This picture of Larsson is good a representation of the Devils right now, hanging on for dear life. With two ugly losses to Columbus and Tampa, this team is trending in the wrong direction at the worst time losing 5 out of their last 6 games. And now John Hynes is saying Cammalleri has had a setback could be out for the rest of the season. I've gone back and forth on this, but if the Devils were actually going to make some noise in the playoffs, they would already have a playoff spot. The Devils are simply not playing like a playoff team. That's because they aren't built like a playoff team. It's time to sell at the trade deadline on Monday, meaning trading Stempniak and Schlemko.
I know what you're thinking when I say to trade these guys.
"But, the Devils are still in the playoff race!"
"They are only 1 point out of the 8th seed!"
"Why would we trade our leading scorer?!"
Both have been pleasantly surprising this year for the Devils, no doubt. But, both also have expiring contracts and could walk at the end of this season. If the Devils miss the playoffs and neither player re-signs, we'd lose each for nothing. Lou Lamoriello was criticized for letting that happen in the past. Current GM Ray Shero is sort of caught in the middle of the long-term plan of building a Cup contender and short-term plan of trying to make the playoffs this year. It doesn't exactly send the most encouraging message to your team if you end up trading your leading scorer.
But, this is a business and you have to be realistic. I hate to break it to you, but the Devils won't be winning the Stanley Cup this year. And, it's going to be a lot harder making the playoffs without the prospect of Cammalleri returning this year. You have to buy in to the long term plan, and selling high on Stempniak and Schlemko could bring back valuable assets for the future. It has to be done at the right price, of course. You hope teams might overpay with a high draft pick in return for renting out either one of these guys. Both of them can certainly help any playoff-bound teams in the short-term. Neither have a high salary cap hit, so they are enticing trade chips.
Stempniak is leading the team in points with 16 goals and 25 assists and is on pace to have his best year as a pro. He's the perfect rental player for a contender. He brings a veteran presence. He's played on 8 different teams in 10 years. He clearly understands all the little things and has really had to earn his way into the NHL. And, he's done what it takes to stay in the NHL. Teams who need a scoring punch will be calling. I can certainly see Washington wanting to add a guy like Stempniak.
Same deal with Schlemko on defense, who is also a having a career year with 17 points. A journeyman at this point, I had no idea who he was when he signed with the Devils before this season. He's certainly had a nice year though with a few game-winning goals. With defensemen at a premium in the league right now, he would be a cheap, low-risk high-reward pick-up at the deadline.
The reason I haven't mentioned any other Devils that should be traded is because I don't think they have anyone else that any other teams will actually want. There is still a lot of dead weight on offense on this team. Coming into the year, I didn't think they'd sniff the playoffs. I'm happy that they have been in the race. But, you have to be realistic and build for the future. I am not saying to trade those two guys for a bag of pucks. Shero has to do it at the right price.
OK, if he wants to trade Jacob Josefson for a bag of pucks, I have no problem with that. Monday should be very interesting.
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