"Note the date. For the first time since it began back in 2005, the Devils are out of salary-cap trouble.

Until next week, that is, when Zach Parise will have a contract.

For the moment, general manager Lou Lamoriello can breathe easy as he closes in on Wednesday's binding arbitration hearing for Parise. He has some $8.5 million in effective space, and that should cover Parise, whether the sides work out a contract or go through with the hearing.

The sudden space windfall is the result of Lamoriello freeing $3 million in room by shipping Brian Rolston and his undemotable $5 million hit to the Islanders yesterday for right win Trent Hunter and his $2 million charge.

Rolston's contract, four years for $20.25 million as an over-35, was a millstone around the team's neck, because its cap hit wouldn't vanish via demotion. With just one year remaining, with Rolston coming off a run of 35 points in his last 40 games and with the Isles still needing another $6 million in payroll to reach the cap floor, the stars aligned.

"I feel great about the trade," said Rolston, who waived his no-trade clause July 1. "I'm super-excited about going to a good organization with a lot of good, young players. I'm going to get a great opportunity to play the capacity I want.

"With what happened last year, I was ready to move on, and so were the Devils."

Lamoriello has had constant cap headaches that have prompted the losses of Jeff Friesen, Dan McGillis, a first-rounder with Vladimir Malakhov, Richard Matvichuk, a $3 million fine and forfeiture of a first-rounder. Rolston's undemotable contract was among the problems that left the Devils playing a short lineup early last season."