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Brian Rolston News & Rumors

Rolston trade to Isles opens door for Parise
July 29
New York Post
 
"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"
Devils trade Brian Rolston to Islanders
July 29
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Devils today traded veteran left winger Brian Rolston to the Islanders for right winger Trent Hunter and a conditional draft pick in 2012. Rolston was about to enter the final season on his contract with the Devils for $5 million. His salary cap hit was $5.062 million, the result of a four-year, $20 million contract he signed with the Devils on July 1, 2008. "It's been a bit of a rough ride in Jersey," Rolston told The Star-Ledger. "I'm actually happy to go to a place that wants me. I just want to start new. I'm actually really happy about the change. "I saw it coming. There was no blindside here. It was something we discussed from the end of the season and into the summer." Hunter,"
Brian Rolston hopes to return to Devils next season
April 11
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Devils tried to get rid of Brian Rolston at least twice, but the veteran forward doesn't want to get rid of them. Rolston, who has one season left on his contract, said he hopes to come back and play a prominent role next season. "Of course. I felt really good in the second half of the season," Rolston said today. "I still feel I have a lot of hockey left. I do want to be here. "I'm not going to be asking for any trades this summer." Rolston, who clearly benefited from Jacques Lemaire's return, said he was surprised at the coach's decision to retire again."
Brian Rolston's second-half surge helped Devils make playoff run
April 5
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Through it all, Devils winger Brian Rolston's belief in himself never wavered. Not when he twice passed through waivers unclaimed. Not when coach Jacques Lemaire proclaimed him out of shape. Not when nearly the entire hockey world wrote him off as a has-been. Between the start of the season and Jan. 8, Rolston had just five points and missed 14 games following sports hernia surgery. Yet he was one of the driving forces in the Devils' near-miraculous comeback, which eventually fell short. He scored 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) during the second half of the season, helping spark a 23-3-2 blitz that catapulted the Devils into playoff contention. "Getting waived, one of the biggest things"
Devils' Rolston perseveres after rough start
March 24
New York Post
 
"The saga of Brian Rolston is one that defines the Preposterous Dream. It likely will prove ill fated, but the Devils' implausible turnaround still will be remembered among the team's wealth of celebrated exploits. Rolston will be an ownership posterboy against mega-signings when they talk CBA next year, and a Players Association example that intangibles matter, too. His season went from awful to a horror as he became the first whipping boy -- even before John MacLean was fired -- of the Devils' disastrous first half. Rolston, a 1991 first-round pick and a 1995 Stanley Cup winner, was humiliated when he and his $5 million salary, this year and next, were waived, available to anyone for"
Did Brian Rolston's pregame talk help the team?
March 21
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Brian Rolston didn't exactly get up on a table in the visitors' dressing room at Nationwide Arena and give an emotional pregame pep talk to his teammates as they looked to bounce back from two straight losses. But, according to coach Jacques Lemaire, Rolston offered his views on how to face the Blue Jackets. The veteran forward spent three seasons in the Western Conference. "Rolie knows this team, Lemaire said. "I know he talked to the guys in the room so they knew what to expect. Sometimes they don't believe the coach, but when it comes from a player…" Perhaps it helped, but some players seemed perplexed when asked about what Rolston said. A few couldn't remember that he had something to"
Brian Rolston doesn't feel Devils are out of it after loss to Ottawa
March 9
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Perhaps the Devils are playing with fire when every game is 1-1 in the third period. This time they were unable to pull out a victory over the lowly Ottawa Senators. "It could be a costly loss but we have to come back in the next one," Brian Rolston said. "I don't believe we're out of it yet." With Buffalo losing to Pittsburgh, the Devils remained eight points behind the eighth-place Sabres. Both teams have 16 games left. "We've been fortunate the last so-many games. We've been able to pull them out all the time," goalie Martin Brodeur said. "Not that we were due, but if you don't put points on the board, a bad bounce is going to happen." Brodeur said Jason Spezza's pass, which resulted in"
Brian Rolston believes Jacques Lemaire will coach Devils next season
February 8
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Brian Rolston first played for Jacques Lemaire during the Devils' Stanley Cup-winning 1994-95 season. Overall, the veteran winger has played nine seasons with Lemaire as coach of either the Devils or Minnesota Wild. Clearly, Rolston knows Lemaire well. So does Rolston think Lemaire will come back to coach the Devils next season? "I would say he'll come back," Rolston said today. "I know he said at first that he's not coming back, but I'm not sure about that. "I think he enjoys coaching. He came back and has a lot of passion still for the game. To come back into this situation and do what he has done, I've got to think that's pretty gratifying. But who knows?" The Devils are 10-8-2 since"
Devils teammates aren't surprised by Brian Rolston's resurgence
February 4
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"If the Devils somehow believe they can get back into the race for a playoff spot, they have to be thankful no one claimed Brian Rolston on waivers. Rolston had the winning goal Thursday night in a 3-2 win over the Rangers at the Garden. It was his seventh of the season and fifth in nine games. His point-scoring streak has reached seven games. His teammates aren't surprised. "He had surgeries. And I know how tough it is to come back when all of a sudden you don't play as many minutes. He was on the third line and sometimes the fourth," linemate Patrik Elias said. "It's tough when you're put in that position. "He's having fun. I think we have good chemistry." The Rolston-Elias-Dainius Zubrus"
Brian Rolston can envision playing for Devils again next season
February 1
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Brian Rolston holds no grudges against the Devils or general manager Lou Lamoriello, even though the team hoped to get rid of him a month and a half ago by putting the veteran winger on waivers. In fact, Rolston said today he wouldn't be at all surprised if he is back with the team next season to finish out his contract. "I can envision me being back but I don't want to look that far ahead," Rolston said. "I feel like I'm playing well right now and I want to continue doing it. I want to prove I can play." In his last eight games, Rolston has scored 11 points (four goals, seven assists). Over the first 24 games of the season, he scored five points (two goals, three assists). Rolston was"
Brian Rolston stays in N.J.
January 2
Bergen Record
 
