With Stefan Matteau in Junior Hockey, What will the Devils do? Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

In this column I will provide all the possible moves the New Jersey Devils can make to add a man to their active roster after assigning Stefan Matteau to Junior Hockey. I am assuming that the Devils will not play Krystofer Barch, Harri Pesonen, and Tom Kostopoulos all in the same game. The one exception may come Tuesday night in the Devils’ rivalry game against the New York Rangers. I also do not expect them to play seven defense-men (Mark Fayne has been a healthy scratch lately) or three goalies anytime soon.

We’ll start with one of the less exciting possibilities: returning from injury.

The Devils have been beat up all season and currently have three players injured. Was Matteau’s QMJHL assignment designed to open up a roster spot for them?

Dainius Zubrus

Unlikely

Definitely unlikely, but the most likely in terms of returning from an injury. Zubrus, out since sustaining a wrist injury on February 5 against the Rangers, could really help the struggling Devils offense. The initial assessment was 4-6 weeks on February 14. That would make it almost 5 weeks today. Is Zubrus really close to a return and the Devils just aren’t telling us? I doubt it. I also doubt that this was the reason for no Matteau. Don’t worry: the Devils would find a way to get Zubrus on the roster anyway.

Martin Brodeur

Extremely Unlikely

First, the Devils will not dress three goalies. Upon Brodeur’s return, current back up Jeff Frazee will be sent down to Albany. And on top of that, no one knows when Brodeur will return. His injury of soreness has sidelined him since February 24. He may practice today. Good news there but not the reason Matteau was reassigned.

Henrik Tallinder

Extremely Unlikely

The Devils probably wouldn’t mind if Tallinder doesn’t return this season. He hasn’t performed, and they have a surplus of defense-men. They would be thrilled if someone would want him in a trade, but I doubt that will happen. Check out one of my previous articles on long shot Tallinder trade possibilities here. This Swede wasn’t the reason for Matteau’s assignment to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Overall, the Devils did not send Matteau down to open up a roster spot for one of their own returning from injury.

This is the first part of what I hope to be four. Part II will examine possible minor league call-ups, while Parts III and IV will be more exciting with possible trades.

Martin Brodeur skated for the first time today since he injured his back on Feb 24 in warm-ups. Brodeur has missed eight straight games and still has no set time for his return. However, skating is a good sign and it shows that some progress is being made in Brodeur’s condition. The Devils are desperate to get Brodeur back in the lineup as the team has stumbled dramatically since he went down.

Jan 31, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Henrik Tallinder (7) skates with the puck during the second period of their game against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

In response to moving Tallinder to IR, the Devils have called up Harri Pesonen from the Albany Devils. The 24-year-old left winger from Finland is 6-0 foot 200 pounds and brings very good speed to the table. Pesonen has 11 goals and 15 assists (26 points) in 54 AHL games for Albany this year.

Pesonen scores the game winning goal for the Albany Devils in their 3-2 win over the Hershey Bears. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Mace – Sweetest Hockey On Earth

Various scouting reports on Pesonen include that he is an excellent skater, great hands, and a good shot, but he tends to be lazy at time and become useless on the ice.

The Devils probably will give the winger a chance in one or both of the next two games against the Philadelphia Flyers.