Dainius Zubrus News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

May 8

Courier-Post

"Now a grizzled veteran of a combined 1,144 regular season and playoff games in the NHL, the career of New Jersey Devils forward Dainius Zubrus hasn't exactly gone the way it was predicted when he was a baby-faced 18-year-old rookie with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1996-97. Back then, it widely forecasted that the powerfully built Lithuanian would become a prolific scorer in the NHL. He hasn't. Zubrus has never scored more than 23 goals or 57 points in a season; and that came when he was centering a young Alexander Ovechkin with the Washington Capitals in 2005-06. This season in New Jersey, the soon-to-be 32-year-old Zubrus recorded a modest 17 goals and 44 points."

Zubrus 'OK' after headshot

November 19

New York Post

"Dainius Zubrus, victim of a headshot from Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers, said yesterday he was "OK," but it wasn't a glowing judgment. As for the failure of Brendan Shanahan, the NHL's disciplinarian, to suspend or fine Myers for that hit Wednesday, Zubrus' judgment was far more definite. "When the guy makes contact with the head only, I'm not sure what the rule is, then," the Devils' right wing said. "The puck is in front of him. He does not play the puck. He goes after me and he only hits my head. "So what is it? I don't get it." Zubrus, who said on Thursday he had a slight headache, is expected to be in the lineup when the Devils visit the Lightning tonight. Playing his 1,000th game,"

Zubrus not practicing today; Brodeur likely to start Friday vs. Rangers

September 22

Bergen Record

"Those who did not play in the Devils' 2-1 overtime preseason win over the Rangers Wednesday night in Albany are on the ice right now practicing. Forward Dainius Zubrus is not out there after leaving practice Wednesday morning with what the team called, "lower-body stiffness." The Devils say Zubrus is resting today because of that same lower-body issue. Stephen Gionta is filling in on the line that Zubrus practiced on Wednesday with Mattias Tedenby at left wing and Adam Henrique at center. The players who did play Wednesday night will practice this afternoon."

Dainius Zubrus takes part in Devils' morning skate

January 6

Newark Star-Ledger

"Dainius Zubrus, who sat out Tuesday night's loss to the Minnesota Wild and did not practice the following day, took part in an optional morning skate today. Although coach Jacques Lemaire said "he's injured," the Devils listed the veteran forward as a healthy scratch."

Dainius Zubrus misses practice with undisclosed injury

January 5

Newark Star-Ledger

"Forward Dainius Zubrus, who is out with an unspecified injury, isn't practicing as the Devils began a scheduled 1 p.m. practice early. They had to report to the AmeriHealth Pavilion at 9 a.m. this morning to watch film and have meetings. Zubrus, who missed Tuesday night's 2-1 loss to Minnesota but participated in the morning skate, has been bothered by a foot injury recently but the team has refused to confirm exactly what his injury is. He, as well as his teammates, have struggled this season. He has a minus-20."

Zubrus: Devils have the players to get out of rut

October 25

Newark Star-Ledger

"Dainius Zubrus could've taken credit for a sensational pass to Ilya Kovalchuk for what turned out to be the Devils' only goal Sunday night. "It's not like I saw Kovy and put it on his tape," Zubrus said. "I'm being honest." Zubrus is also blunt about the Devils' early-season woes. "I think we played a little better but it seems we can't get over the hump," he said. "I don't know if I want to use the word shocked."

