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So is there room for a rookie?

“I liked our defense last year,” DeBoer said. “We don’t have a lot of big names there. We led the league in shots-against. I think it’s an underrated group. I think we can do some things better. I think we can move pucks better than we did last year.

“I think some of the young guys are pushing for jobs because they have that ability—Gelinas, Merrill, Urbom. They can move pucks very well and that’s going to push some guys.”

Merrill was the Devils’ first pick (38th overall in the second round) at the 2010 entry draft. After a college career at Michigan, he played 12 games for Albany (AHL) last season and showed promise.

The opportunity is there.

“I really had no expectations at all,” Merrill said of camp. “I hadn’t really spoken to anyone who had been to a camp so I didn’t know what to expect.

“It’s been a really good first week. I think the biggest thing is to stay consistent, play my game and not worry about things I can’t control like who is in the lineup and who is practicing with who. Those are things out of my control.”

He could be a point man on the power play.

“They already have great guys who can run power plays here,” he said cautiously. “Any way I can help the team, whether they put me on the power play or penalty kill, is not up to me. Whenever my number is called, I’m going.”

Jobs will be won and lost over the next week.

“I think we’re starting to get the NHL group a little more together. Sprinkling young guys in and out on a daily basis,” DeBoer explained.

* * *

“I don’t know. It’s too early to tell,” DeBoer said. “I do know this—we have to be a four-line team in order to play the way we want to play with the pace we want to play at with the schedule and over an 82-game season. That’s when we’re most effective.

“However those four lines shake out, it’s never set in stone. All kinds of factors go into that, including injuries and how guys are playing.The one thing is you know those guys have some chemistry. It’s always something you have in your back pocket you can go to, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be an 82-game combination.”

DeBoer was asked if Gionta is fighting for job.

“Stephen is a big part of this team. You don’t want to say no. Everybody’s fighting for jobs, positions, ice time. But I don’t think that’s a true characterization,” the coach answered.

* * *

“He did have a light skate today and it went well. That’s all I’ve got,” DeBoer said.

* * *

Unsigned tryout Damien Brunner will make his Devils debut Thursday night.

Brunner said he is ready to play.

“Yeah, it’s no problem. I skated a while in Switzerland. The jet lag is not too bad,” he noted.

There is a six-hour time difference between Switzerland and New Jersey.

* * *

The pace of practices has been fast, which DeBoer chalks up to competition.

Two newcomers who aren’t in jeopardy of losing their jobs are winger Michael Ryder and goalie Cory Schneider.

“Michael is a veteran guy. He’s got a great personality in that he keeps things loose. We need his goals,” DeBoer said. “He’s a guy who scored over 30 numerous occasions in his career. I think he’s just starting to hit stride. I think he’s eased his way in here.”

Schneider was solid in Monday night’s game against the Rangers. He has looked impressive from the beginning and has fit in well with Martin Brodeur.

“Chris Terreri was commenting the other day how little maintenance he is,” DeBoer said. “He’s low maintenance. He’s fit in seamlessly. He seems very comfortable and we’re happy to have him.”

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.19.2013

717287 New Jersey Devils

Devils: Time running out on having Martin and Anthony Brodeur share game

By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger

on September 18, 2013 at 3:31 PM, updated September 18, 2013 at 10:57 PM

Time is running out on what would be the most heartwarming story of the Devils’ preseason — dressing Martin Brodeur and his 18-year-old son, Anthony, in the same exhibition game or intra-squad scrimmage.

Martin Brodeur will play the first two periods of tonight’s preseason game against the Islanders and all indications are that Scott Wedgewood will be his backup.

Although the real show-stopper would be dressing the two Brodeurs for Monday night’s exhibition in Montreal, Anthony could be back with his junior club in Gatineau (QMJHL) by then.

"It’s unfortunate I didn’t get to be on the ice with him, but he’s sitting beside me in the locker room. So once in a while he comes in and sits down and we chitchat a little bit," the NHL’s all-time winningest goalie said. "It’s nice having him around."

Dad knows that, even if Anthony were still with the team, sharing the game in Montreal is unrealistic.