"Although the plan originally had been for left wing Brian Rolston, who cleared re-entry waivers on Thursday, to accompany the team to Carolina for Saturday's game, the Devils left him back in New Jersey to skate with injured center Jacob Josefson (detached ligament in left thumb). Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said Rolston will eventually resume playing games for the team, but wasn't going to play Saturday, so there would have been no point to him coming on the trip with no morning skate scheduled. "It would have been a wasted trip," Lamoriello said. Although Rolston was clearly disappointed that he wasn't claimed off re-entry waivers by another team and is still hoping to be"
Devils winger Brian Rolston goes unclaimed on re-entry waivers
December 30
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Perhaps scared off by the remaining year on his contract, Devils winger Brian Rolston went unclaimed on re-entry waivers today and will be recalled. Rolston was sent to Albany -- via paper work -- on Wednesday. At this moment, it's unclear if he'll play in Albany or be in uniform on Friday afternoon when the Devils host Atlanta at the Prudential Center. There are believed to be several NHL teams interested in Rolston and Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello may try to work out a trade. Rolston 's cap hit is $5.062 million this season (his salary is $5 million). If he was claimed by another team, that team would've absorbed half his cap number (roughly $2.53 million) and his salary ($2.5"
There is interest from other NHL teams in Devils' Brian Rolston
December 29
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"There is interest from several NHL teams in Devils forward Brian Rolston. Rolston said today he hopes to be claimed by another team after he is put on re-entry waivers. The Devils confirmed that he was put on re-entry waivers at noon. Although his cap hit is $5.062 million, another team would have a cap hit of only half (about $2.53 million). The sticking point is the fact Rolston's contract runs through next season, which would mean another $2.53 million cap hit and $2.5 million in salary. The Devils would be responsible for half of his $5 million salary. "We're working on re-entry. I just hope to get picked up by a team in re-entry," Rolston said via telephone. "My agent and Lou (Devils"
Rolston's latest casualty of Devils' decline
December 29
New York Post
 
