Anything that begins "The New York Post reports..." should not be taken seriously. Look to The (Bergen) Record or The Star-Ledger for real, accurate news about the Devils.

i agree, i saw something in halischuk the one game he was up. Reminds me of a parise. Its going to be weird watching madden and gionta play for another team......but some change has to occur.

Way too much for that guy - but losing a half decent D man would cripple the devils next year. At least the average height will rise significantly without madden and gionta.

sad to see them go oh well life goes on

Typical Devils, over pay for a mediocre defenseman and let talented goal scorers leave. How Lou got into the hall of fame is beyond me. If he hires Lemaire as coach again I'm never watching or going to another Devils game again. The old defense first, defense only approach won't work in the NHL any more. It's about time the learned that and went out and got goal scorers with speed. Lumbering defensemen won't win the Stanley Cup any more.

Wait does anyone know how much Oduya is asking for? Not for nothing he's not a player worthy of throwing your wallet at...

Well, at least we'll have one semi decent two eyed defensman. (How I wish Colin White would go away) Now, how about teaching Brodeur how to not choke in the playoffs and while we're at it, just let Brodeur coach the team, he seems to think he is anyway.

Hopefully Gionta will come to his hometown team Sabres and help bring this city its first championship!!!!

Oduya has gotten better all 3 seasons he has played for the Devils on ends of the ice and deserves the long term commitment as a reward for his solid play. Saying some b.s. like he's a mediocre defensemen just shows lack of knowledge on him and that you don't watch the team. Gionta has been stuck in neutral for 3 straight seasons after the breakout season in 05/06. No need to overpay/overvalue him. Too much of a streaky scorer now. Madden, kind of mixed on, depending on what he would be asking for. He is a still a solid 3rd/4th line center and I feel still has some seasons left. Older and coming off a so-so season, I couldn't see him asking for too much. I would resign him for 2 years at reasonable $$. At the same time, they knew when to let Brylin walk, so we'll see. Out of the other names mentioned at the end of the article, I would bring back Rupp at reasonable $$ too, same with Weekes. Whoever the new coach is, hopefully Johnny Mac, has to establish from day one that Marty can't go 70 games anymore. The backup needs to start around 20 games spread throughout the season to keep Marty fresh for the playoffs.

Gio's from Rochester, not Buffalo. Sad to see them go, but both past their peaks and the first round pick is a Madden clone. Oduya is the one offensive defenseman we have, so hard to let him go, plus he's young and getting better, but I agree with sonicdeathmonkey... should not be getting more than a couple mil. a year.

Daniel V, forget Rupp, we just drafted a few monsters who can cut their teeth playing 4th line thug wingers. Clarkson is 10 times the scrapper that Rupp is and actually has a little speed and some offensive talent.

First Rupp can go...bye bye... second, Daniel V, Marty was fresh for the playoffs and still blew it.... As for the rest what will happen will happen...Lou is a moron as usual. Good players just leave New Jersy they don't come to Jersey.

-Oduya is emerging as a quality Defensemen who you can't just let walk away, especially with a weak Devils D.
-Brian Gionta can't just walk away. Easily a 1st or 2nd lineman who can score and assist at the Right Wing.
-Gotta bring Rupp back as well, he won't score but will get the team motivated as Clarkson can finally become a threat at scoring, and Salvador can stay in the game to help the weak Defense.
-Tallackson, you've got to assume will go and become a mediocre player.
-Shannahan did nothing, hopefully he can now retire after finishing with his original team.
-As for Madden- solid leader, reminds me of Bobby Holik in a way, but he's just not doing much on the ice and at 35, he's probably got a 2 or 3 year contract left in him.
-Clemmeson will do well for an eager goalie-needed team.
-Weekes I could see coming back, descent back-up, but I'd like to see somebody else, maybe somebody in the system to come up as a back up for 2 years, as Brodeur begins to descend into retirement. (Love you, though, Marty)
Devils- Make a move this winter, get a top Defender and some solid 3rd line players. Bring up a Goalie to groom into Marty's spot, don't rebuild, we are a contender, hopefully next year we realize a hockey game is 60 minutes, not 58 1/2 and scapegoat out goalie.