"It would be nice, but he’s young. He’s only 18. I know when I was 18 and came to camp I didn’t get any playing time. I didn’t get much," Brodeur said. "It’s kind of the same situation for him. It would be nice but I know the team has other priorities than that."

Anthony understands.

"It would be nice for it to happen, but I’m here for the experience. It’s not just to be on the ice with my dad," he said. "It would be awesome, but I’m here to improve my game and show people what I can do."

There was a time when the younger Brodeur had little interest in watching his dad at work. As young kids, Anthony and his twin brothers, William and Jeremy, would play mini-sticks in the corridor outside the press room in Continental Airlines Arena. The press room door would be the goal.

"I was fully aware there was a (Devils) game going on," Anthony recalled. "We had more fun playing mini-sticks than watching the games, I think. There were a bunch of little kids from the guys on the team. I don’t really remember whose kids they were, but me and my brothers were always there. Those were fun times."

He wasn’t always the goalie.

"No. When I play mini-sticks I like to play forward. Change it up a little bit," he said with a grin.

It was some time around the 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs that Anthony became aware of his dad’s status, if not the fact that pop was perhaps the best goalie on the planet.

"Our first Cup he was about 8 days old (actually 2 weeks old). He was too young," Brodeur remembered. "I would think he probably became aware during the run in 2000. He was there in Dallas when we won the Cup. We have all the pictures of them with cowboy hats and everything. I think that’s when I feel he understood about winning by being a part of it and going on the ice."

Not until he was in prep school at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minn., did Anthony begin to think he might be able to follow in his father’s footsteps.

"I think it was once I got to Shattuck and I started practicing every day," he said. "I thought, ‘Wow, maybe something can come out of this.’ I thought if I kept working hard, something might happen. So that’s what I did and something happened."

The Devils don’t usually do "feel-good" but they did on June 30 at Prudential Center when GM Lou Lamoriello called Martin Brodeur down from a suite and allowed him to announce that the Devils had chosen Anthony in the seventh round with the 208th overall pick.

Some suggested it was simply a nice gesture by the team and that Anthony wasn’t a legitimate prospect. The Devils were repaying his dad for three Stanley Cups.

Others think there is talent there and say having been raised by Martin Brodeur will make a significant difference.

"For me, it’s I love to play hockey. I’m not trying to live in his shadow. I want to be my own person," Anthony said. "Playing hockey is what I want to do and it’s not because he plays hockey. And I’m not afraid to play hockey because he was one of the greatest goalies of all time.

"Comparisons are pretty much inevitable. A lot of people are compared to their parents. You have the same genes. I know it’s going to happen. I don’t think too much about it. I try to be myself."

He is 5-11, 180. His future Hall of Famer dad is 6-2, 220 pounds.

"Definitely my height is (a disadvantage). I’m a shorter goalie," Anthony said. "It’s a different game now and all the goalies are over 6-foot. I’m under 6-foot. So that’s definitely a little bit of a restriction. If you’re bigger it helps, but you still need to be able to move, be quick and see the puck. You don’t need height for that."

With or without a game with his father in this preseason, he’ll play junior hockey this season. That will be the beginning of a very long road to the NHL.

"I think for any goalie it’s a long road. Especially me. I’m a seventh-round pick and not many seventh-round picks end up making it," Anthony said. "But there is always hope. Just being drafted is an honor. It’s a start. Anything can happen."

The Devils thought his father would be a very good goalie. They never dreamed he’d be as good as anyone in history to put on the pads. So no one really knows what the future holds for the kid.

"I hope he lives his dream. He’s really into it right now," Martin Brodeur said. "Not everybody makes it all the way to the NHL. But you can make a career out of it."

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.19.2013

717288 New Jersey Devils

Which young players should make the Devils' final roster?

By Charles Curtis/NJ.com

on September 18, 2013 at 10:19 AM, updated September 18, 2013 at 10:23 AM

Sure, the Devils have only played a total of one preseason game. But first impressions have already been made about which players should make the cut to start the regular season in New Jersey.

There's a ton of buzz surrounding Damien Brunner, who is in camp on a professional tryout contract despite a great playoff run with the Red Wings and a hot start to the 2013 season. He's already skating with Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus, as The Star-Ledger's Rich Chere reported, something that could be a positive sign.

