NJ Devils watch

"Todd Cordell ‏@toddcordell
I could be wrong, but with Brodeur and Parise expected to test free agency, this could be a sign of their ownership situation."

Rich Chere ‏@ledger_NJDevils
Devils' financial situation has prevented GM Lou Lamoriello from committing to re-sign Martin Brodeur so he will test market as UFA
Retweeted by Nick Cotsonika

This post is significant because it is by a New Jersey journalist. If that's how they see it, that says a lot as well.

yeesh
new CBA anybody?

Rumblings: Where else could Brodeur play?
June, 29, 2012
JUN 29
12:08
PM ET
By Pierre LeBrun | ESPN.com
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A quiet Friday morning got cranked in a hurry when my TSN teammate Darren Dreger dropped a bombshell tweet saying Martin Brodeur might test free agency.

The NHL’s all-time winningest goalie hired veteran agent Pat Brisson after going years without representation.

"He will be testing free agency if a deal is not in place by Sunday," Brisson told ESPN.com via email Friday.

Brisson and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello had not yet spoken as of Friday morning but obviously were planning to do so before the day was done. The Devils’ ongoing ownership turmoil is the reason for this stunning predicament. Although you also have to wonder if Brodeur is reading the tea leaves on pending UFA Zach Parise and not liking what he sees.

Could Brodeur really play for another team?

Keeping in mind there’s still a chance Brodeur will stay put, let’s look at the options if he does indeed dip his toes into the free-agent waters for the first time in his career:

Toronto Maple Leafs: What better role model for James Reimer than the game’s best ever? While the Leafs have talked to the Vancouver Canucks about Roberto Luongo, Brodeur could be had without giving up any assets, not to mention without the $53.3 million left on Luongo’s deal. Having said that, Luongo is still in his prime. Still, A Brodeur-Reimer combo doesn’t sound all too bad. The fly in the ointment here is that Leafs goalie coach Francois Allaire and Brodeur are miles apart on style. You’d have to think, though, that Allaire could just keep his distance from the big guy in this case. And the loquacious Brodeur in the biggest hockey media market in the NHL? That’s just too delicious to ignore.

Florida Panthers: There’s a young Jacob Markstrom who could spunge all kinds of knowledge from playing in a tandem with Brodeur. That’s no disrespect to Jose Theodore who did a solid job for the Panthers this past season. But the allure of bringing in Brodeur is certainly one I know the Panthers front office can’t ignore, at least as a thought. And yes, the Panthers have also talked to Vancouver about Luongo, and like Toronto, the debate is whether you want to give up assets for a star goalie in his prime or get an aging Brodeur without giving up assets and gamble that he can still be effective for another year or two.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Young Mr. Anders Lindback is getting his first shot at a No.1 job in the NHL after coming over from Nashville. He’s learned plenty playing behind star Pekka Rinne but insurance in the form of Brodeur would make a lot of sense for Tampa. Obviously GM Steve Yzerman knows Brodeur well, the two were teammates on the 2002 Olympic championship squad for Team Canada.

Chicago Blackhawks: Corey Crawford struggled in his sophomore year as the No. 1 goalie for the Hawks. Again, what better tonic for Crawford than fellow Montreal native and hero Marty Brodeur. It would be a sensational insurance policy for a Cup contender like Chicago.

espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/18012/rumblings-where-else-could-brodeur-play

Rich Chere ‏@ledger_NJDevils
Martin Brodeur will test free agency after Devils are unable to commit: Team's financial troubles prompt goalie ... bit.ly/McQe9s
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Tom Gulitti ‏@tgfireandice
Devils have a budget for next season and that is impacted by finances. Where Parise's contract fits -or if he leaves - will impact that.

Larry Brooks ‏@nyp_Brooksie
Keep in mind, after Game 6 Brodeur did say, "Circumstances could be out of Lou's hands and my hands."