"Their Rangers rivalry needs reviving. Jacques Lemaire says his comatose Devils aren't holding up their half of the two it takes to tangle. "There's no rivalry right now," the recently reinstated Lemaire said of meeting the Rangers tonight in Newark. "We have to start playing well, never mind the rivalry. "They're two different teams. We have to play well, start to compete and go from there." The Devils are 0-2, outscored 9-2, since Lemaire replaced John MacLean as Devils coach on Thursday. They have only continued their previous futility, as they bring their second five-game losing streak (outscored 24-5) in 11 games into tonight's match. Brian Rolston yesterday joined MacLean as a victim"
Devils players, coach hurt by decision to send Brian Rolston to minors
December 28
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Moves like sending forward Brian Rolston to the minors and firing coach John MacLean reverberate around the dressing room. "It does for me personally. Anything that happens to guys on the team you feel for them," captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "We know it's part of the business but if things are going well these things don't happen. It's a reflection of where we are in the standings and the way things are." Rolston has five points (two goals, three assists) in 21 games and is minus-12. But his salary, a $5.062 million cap hit, sealed his doom. He was a 30-plus goal-scorer three times for Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota. "Rolie played good for me for years," Lemaire said. "It's a team"
Devils GM Lou Lamoriello trying to find takers for Brian Rolston
December 19
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello confirmed a report in Saturday's Star-Ledger that an usually high number of scouts attended Friday night's game against the Nashville Predators at the Prudential Center. Lamoriello waived veteran left winger Brian Rolston on Tuesday in an attempted salary dump - Rolston cleared waivers and remains on the team - and has made it known he's open for business as the Devils careen into the abyss this season. At 9-21-2 and with just 20 points, they are only two points ahead of the Islanders for last place in the entire league. "They understand our situation," Lamoriello said. There were 12 NHL scouts at the game, including three from the Columbus Blue"
Devils veteran forward Brian Rolston is ready to move on
December 16
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Following Wednesday night's 3-0 victory over Phoenix, an edgy and defiant Brian Rolston said he still feels he has a lot of tread left on his hockey stick and he's ready to prove it elsewhere if necessary. Rolston, who was waived on Tuesday but cleared waivers and played against the Coyotes, repeated that assertion this afternoon following a light workout at AmeriHealth Pavilion, adding that he's willing to go to Albany and then be placed on re-entry waivers if that'll help him be moved. Any team claiming Rolston off re-entry waivers would have to assume only half his salary ($2.53 million) with the Devils picking up the rest for the remainder of his contract. ``That's the way I feel,''"
Devils vet Brian Rolston clears waivers quickly
December 16
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils veteran left winger Brian Rolston was back in the fold last night. Well, actually, he never left. Rolston, who was put on waivers Tuesday by general manager Lou Lamoriello, cleared waivers at noon Wednesday and played in that night's game against Phoenix at the Prudential Center. He was even at the team's morning skate but couldn't participate because it occurred before he cleared waivers. It was unlikely a team would claim Rolston and his $5.06 million salary, but Lamoriello may have made the move to set up the possibility of placing Rolston on re-entry waivers after sending him down to Albany. In that case, a team could claim Rolston for half his salary ($2.53 million) with the"
Devils winger Brian Rolston to play tonight after clearing waivers
December 15
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Devils veteran left winger Brian Rolston was back in the fold this morning during the team's morning skate at the Prudential Center. Well, sort of. Rolston, who was waived on Tuesday by general manager Lou Lamoriello, didn't participate in the morning workout because it was before noon. But he wasn't claimed off waivers and will be in the lineup tonight when the Devils (8-19-2) play Phoenix (14-8-6) in Newark. "It's a business. We understand that,'' said Rolston following the skate. "It definitely difficult but at the same time, I've been around for a while. I don't think it affects me as much as it would maybe a young player. So I feel fortunate about that. "I'm a professional. I'll be"
Devils say farewell to Rolston
December 15
New York Post
 