Devils' Zubrus could be salary-cap casualty

September 11

New York Post

"He was one of the best Devils in their playoff crash the last time they suited up. His continued presence threatened by Lou Lamoriello's coming salary-cap clearance, center Dainius Zubrus wants to remain among this squad that could be so formidable. "I like our team. I don't want to go anywhere. I think we're one of the [top] teams," Zubrus said. "That's why I came here. The way things happen here, you always have a chance. "We haven't done anything with that chance in the last three years. I'd like to help do something about that." Zubrus, 32, and his $3.4 million cap hit are clearly among the most obvious places for Lamoriello to purge some $3-5 million to get under the cap by opening"

Devils may have to dump Zajac in order to keep Kovalchuk

August 30

New York Post

"It's difficult to fathom, but rumors are floating that Travis Zajac may be among the players the Devils will eventually sacrifice to get under the salary cap if Ilya Kovalchuk's $100 million, 15-year contract is approved by the NHL. Conventional wisdom suggests Bryce Salvador ($2.9 million) and Dainius Zubrus ($3.4 million) are the obvious candidates to surrender for the $3-5 million in cap space the Devils would need to clear by the start of the season if Kovalchuk's deal is approved. Zajac has been the Devils' No. 1 center for three seasons, since Scott Gomez departed, but New Jersey acquired Jason Arnott this summer, seemingly solidifying the pivot position that would again need help if"

Dainius Zubrus stuck in the middle

February 1

Bergen Record

"Although the experiment of playing Dainius Zubrus at right wing on the top line with Zach Parise and Travis Zajac produced another goal Sunday, Devils coach Jacques Lemaire took Zubrus off the line again in the third period. In fact, Lemaire said he has no plans to use Zubrus at right wing next game. "Not that he's not doing a great job," Lemaire said. "I liked the way he plays, but I need him at center." Lemaire said center Rob Niedermayer, who played 15:06 Sunday, tired late in the game and he needs Zubrus at center to take some of Niedermayer's workload."

Dainius Zubrus adjusted quickly to new NJ Devils linemates

January 30

Newark Star-Ledger

"Jacques Lemaire's decision to use Dainius Zubrus at right wing on the Devils' top line with Zach Parise and Travis Zajac came just as the coach was filling out his starting lineup. And it didn't click immediately. "When he first started, first couple of shifts, he was just average," Lemaire said of Zubrus. "After that, he started to control the puck and play like I've seen him play in the past. Playing with Zach and Travis, it helps to get better. You could see he was as good as he could be." It was a first for Zubrus, who was playing in his third game since returning from a broken right kneecap suffered Nov. 19 in Nashville. "I might've played with Zach,: Zubrus said, "I think when Brian"

Dainius Zubrus returns

January 27

Bergen Record

"Devils center Dainius Zubrus said he felt fine physically after making his return Tuesday from a 30-game layoff with a fractured right kneecap and will be able to play again tonight in Buffalo. "My leg was fine," said Zubrus, who had been out since Nov. 19. "The result wasn't, but my leg was fine." Zubrus played 17 shifts for 12:31 of ice time, which was more than the 10 minutes coach Jacques Lemaire was aiming to play him. Zubrus admitted he was a bit rusty, particularly on his defensive-zone play. "In our end, I need to be maybe a little quicker on some reads," he said. Cormier appeal The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies will appeal the QMJHL's decision to suspend Devils' prospect Patrice Cormier"

Devils can't expect Dainius Zubrus to be in top form after missing 30 games

January 27

Newark Star-Ledger

"I guess we can't expect Dainius Zubrus to be in mid-season form when he is playing his first game since Nov. 19. That's the night he suffered a broken right kneecap in Nashville when he was hit by a Kevin Klein shot. "He was fine," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said of Zubrus in Tuesday night's 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators. "It was his first game. It's hard for him to go on and make great plays." He said Zubrus, who missed 30 games, will play Wednesday night in Buffalo. As for Zubrus, he was disappointed in his own defensive play and the team's overall lack of offense. "It felt like I was off for a little bit," he said of his own performance. "Game-wise we didn't have a very strong game."

