Tough Roster Decisions for Devils GM Lamoriello

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello faces some tough decisions as training camp ends (AP Photo).

The start of the 2014-2015 NHL Season is only nine days away on October 8th and every team has some tough roster cuts and decisions to make to get down to a 23-man roster. A lot of teams have veterans in camp on a tryout basis and the Devils have themselves a plethora. They already released defenseman Mike Komisarek from his tryout and understandably so after a struggling preseason. Now, they have four more veterans remaining in Tomas Kaberle, Ruslan Fedotenko, Jordin Tootoo and Scott Gomez. Ryan Carter has also been in camp, but without a contract. Needless to say, Lou Lamoriello has some tough decisions to make.

The top line is essentially the only one set in stone with their big free agent acquisition in Mike Cammalleri, Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr. After that, it is a toss-up. Forward Reid Boucher is having a very strong camp and thus is likely to push one veteran out. Who will it be remains to be seen. Tryouts Scott Gomez and Jordin Tootoo have been noticeable in camp and Gomez had two goals in last nights 3-1 preseason win over the Flyers. Ruslan Fedotenko remains a long shot and has not been very effective in camp, but in his defense, he is playing with line-mates that do not give him the ability to showcase himself.

But, the toughest questions lie in the trade market. Who will Lou Lamoriello have to move to create room for either the tryouts or youth players like a Reid Boucher or Stefan Matteau? The answer is most likely forwards Damien Brunner and Dainius Zubrus. Both players are not having great camps or preseason. Tuomo Ruutu, whom the Devils acquired at the trade deadline from Carolina is probably unmovable because he has two years remaining on his contract with a $3.8 Million dollar cap hit, as well as often-injured Ryane Clowe, who the Devils gave a five year deal with a cap hit of $4.85 Million. Zubrus has two years remaining on his deal with a $3.1 Million dollar hit and Brunner has one year with a $2.5 Million dollar hit. Defenseman and team captain Bryce Salvador is also out there due to the a need to go younger on the blue-line. Michael Ryder also has one year left, but he has had a strong preseason and can score more than 30 goals per season and the Devils need offense badly after failing to qualify for the playoffs two years in a row and losing star forwards like Zach Parise to Minnesota in free agency, Ilya Kovalchuk to retirement (well, actually the KHL) and David Clarkson to Toronto in free agency.

Nevertheless, I expect at lease one of the tryouts to make the team. Ryan Carter now seems like a long shot, but he is valuable, so they might sign him. Carter might also be in and out of the line-up. Kaberle could make the team to provide some veteran leadership on defense. In net, it might be a case where veteran Scott Clemmensen starts out the year as Schneider’s backup and Keith Kinkaid takes over mid-season. But, the decisions are very tough for Lou Lamoriello and trades will likely have to be made.