"The Devils' purge has begun. Yet even after launching the housecleaning by waiving Brian Rolston yesterday, Lou Lamoriello still says his team can make the playoffs. "Are we capable of it? Absolutely. This week, without question, is an important week," Lamoriello said. His preseason powerhouse stands 29th of 30 at 8-19-2, a loser of five straight, as the Coyotes visit Newark tonight. The Devils need 70 points in the final 53 games (35-18) to reach just 88 points, the fewest ever to make the playoffs since the shootout was adopted. Against that backdrop of desperation, Lamoriello yesterday waived Rolston, claiming he "has to start somewhere." If Rolston clears waivers at noon today, the"
Devils put veteran left winger Brian Rolston on waivers
December 15
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Devils have put veteran left winger Brian Rolston on waivers, the club just announced. If no team claims Rolston by noon Wednesday, the Devils can keep him on the roster for that night's game against the Phoenix Coyotes, or send him to the team's minor-league AHL affiliate in Albany, N.Y. It's believed the move was made in part to give the team some flexibility as general manager Lou Lamoriello continues to tinker with his roster. Rolston's $5.06 million salary would come off the Devils' books if the winger is claimed but not if he was sent to Albany. Rolston, in his 16th season, had just two goals and two assists in 15 games this season. He missed 14 games early in the season with a"
Devils put veteran left winger Brian Rolston on waivers
December 14
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"The Devils have put veteran left winger Brian Rolston on waivers, the club just announced. It's unclear exactly what the team's thinking is, though, and it's possible Rolston could clear waivers by noon on Wednesday and be on the ice for the Devils against the visiting Phoenix Coyotes that night. It's believed the move was made in part to give the team some flexibility as general manager Lou Lamoriello continues to tinker with his roster. Rolson's $5.06 million cap hit this season is also believed to have played into the decision."
Brian Rolston says he's close to 100 percent and returning to Devils' lineup
November 8
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Brian Rolston practiced for the second straight day and said he is getting close to being 100 percent. The veteran forward underwent sports hernia surgery Oct. 14. "I felt great. I'm getting better every day," Rolston said. "I felt better than I did yesterday." So, will he play against the Sabres Wednesday night? "I want to get another practice in tomorrow and see how I feel," he said. "I want to be a player that's going to have an impact when I come back. I want to be at 100 percent and I think I'm getting close." Rolston skated on a line with Dainius Zubrus and David Clarkson. Asked if he felt has helped lighten the mood around the team, Rolston said: "I hope so. We can't be doom and"
Brian Rolston hopes 'sprinkle a little positive energy' in Devils' locker room
November 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Brian Rolston may not be ready to play Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres, but the veteran winger tried to give his teammates an immediate lift in his first day of practice since undergoing Oct. 14 surgery for a sports hernia. "Hopefully I can come in and sprinkle a little positive energy in this locker room," Rolston said today. "That's what I hope to do." The Devils said captain Jamie Langenbrunner was given a day off today. Goalie Martin Brodeur still was not well enough to practice with his bruised right elbow. And defenseman Colin White did not skate as he recovers from the flu."
Brian Rolston, Matt Corrente practice with Devils; Martin Brodeur missing
November 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Brian Rolston was the first player into the AmeriHealth Pavilion ice today. However, goaltender Martin Brodeur did not take part in practice. Brodeur missed Friday night's game because of a bruised right elbow. Despite general manager Lou Lamoriello's claim on Saturday that Brodeur would practice, that is not the case. Defenseman Colin White and captain Jamie Langenbrunner also did not take part. White missed the game Friday with the flu. Goaltending coach Chris Terreri was in full gear to give the Devils two goalies (Johan Hedberg). Jeff Frazee was one of four players returned tro Albany (AHL) on Saturday. Sidelined since Oct. 9 with a sports hernia that required surgery, Rolston"
Surgery for Brian Rolston
October 14
Bergen Record
 
"Left wing Brian Rolston will have surgery this morning in Philadelphia to repair a sports hernia. The procedure will be performed by Dr. William Meyers, the specialist who did Patrik Elias' surgery last year. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said Rolston is expected to miss four to six weeks and was to be placed on long-term injured reserve Wednesday night. While Rolston, 37, is on LTIR, the team can exceed the salary cap by the amount of his cap hit ($5,062,500). That will allow the team to call up players to have a full 18-skater lineup Friday night against Colorado. The Devils went with 16 skaters Wednesday night in Buffalo without any call-ups because Lamoriello said the team"
Devils' Brian Rolston will have sports hernia surgery; out 4-6 weeks
October 14
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"It was determined that Devils winger Brian Rolston has a sports hernia and he will undergo surgery Thursday morning in Philadelphia. Rolston, who suffered the injury Saturday night in Washington, will be placed in long-term injured reserve and wil be sidelined 4-6 weeks, according to general manager Lou Lamoriello. That will free up more than $5 million in cap space, allowing the Devils to recall some players to fill out their NHL roster. "We'll be able to make any moves (we choose). When we found out it was too late (for Wednesday night's game in Buffalo)," Lamoriello said. "And we weren't that concerned with reference to the 10 forwards and six defensemen for one night. "The players in"
Rolston, Volchenkov do not participate in workout; status for Monday's game is uncertain
October 11
Newark Star-Ledger
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"Neither Rolston nor defenseman Anton Volchenkov took part in the workout. "They're both here, so we'll evaluate them in the morning and see," MacLean said of their status for Monday's game. "We'll see how they feel tomorrow." Rolston has a lower back injury that prevented him from playing more than two shifts in the third period Saturday night."
Devils lose Anton Volchenkov, Brian Rolston to injuries in 7-2 blowout loss to Capitals
October 10
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"This was the nightmare Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello must have feared when he decided to start the season with a 20-man roster because of salary-cap problems. The Devils lost defenseman Anton Volchenkov with a broken nose and winger Brian Rolston with a lower back injury tonight, and it remains to be seen whether either will be able to play in Monday afternoon's home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Winger P.L. Letourneau-Leblond is subject to an automatic one-game suspension for instigating a fight in the final five minutes of tonight's game. Although there will be a review, it seems unlikely he'll get leniency since he slashed Marcus Johansson. Regardless, the Devils will be"
Devils' Brian Rolston considered knee surgery during painful 2009-10
October 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"If Devils winger Brian Rolston looked faster and happier during the preseason this year, there is a good reason. Tendinitis in his knee bothered the veteran most of last season and it became so bad that he considered surgery. "I thought about it, but it wasn't to the point where I needed it," Rolston revealed today. "I needed the time off and to strengthen it. "I had issues with it last year and basically I did strengthening on it (during the offseason). I didn't have surgery." Rolston was hesitant to talk about it. In fact, he didn't want to admit that he was slowed by knee problems last season because he knows it will look like an excuse."
Devils take good look at Rolston
September 29
New York Post
 
