Jacques Lemaire is sending a message to his team by demoting Jamie Langenbrunner to the fifth line. Lemaire, no stranger to proper discipline, is the sheriff in town and he wants to shake up the environment. He wants leadership and maybe he is sending a message to Langenbrunner, who is coming off a career year last season, to not get too comfortable. Was there something to the fact that Brendan Shanahan was wearing the “C” during the last preseason game?

Langenbrunner does have a clause in his contract which would limit the Devils in having him dealt. He has two years left and with a cap hit of $2.8M per year. After having 69 points with a plus/minus +25, his stock value is high and Lamoriello could get a lot in return with the right deal. The Devils do have a glut of young talented right wingers in the system, but are they willing to rush them up in case the Devils’ captain goes elsewhere?

My opinion: this is a coaching decision rather than a personnel change. However, it does look intriguing because of the rumors swirling around in the past month of the Devils looking for a center. For now, Lemaire wants to test his players mentally and focus on winning the Stanley Cup.

e-mail: sampwoo@hockeyprimetime.com

My observations:

1.    Shanahan wearing the “C” on his jersey. There will be no captain controversy here when Langenbrunner is in the lineup. There is plenty of leadership in the locker room and any one of these top veterans can be captain on any other NHL team. He has had a profound impact on David Clarkson.

2.    Speaking of Clarkson, this kid will have a surprise breakout season and it has nothing to do with it being a contract year. He grew up idolizing Brendan Shanahan and he must be thrilled to be playing for Lemaire. It didn’t surprise me he wore the “A” last night. He has grit, works very hard, and takes every Devils’ practice very seriously and this dedication is starting to pay off dividends.

“I’ll have a big season with a lot of garbage goals if I can,” said Clarkson, whose 17 goals last season were an NHL career high. “A lot of my goals are from around the net.”

Clarkson scored 17 goals on defensive checking lines last season and has been improving steadily since he first played with the club in 2007. He fits perfectly in the system and as long as he goes hard to the net, he will enjoy having shots coming off of rebounds. Chemistry between Shanahan, Zubrus, and Clarkson?

3.    This game displayed the future for both teams. Nicklas Bergfors, who missed rookie camp this summer, looked impressive and Lou Lamoriello hinted before that he is a top six forward potential. If he has a great camp, he can really fill in the void for Patrik Elias.

4.    Patrik Elias is supposed to miss the next 3-6 weeks with groin problems. He had a fantastic year last season and the Devils will miss him on the power play in the beginning of the season.

5.    The Devils’ power play looked great and the Devils’ forwards were able to move the puck quickly around the perimeter. Lemaire is not being conservative and I like this. He is not hesitating to use four forwards and he is showing his naysayers that he is willing to take some chances. The results were two power play goals, both from Clarkson.

6.    Yann Denis looked solid and he is vying to be Martin Brodeur’s backup. With the departures of Kevin Weekes and Scott Clemmenson, he may have a chance to be that number two netminder. Jeff Frazee will have his chance, but I think he would be better served with playing time in Lowell.

7.    Devils held the Rangers scoreless on the power play on six attempts.

Email: sampwoo@hockeyprimetime.com