Was it the best goal of the season for the Devils? You decide:

http://youtu.be/jy-smwn-Q54

Andrei Loktionov may have scored the goal of the season for the New Jersey Devils last night in a 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

In 12 games since being traded from the Los Angeles Kings, Loktionov has scored four goals and has collected three assists. In his NHL career, he now has netted 11 goals and has registered ten assists.

Prior to Loktionov, Mattias Tedenby wore #21 for the Devils. After an impressive 2010-2011 season in which he scored eight goals and collected 14 assists, “someone” decided to buy a Tedenby jersey. Looking back, that was a mistake. Tedenby has only scored one NHL goal in the past two seasons and is currently recovering from a severe facial injury suffered in an AHL game.

As a friend said last night after Loktionov’s toe-drag goal, “You can spend $50 now or let a $200 jersey sit in your closet and collect dust.” I think I’ll wait a few more games, and then march down to the Stadium Shop in Newark’s Gateway Center to get the name plate changed from Tedenby to Loktionov. For now, I’ll stick with a throwback Patrik Elias jersey. After all, Saint Patrick’s Day is Sunday.

One thing’s for certain though. If Mattias Tedenby is back on the Devils this season, his sweater number will not be 21. Loktionov has 21 locked up and is ready to make some more noise as the Devils make their push for the playoffs.

Jan. 5, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Andrei Loktionov (48) in the third period of the game against the Phoenix Coyotes at the Staples Center. Kings won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Loktionov requested a trade from the Los Angeles Kings last week because he wanted to play in the NHL rather than the AHL and he didn’t see a place for that in the Kings’ organization.

Loktionov also said that he sees himself as solely a center and that playing as a winger was “a huge problem” with the Kings.

But, after the Devils’ coaching staff assessed Loktionov on Wednesday and reacquired forward Alexei Ponikarovsky in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets, he was reassigned to Albany Thursday.

On Wednesday, Devils coach Pete DeBoer said that he prefers versatile players that can play 12 different forward positions, compared to just four.

Once the Devils had acquired Ponikarovsky, who made a name for himself in the postseason last year, it was a no-brainer to send Loktionov, an unproven prospect, back to the minor leagues, even if he didn’t want to be there.

Still, it leaves Loktionov’s future in New Jersey up in the air. As he expressed on Wednesday, he has little-to-no interest of playing in the AHL, but for now, that is the only place for him.

Of course, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello isn’t going to put someone on the Devils that isn’t ready to be there. Lamoriello said that Loktionov had played well in his first two games in Albany, so there is a good chance he may come back at some point this season.

For the time being, it appears that Loktionov is going to have to play his way into New Jersey, regardless of his thoughts on where he should be.