Chere also wrote about Eric Gelinas, who scored against the Rangers and who is competing with names like Jon Merrill and Alex Urbom. Reid Boucher, who had a terrific season in juniors, and Mattias Tedenby are also potentially on the bubble. Jacob Josefson could also fight his way into a spot.

So what should the final roster look like? Out of the names above, who would you choose? Are there any sleepers who could make a bigger impression as the preseason continues? Head down to the comments section to discuss.

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.19.2013

717289 New Jersey Devils

Devils: Jaromir Jagr remains out; Damien Brunner-Patrik Elias line intact

By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger

on September 18, 2013 at 10:11 AM, updated September 18, 2013 at 10:39 AM

Unsigned Damien Brunner remained on a line with Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus today as the Devils practiced in AmeriHealth Pavilion.

Jaromir Jagr (lower body soreness) once again did not practice with the team.

The lines:

Dainius Zubrus-Patrik Elias-Damien Brunner

Ryane Clowe-Travis Zajac-Michael Ryder

Rostislav Olesz-Andrei Loktionov-Steve Bernier

Ryan Carter-Stephen Gionta-Adam Henrique

Krys Barch-Jacob Josefson-Mattias Tedenby

Defense pairings:

Bryce Salvador-Marek Zidlicky

Andy Greene-Adam Larsson

Jon Merrill-Mark Fayne

Anton Volchenkov-Peter Harrold

Goalies:

Martin Brodeur-Cory Schneider

Star Ledger LOADED: 09.19.2013

717290 New York Islanders

Isles' Cal Clutterbuck suffers skate cut and is out

Originally published: September 18, 2013 7:29 PM

Updated: September 18, 2013 8:04 PM

By ARTHUR STAPLE arthur.staple@newsday.com

The Islanders' first night of the preseason was a costly one. Cal Clutterbuck, the energetic forward acquired from the Wild on draft day for former first-round pick Nino Niederreiter, suffered a skate laceration to his leg and "will miss some extended time," according to Islanders coach Jack Capuano.

Clutterbuck played in the split-squad game against the Flames in Calgary on Tuesday night and left the game in the third period after throwing a hit on Calgary's Paul Byron.

It was the first game of any kind in an Islanders uniform for Clutterbuck, 25, who signed a four-year, $11-million deal in July after the Isles traded for him. Clutterbuck was a mainstay in the Wild lineup during his five seasons there and began training camp on a line with Peter Regin and Michael Grabner.

Capuano would not specify a time frame for Clutterbuck's absence. The Isles face the Devils in Newark Thursday night and have five more preseason games before the season opener, also in Newark, on Oct. 4.

Prospects Anders Lee, Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome are fighting for roster spots and this injury could open the door for one of them.

As to the rest of the games on Tuesday, a 5-3 loss in Calgary and a 4-2 loss in Regina, Saskatchewan, Capuano said he saw some good, some bad and some rust.

"It was our first game, [the Flames] had a couple already," Capuano said. "But some of our younger guys did well and some of our veterans struggled a little. We have some things to work on."

John Tavares and Matt Moulson scored the goals in Regina. Grabner, Riley Wetmore and 2012 first-round pick Griffin Reinhart scored in Calgary.

"We're going to have to be better at getting bodies to the net and creating turnovers the rest of the preseason," Tavares told the Islanders' website after the game in Regina. "We understand that those are parts of the game that are going to have to be there if we're going to be successful."

The Islanders flew back from Saskatchewan Wednesday and did not skate. Tonight's lineup against the Devils at the Prudential Center may be prospect-heavy, with Saturday's game at Barclays Center sure to include the bigger names on the Islanders' roster.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.19.2013

717291 New York Islanders

Monhan scores 2, Flames top Islanders twice

Published: September 18, 2013 12:18 AM

By The Associated Press

REGINA, Saskatchewan - Sean Monahan scored two goals for the Calgary Flames, who completed a preseason sweep of split-squad preseason games against the New York Islanders with a 4-2 win on Tuesday night.

Matt Stajan and Mikael Backlund each had a goal for the Flames, and Corban Knight set up two.