Devils' Dainius Zubrus ready to return from injury despite lack of practice time

January 26

Newark Star-Ledger

"Dainius Zubrus will be in the lineup when the Devils visit the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night, coach Jacques Lemaire said after Zubrus made it through the full, 1-hour practice Monday at their practice rink at the Prudential Center. Zubrus has missed 30 games with a broken kneecap suffered when he was hit by a shot from Nashville's Kevin Klein in a game Nov. 19. He has been skating for some time and rejoined the team last week, but with the heavy concentration of games, had not been able to get a full practice with his teammates before Monday. Still, Lemaire declared him ready even though he had just the one practice. "He's been on the ice quite a bit, he's been working after the optional"

Zubrus rushes back to lineup

January 26

New York Post

"Time will tell, and quickly, if Dainius Zubrus' one-practice comeback is hurried, regrettable folly. With the Olympics-compressed schedule prompting his now-or-never decision, the Devils forward joined the team yesterday for his first full practice since cracking his right kneecap on Nov. 19. After viewing Zubrus' stiff-legged and slow skating, coach Jacques Lemaire pronounced the 31-year-old part of tonight's lineup in Ottawa. Zubrus said over the weekend that he was facing the possibility of not getting proper practice time until after next month's Olympics. So he grabbed what he viewed as his last real chance to return before March. "I decided I'm not going to get much practice, so"

Dainius Zubrus isn't ruling out a return to NJ Devils lineup in Ottawa Tuesday

January 24

Newark Star-Ledger

"Nothing is set in stone, but there is a possibility that the Devils could have center Dainius Zubrus back when they face the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night at Scotiabank Place. Zubrus said he will find out Monday, when his right knee is examined and he speaks with general manager Lou Lamoriello. "I don't know. We'll see," Zubrus said. "I have to still talk to the doctors and to Lou. "I was hoping for some more practices with the guys, but the schedule doesn't allow me too many. So that's why I'm still waiting." The Devils did not practice Sunday. Zubrus was with the team at Nassau Coliseum, where the Devils came from behind for a 4-2 victory over the Islanders Saturday night. He will be"

Zubrus a step closer to returning

January 21

Bergen Record

"After participating in Wednesday's morning skate, Devils center Dainius Zubrus plans to take part in today's optional practice as well. Zubrus had been skating on his own for a week and a half, but Wednesday was the first time he was on the ice with the full team since fracturing his right kneecap Nov. 19 in Nashville. Without a full practice before Friday's home game against Montreal and Saturday's road rematch with the Islanders, Zubrus said it's "a little unrealistic" to think he would play before next week. "I don't want to give you a target that I cannot meet," he said. "Obviously, I want to come back soon, but I don't know how [long]. This [was] a morning skate."

Injured NJ Devils center Danius Zubrus hopes he'll be back on skates by weekend

January 7

Newark Star-Ledger

"Dainius Zubrus has been sidelined since suffering a broken right knee cap Nov. 19 in Nashville.Dainius Zubrus has his fingers crossed. The big center, who suffered a broken right knee cap Nov. 19 in Nashville, said he hopes to begin skating again by the weekend. Friday is a possibility but Saturday more likely, he said. "Hopefully by the end of the week," Zubrus told me. "I still feel sore. I haven't been on the ice yet but I've had some good (off-ice) workouts." Zubrus visited with the Druzhba '78 Pee Wee team he played on as a kid in the Ukraine with dreams of making it to the NHL. The team, which attended the Devils' practice Thursday morning, won a tournament in Maryland just after"

Kneecap shelves Zubrus 4-6 weeks

November 21

Bergen Record

"The depressing nature of his team's extensive injury list has Devils coach Jacques Lemaire trying to focus on the positive - or at least maintain his sense of humor. "The good news is nobody got injured at breakfast," Lemaire joked Friday. But the bad news was pretty bad. The Devils learned Friday that center Dainius Zubrus will be out 4-to-6 weeks with a hairline fracture of his right patella (kneecap). Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said Zubrus was scheduled to undergo surgery Friday evening to "secure" the kneecap. Lamoriello said the procedure would allow Zubrus to resume walking "shortly," but also stabilize the kneecap (without a cast) so that it heals properly. Lemaire said"