Volch when they play like garbage. He's finally learning with starting Cory over Marty so there is some hope he might change. But than again 7d are playing tonight....

So one less year of female doging. I'd rather complain about volchenkov being slow and overpaid than briere not scoring goals until the playoffs.
- shvingter88

Briere has 1 less goal than Zubrus & the same # as Zajac having played 14 & 12 less games respectively & the same # as Elias in the same # of games & has done so well averaging 12:46 TOI a game when playing & seeing 3rd line PP time in Mtl. Zajac averages 20:37 TOI & gets 1st line PP minutes, Zubrus 18:32 TOI no PP time really.

If he got the same icetime NJ is giving Bernier he would score 25+ goals & 50 + points in a walk. Scoring has more to do with how much you play, total minutes, the quality of said ice time, power play, shifts started in the offensive zone, etc & the ability to still be able to skate in the NHL. Briere still has NHL skating ability. Just not liked by Therrien, so gets limited ice time & opportunity in MTL.

He would help & certainly he couldn't hurt no 1 else can score in NJ after Jagr or Ryder.

If he can be had for a used bag of pucks I say lets give it a go. What have we to lose.

The benefit far out weighs the risk.