John Tavares and Matt Moulson each had a goal and an assist for New York, which also lost 5-3 to the Flames at Calgary.

After a scoreless first, the Flames netted four goals in the second period.

Monahan started the scoring a minute in when he wheeled around Travis Hamonic, took a pass from Knight and wired a wrist shot over Evgeni Nabokov's shoulder.

On the next shift, Monahan was called for interference, which led to Tavares' tying goal on the power play.

The Flames responded with three straight goals. Stajan put Calgary ahead by putting a puck under Nabokov, who was replaced a few shifts later by Ken Reiter.

Calgary's Karri Ramo made 21 saves. Nabokov stopped 20 of 24 shots in the loss.

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.19.2013

717292 New York Rangers

Without center Derek Stepan, NY Rangers head north to training camp

Staff

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

On the eighth day of Derek Stepan’s contract holdout Wednesday afternoon, the Rangers team charter took off for Banff, Alberta without one of the Blueshirts’ top centers on the plane or his name even on their active roster, to continue training camp in western Canada.

Such are the hard lines GM Glen Sather draws for restricted free agents with no arbitration rights for leverage, even those such as Stepan who deserve a big payday.

While the silent standoff drags on, however, first-year coach Alain Vigneault has no choice but to train his full attention on the 39 players on the plane. The organization’s stance in the contract negotiations limits Vigneault’s ability to include Stepan in his short-term plans for his eventual 23-man roster.

“At this time, right now, I’m functioning as if he’s not here,” Vigneault said Wednesday in Greenburgh.

The top six spots on the blue line are locked in, and so are the goaltending duties, with Martin Biron backing up Henrik Lundqvist following Wednesday’s release of Johan Hedberg from his camp tryout. The forward lineup, however, remains in flux.

So Vigneault’s first major challenge in New York is to find his top 12 forwards for opening night Oct. 3 in Phoenix, without knowing exactly how long he’ll be without major cogs Stepan and injured wingers Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin.

Simultaneously, he must prepare for the inevitable sharp adjustment when those three return.

For now, the coach is experimenting with forward “duos” he believes may click in the early going: Brad Richards with Rick Nash, Derick Brassard with Benoit Pouliot, and either Dominic Moore or Brian Boyle centering agitator Derek Dorsett. Vigneault is encouraged by prospects Danny Kristo, Jesper Fast and Oscar Lindberg, youngsters with “NHL skill level.” But even the coach admitted they may not be “quite ready” for the show.

Unfortunately, Vigneault’s trial-and-error system is a reminder of what he does not have at his disposal for the Rangers’ final four preseason games out west, beginning Monday night in Calgary and includ ing a Thursday night visit to John Tortorella and the Vancouver Canucks.

A quick look at last season’s tapes, for example, would show him that Nash clicked best with Stepan in the regular season and with Brassard during the playoffs.

While discussing how many players he intends to carry in the regular season, Vigneault did mention the potential of placing players on the long-term injury list, a possibility for Callahan or Hagelin that would keep them sidelined for the first 10 regular-season games, but also could free more money to sign Stepan.

“Hockey’s gonna have a say in (who we carry on the roster), but the (salary) cap will also have a say in it,” Vigneault said. “That’s always the reality of today’s game . . . that question you usually ask the money guy.”

Unfortunately, Vigneault must build a roster without three of his money guys — well, two money guys and Stepan, if you ask the Rangers front office.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

The Rangers and The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel are co-hosting a charity golf invitational on Thursday to benefit the surrounding communities devastated by June floods in Sather’s home province of Alberta.

New York Daily News LOADED: 09.19.2013

717293 New York Rangers

NY Rangers release Johan Hedberg from tryout, trim roster to 39 for trip to Banff, Alberta, to continue training camp

BY Pat Leonard

As expected, the Rangers released veteran goaltender Johan Hedberg from his tryout on Wednesday.

Hedberg did not see any game action in the Rangers’ first two preseason games. He was brought in to compete with incumbent Martin Biron and Cam Talbot for the backup job behind Henrik Lundqvist, following Biron’s late arrival to camp due to a personal issue.