Matt, 100% agree on Clarkson being a nice young scrappy player with an offensive touch. I'd like to see him consistently on 2nd/3rd line to get more ice time to work on his offensive game. Like I mentioned about Rupp, if it were reasonable $$, I'd do it but nothing big. He's a 3rd/4th line defensive forward type so not breaking the bank for that.
TL, if you want to consider Marty fresh for last season's playoffs coming off major elbow surgery, go for it. He will be his normal self this coming season, as long as he is given the proper time off over the course of the season.

hes sighned,great news for the devils to those who cant c a rafalski in the making here should stop watching hockey u know nothing.
http://devils.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=432232

i agree with daniel v and a.f - oduya is young, and seems to improve every season. take away mistakes he makes (here and there) and i think he can be better then paul martin.,.,

lou deff. has something up his sleeve

Odoya is a tremendous offensive defenseman, but he is scary bad at times in the defensive zone. If you watched how many easy goals (due to lack of basic front-of-the-net coverage) resulted from Martin-Odoya combo, you'd be sick. Just watch marty's eyes after he's left hung out to dry by those guys as he watches games, shut outs, GAA go out the window when they're on the ice...Lou had to pay Oduya, but he is not a good defensive defenseman.

First of all, Oduya would have received offers of $4 million and beyond if he went UFA. He's in the prime of his career and every GM that has watched him play knows he's only going to get better. @Matt, you just made my point clear - bring back Rupp so Clarkson can use his skill. No doubt he's a tough young player, but why should we relegate someone with talent to the 4th line for getting into scraps? Rupp's better suited for that role. Longname Leblond will be up this year too I assume and can help defend our players and get in front of and in between guys like Emery and Pronger. I'm mixed as well on Gio and Mad Dog. Both are good players and good leaders who play with a ton of heart. I'd bring them both back depending on monetary value. If they want more than their worth, there's plenty to pick from in the FA pool. I'd be more sad to see Madden leave, though.

he was the highest plus in the playoff series and not on the ice for either late goalin game 7.i wish he were cause then they prob wouldnt of happened.

@ The Red Syn--"Typical Devils, over pay for a mediocre defenseman"---Hey, stupid...Oduya...you must watch very much hockey because if you did you would understand that when it comes to defensemen, they don't magically become stars overnight...they progress slowly but surely over a period of time just Oduya is doing...look at his stats for the last three years and you'll see improvement each and every year plus the guy is only 27 and approaching his prime years as a player; secondly "and let talented goal scorers leave." who's that Gio?? He was a great scorer three years ago...he gets paid to put goals in the net (not get assists) and he has been slowly declining over the last three years but I still like for a 1-2 year deal, if he is willing to sign that kind of deal...I hate to see madden go but if we should sign him for 1-2 years if we can, that would at least allow Josephson 1-2 years to get use to NHL hockey before he replaces Madden. Rupp is gone and ably replaced by LeTourneau-Leblond. Lastly, your comment of you don't understand "How Lou got into the hall of fame is beyond me. " Of course it is beyond you because your an idiot and don't understand how he built and continues to build an NHL hockey team that simply puts itself in a position to win year after year. after year. Why do they win? Because they have scorers with speed and skill! Hey dummy when it comes to lumbering D-men, the Devils don't have any you must confusing the Devils with the Flyers or the Rangers! Do us all a favor and please don't watch the Devils or hockey ever again, as you obviously don't know anything about it.....

I try to look at things from a positive standpoint and seeing as how Madden, Gionta, Rupp, Clemmensen and Weekes, among others, are most likely moving on, we can look forward to free agency and Bergfors, Halischuk and Corrente getting some time (finally) in the system on a full-time basis. The best thing is that we do have these options and the core of our team is still strong, especially with the re-signing of Jonny O.

Let's go devils!!!!!

wtf are the devils doing?