OK, that’s perhaps one of the most statistically unlikely titles ever. Cam Janssen is now back home in St. Louis (this will make long-suffering ticket-share partner Sok happy, I think) and the Devils pick up Bryce Salvador in a one-for-one exchange. There’s little to say about this one; Salvador gets about half the ice time of a regular blueliner, and he has one goal with a dime of assists this year. Goodbye, Cam, thanks for being friendly to all of the youth players, signing autographs and knocking some smug looks off of inappropriately smug faces.
What to make of this deal? I think Lou is stockpiling defense talent for the playoffs. Once the Lowell season ends, Lou can keep a number of players on reserve to move between the big and little Devils, working them out with Coach K (the fun one, not the Dookie) and ensuring he’s got options should Sutter blow a gasket (or a player blow a ligament) down the stretch with any of the seven D-men. It can and does happen.
Bottom line: Salvador leads the Blues with a +12 on-ice rating. While he doesn’t get a freezer full of ice team, when he’s out there, he’s not making mistakes. On some level, this feels like the shipment of David Hale to Calgary last year (a player who is third in line for a particular role gets to play elsewhere — Janssen was behind Rupp and Clarkson for the tough winger slot), and on another, perhaps it’s a prelude to something bigger.
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