Jamie Langenbrunner gets to go from the bottom straight to the top.
The Devils, who are sitting in the NHL cellar with a 10-28-2 record for 22 points, moved their captain Friday morning. Jamie Langenbrunner was sent to the Dallas Stars, the team from which he was originally acquired.
Devils President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello recently fired Head Coach John MacLean in hopes of reviving the Devils’ season, but the Atlantic Division team has responded with just a 1-6-0 since the firing, including a disastrous -13 goal differential.
In return, the Devils received a conditional third-round draft pick in 2011, which could become a second-round draft pick if the Stars win a first-round playoff series, or if Dallas decides to re-sign Langenbrunner at season’s end.
“When it's a quality person who has given you what Jamie has given, been part of success, a Stanley Cup, then certainly (the trade) is difficult,” Lamoriello said. “But if it were easy, anybody could do some of these things we have to do. Unfortunately, the decision with the status that we're in, is being made for the right reasons.”
Langenbrunner was not as gloomy to leave the Devils.
"I'm excited to come back to Dallas,” Langenbrunner said. “I have a lot of great memories of playing in that organization, that city. I'm excited about where the team is headed and ready to come be a part of it."
It’s no surprise that the Stars were in the Langenbrunner-lottery. Via Twitter, Bob McKenzie of TSN all but said that a Langenbrunner-trade was imminent Thursday night. McKenzie posted teams that were likely to trade for the 35-year old right-wing, which included Dallas, St. Louis and San Jose.
Dallas was the likely destination. Despite expectations that the Stars would be a blunder this season, the Stars are coasting along with the fifth-best record in the NHL. A player-addition mid-season seemed like a stellar choice for the Stars.
Langenbrunner started his career as a member of the Stars in 1994, and stayed with them until he was traded in March of 2002, along with teammate Joe Nieuwendyk, to the Devils in exchange for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay and a first-round draft pick.
Why was Texas the likely-destination? Nieuwendyk is now the general manager for the Stars.
"He fits the mould of the type of players we want on this roster -- strong work ethic, tough, passionate and hard to play against," Nieuwendyk said shortly after the trade. "We are thrilled to be able to bring him back to Dallas.
“I know Jamie probably better than anybody.”
The Stars are filled with young players up front. In fact, the team only carried two players over the age of thirty before the trade took place. The veterans of the roster were Toby Peterson (32) and Captain Brendan Morrow (31). Langenbrunner not only adds experience to the young roster, but also depth-scoring. Nieuwendyk hopes to see Langenbrunner in a third-line roll, which will help grinders and likely-line-mates Steve Ott and Adam Burish get on the score-sheet on a more-consistent basis.
Langenbrunner, who has amassed four goals, ten assists and 14 points this season, can also be used on the power-play. He possesses smooth hands as well has an accurate shot. The Stars have the 13th best power-play in the league, and Nieuwendyk is hoping that Langenbrunner can only help their percentage.
“We haven’t had a right shot for quite some time,” Nieuwendyk said. “We’ve been missing a right shot, power-play presence. From a performance standpoint he’s really going to help us.”
While the Stars have been the surprising team this season, it won’t be a surprise if their team improves after this trade. Langenbrunner is a skilled veteran with plenty of leadership to add to it.
After thirteen seasons of being a part of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Langenbrunner will likely continue his impeccable tradition.
Keywords: adam burish, bob mckenzie, dallas stars, jamie langenbrunner, jason arnott, joe nieuwendyk, lou lamoriello, nhl, power-play, randy mckay, steve ott, trade, twitter