But Biron is already under contract, so retaining him is simpler and more efficient financially. Plus, the job is Biron’s to lose, and on Tuesday night in Philadelphia he made six saves on six shots.

“We talked yesterday after the game with Glen and his staff and Benoit, and thinking how we were going to use Henrik,” coach Alain Vigneault said Wednesday after practice. “We figured with four games in five nights, the best way to get him ready was to play him the first game in Calgary and then the game in Vancouver – not to play him when we travel. So if he’s playing those two, and I want to give a full game to Marty, then there’s only one game left.

“So I called Johan this morning to tell him, ‘Listen, there’s a possibility you might get half a game. There’s also a possibility you might get a game, depending on how things unfold,’” Vigneault continued. “So for a veteran player, well-respected across the league, I wanted him to hear from me what the scenario was coming up, and I left the decision up to him. He decided to stay back.”

Vigneault said Lundqvist will play the full game Monday night against Calgary and the full game Thursday night against John Tortorella and the Vancouver Canucks. Biron will play the full game Tuesday night against Edmonton, and the plan for Friday in Las Vegas is still up in the air.

Talbot, last year’s No. 1 in the AHL, continues to be groomed by the organization for future work. He is the third of the three goalies traveling with the team to Banff, Alberta, to continue the Rangers’ training camp in western Canada.

In addition to releasing Hedberg, the Rangers trimmed their active roster by assigning several prospects to the AHL: forwards Ryan Bourque, Josh Nicholls, Shawn O’Donnell and Michael St. Croix, and defenseman Brendon Nash.

That means 39 players will travel west, where the Rangers will wrap up the preseason with four games in five days next week: Monday in Calgary, Tuesday in Edmonton, Thursday in Vancouver and Friday in Las Vegas against the Kings.

There would be 40 players on the active roster, but Derek Stepan’s contract holdout reached Day Eight on Wednesday. In fact, after including Stepan’s name on the active roster following the first round of cuts, the Rangers now have removed it.

Rangers’ active roster (39)

Forwards (23): Arron Asham, Brian Boyle, Derick Brassard, Ryan Callahan, Derek Dorsett, Jesper Fast, Carl Hagelin, Micheal Haley, Marek Hrivik, Michael Kantor, Chris Kreider, Danny Kristo, Oscar Lindberg, Brandon Mashinter, J.T. Miller, Dominic Moore, Rick Nash, Benoit Pouliot, Darroll Powe, Taylor Pyatt, Brad Richards, Andrew Yogan, Mats Zuccarello. (Derek Stepan holding out)

Defensemen (13): Conor Allen, Stu Bickel, Michael Del Zotto, Justin Falk, Dan Girardi, Tommy Hughes, Aaron Johnson, Ryan McDonagh, Dylan McIlrath, John Moore, Marc Staal, Anton Stralman, Danny Syvret.

Goalies (three): Martin Biron, Henrik Lundqvist, Cam Talbot

New York Daily News LOADED: 09.19.2013

717294 New York Rangers

Crushed Ice: Darroll Powe pushes to prove himself; Martin Biron fights for his own job; young NY Rangers hold own vs. Flyers

BY Pat Leonard

PHILADELPHIA – The Rangers waived veteran forwards Darroll Powe and Arron Asham this summer to reduce their salary cap hits, which shrink to a percentage of their total if they play in the AHL. The decision came as an initial shock to Powe, who had not experienced that feeling before, but he used that decision and a disappointing finish to last season as motivation this training camp.

Tuesday night, Powe drove to the net and redirected Andrew Yogan’s shot over Mason for a 2-1 lead late in the second period. It was his first goal as a Ranger in 39 games including preseason, regular season and playoffs, and he scored it against his former team.

Powe has centered lines in both of the Rangers’ two opening preseason games as coach Alain Vigneault takes a hard look at what the 28-year-old can give the club.

“I believe in myself as a hockey player,” said Powe, a depth forward and penalty-killing specialist. “My goal coming into camp was just to come in, work hard and show what I believe, (which) is that I can still play. It’s nice to get into two games here right off the bat. I’m not where I want to be yet, but it’s good to be back, feeling the battle of the game and all that.”