"With a week to go, it's all about the cap cuts. Nothing is clearer than it was when training camp opened, except that the Devils are more likely to have to waive players than trade them to trim some $3-5 million from their cap liability by next Wednesday. Last night's 3-2 exhibition victory over the Flyers in Newark was an example. There was Brian Rolston with his $5.1-million cap hit, no-trade clause and over-35 contract, giving Zach Parise a night off alongside Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk. Showcase? "It very well could be," Rolston admitted. "I don't read into that too much. My job is to play hard. "But it just may be. Or it may not." Either way, there was no revelation, and there is"
Devils coach John MacLean expects Brian Rolston to face Flyers
September 27
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Brian Rolston did not practice today, but Devils coach John MacLean said he expects the veteran winger to be in the lineup Tuesday night against the Flyers. Rolston was hit by a shot in the top of the foot during the third period of Saturday night's game with the Rangers. "He just took a shot. I'm expecting Rolie to be fine tomorrow," MacLean said. "I expect him to play tomorrow." He also anticipates using rookie center Jacob Josefson, who had been idled with a bruised foot after blocking a shot in Philadelphia last Tuesday. "He looked good," MacLean said of Josefson, who practiced today. "He's skating well. We'll get another look at him. He'll probably be in tomorrow. "There are going to"
MacLean: Brian Rolston still has assets
September 23
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"So far in training camp, Brian Rolston has seen a lot of time with rookie linemates. He skated with Patrick Davis and Nathan Perkovich in this week's scrimmage and will play alongside young Swedes Jacob Josefson and Mattias Tedenby tonight at Madison Square Garden. MacLean says not to read anything into Rolston's placement. "Rolie skates well. He's a good veteran if two young guys play together. It would be a nice combination," the coach said. "We'll see how it unfolds in tonight's game. "We need to see Rolie playing his game. When he's playing his game, he's skating well and getting his shot off. We'll see him getting some time on the PP (power play) and using his assets. We have to"
Brian Rolston on NJ Devils disallowed goal: I didn't kick it in
February 14
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Perhaps there was a dramatic comeback in the cards for the Devils just before the Olympic break. If so, it fizzled when Brian Rolston had a goal disallowed with 8:56 remaining after NHL officials went to a video review and determined he had kicked it in. Had the goal counted, it would've been a 4-2 game. "I didn't feel I kicked it in," Rolston said. "My foot was on the ice the whole time. I was stopping. You can direct the puck in with your skate. You just can't kick it in. I didn't make a distinct kicking motion. "That loomed large, especially because we went on the power play and got one. We're one back and possibly can tie it late. I thought it was a tough call. I don't know what they"
Devils fall in shootout
November 20
New York Post
 
"After coming within one game of setting an NHL record for road wins to start the season, the Devils have dropped two consecutive games away from Newark. Mike Santorelli and Martin Erat scored shootout goals, and Jason Arnott had two goals in regulation in the Predators' 3-2 shootout victory over the Devils last night. The loss came on the heels of New Jersey's first road defeat Monday night at the hands of the Flyers. The Devils came within one win of tying Buffalo's NHL record of 10 straight road wins to start a season. Pekka Rinne stopped two of the Devils' three shooters in the tiebreaker for his fourth consecutive victory and eighth in nine decisions. Devils goalie Martin Brodeur took"
Screening for Rolston is tricky business
October 10
New York Post
 
"The topics were Brain Rolston's wicked point shot, the one goalies simply don't see, and the sanity of teammates standing even closer to the point of origin, creating traffic. "It was my first year in the NHL, with Hartford, and our first game against the Bruins," said Mark Howe, perhaps the best eligible not yet in the Hall of Fame. "We were killing a penalty and I was on defense, and I saw [an on-ice terror, and off-ice prince] coming at me. I figured, 'Uh, oh, I'm going to get it now.' He grabs me with both hands on the front of my jersey, says, 'Come with me, kid,' and starts pulling me away from the net. Just then, Brad Park's slap shot goes whistling past my ear. "About 10 seconds"