Shanahan returns to New Jersey (again)

August 5, 2009   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

After a month of apparent deliberation, Brendan Shanahan has decided to return to the Devils on a one-year contract for his 22nd NHL season, signing a one-year deal – terms not disclosed.  Shanahan (the NHL’s active goal-scoring leader with 656) had six goals and eight assists in 34 games with New Jersey last year after signing in January, and a goal with two assists in the Devils’ seven-game series with the Hurricanes.

According to GM Lou Lamoriello, he wanted to give Shanahan time to make sure he was comfortable with his role under new coach Jacques Lemaire, whatever that means.  Hopefully it means being a part-time player who doesn’t get major minutes.  Don’t get me wrong, I think Shanny is a nice mentor to have for the younger players that will surely be on the roster this year.  On-ice he could be an asset over a 40-50 game stretch playing decent (but not big) minutes. 

I do have reservations about bringing Shanny back, especially since last year he barely made an impact after his first few games even with playing 15 or more minutes on a lot of nights, particularly when becoming part of the checking line at the end of the season – though he actually came back to life in the playoffs.  Plus coming back for a full season means barring injury (which is possible for someone over 40), he’ll likely have 50+ games under his belt come playoff time.  Last year’s Roger Clemens-like half season deal I thought would be ideal but that isn’t going to happen this time.

Although the Devils have cap space, I hope we didn’t throw a couple million his way just the same, since having cap space can be an asset at the trade deadline (or before it, if we use some of the younger players as chips to get another center in here). 

While the cynic in me thinks that Shanny was again waiting on the Rangers to see if they would take him back, indications are that wasn’t the case this time and I’m not sure the Rangers could sign me to play for them anyway, given their cap issues (bye bye Nikolai Zherdev).  Still, like with Lemaire himself even though I have my reservations - emotionally deep down I don’t mind seeing Shanny back.