Good Lord...how to ruin a team/organization...have to let go of Brodeur and Parise...how sad.

Whether or not Parise signs with the NJ Devils, it is clear from trusted hockey commentators that the Devils are one of the final teams still being considered by Parise. That means that the Devils made a serious offer to Parise (as well as the completed resigning of Brodeur).

Here is a question, and a possible answer:

Why would the Devils not have made ANY serious communications with at least Brodeur, and perhaps Parise as well, during the 15 days or so between the end of the cup finals and July 1? (according to multiple reliable hockey writers).

My theory (theory #1) - is that there was some kind of "hiatus" or "pause" imposed on Lou Lamoriello during that time, for high $ pending UFA's. And, that at some point in late June or early July, Lamoriello received the "all clear" to resume (or begin) efforts to resign Brodeur and Parise.

From the previous page on this thread, on June 29:
" Re: NJ Devils watch
« Reply #3 on Jun 29, 2012, 10:32am »
Rich Chere ‏@ledger_NJDevils
Devils' financial situation has prevented GM Lou Lamoriello from committing to re-sign Martin Brodeur so he will test market as UFA
Retweeted by Nick Cotsonika"


Read more: gojetsgo.freeforums.net/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=20&page=1#ixzz1zeoo452r

If this theory#1 is true, what does it mean?

Theory #2 (to answer this second question) is that either there is a substantial new investor in the Devils, or, that the NHL has decided to take over the team in earnest, and without any reservation. In a sense, these alternative explanations are not mutually exclusive, since the NHL could be pursuing that substantial new investor anyway, even if they have decided to take over the club and operate it. Note also that the new investor may be "waiting in the wings" until the bankruptcy is completed, so as to have a reduced debt load before making his investment. I can see the point in keeping this information quiet until after the bankruptcy or proposal to creditors.

My guess is that there IS indeed a new investor in New Jersey. There is a poster on HF Boards who claims to have insider information that this is the case. If so, it seems to me that the NHL must have been waiting on some key indicator, closing or approval during the last 2 weeks of June, or even until July 1. Otherwise, I find it difficult to make sense of the Devils' lack of communication with Brodeur and Parise during that time.

For reference, this is the post on HF Boards (not mine - I'm quoting):

End of quote

As I have noted above, something was "off the rails" in late June. Who knows what it was. Maybe the new investor was trying to negotiate something better with the NHL - or vice versa. Whatever it was, it now appears to be a "green light" again for the New Jersey Devils.

As The World Turns...

We are so lucky to have the owners we have!!

Deal lets Devils owner stay in game
By JOSH KOSMAN
Last Updated: 12:10 AM, September 7, 2012
Posted: 11:32 PM, September 6, 2012

EXCLUSIVE

Embattled New Jersey Devils owner Jeffrey Vanderbeek has finalized a deal with the team’s lenders that will keep him in control of the franchise for at least two years, The Post has learned.

The deal, hammered out in the last few days, was able to be reached only after the NHL agreed to convert its multi-million dollar advance on licensing income into a secured loan and to put off repayment for 24 months, or longer, the source added.

Vanderbeek is now paying lenders other than the NHL roughly $40 million to retire some of its overdue loans and is combining the team and arena debt into one new $160 million package, sources said.

The owner, a former Wall Street executive, is putting up much, perhaps almost half, of the $40 million.

A new two-year agreement could grow longer if the team and arena combined hit certain improved financial targets, a source said.

The complex deal, which still needs a few signatures beyond the lenders, is expected to be completed next week, sources said.

“[NHL] Commissioner Bettman did not want the Devils to be a distraction during the NHL lockout,” a source said, explaining why the commissioner did not demand payment or force out Vanderbeek, as he had contemplated only a few months ago.

The Devils and the NHL declined to comment.

Read more: www.nypost.com/p/news/business/deal_lets_devils_owner_stay_in_game_z0WbIgkP44bmnQw9hEG0UL#ixzz25priWny1