Goodbye Cam Janssen

In my 20 years or so of following the New Jersey Devils, few players brought more heart and grit to the team than Cam Janssen. Unfortunately, what he brought in heart and grit, he completely lacked in skill (that redonkulous slapshot goal last year against the Caps, the only one of his career so far, notwithstanding) and hockey sense. One of the classiest players off the ice, Janssen was an absolute monster on it, fighting his way, literally, to the NHL.

But now Janssen is off to St. Louis, his hometown, where his pitbull-esque playing skills will instantly endear him to long-suffering Blues fans. Getting Bryce Salvador for him might be one of Lou Lamoriello’s greatest heists from a hockey POV, but I’m really saddened to see Janssen go. He entertained the shit out of me last year, and his willingness to drop the gloves and act like a madman was always appreciated. When I think back to the good times in my old apartment, Cam Janssen acting like a goon on television is right up there. He will be missed.

However, there is a wide open race for the Stanley Cup, and Janssen wasn’t going to suit up in a playoff game. Shit, he’s only played one game for us all season. So now we bolster our D, and maybe make a second trade on this 2008 Trade Deadline Day. I love the Devils’ chances this year, especially since our entire conference is terrible and Marty’s playing out of his mind (as usual). This is just another piece of the puzzle, and reeks of the Richard Shmelik and Grant Marshall deals in 2003, the last year we won the Cup. In Lou We Trust.