The reality for both these teams is that the trade deadline and draft positioning have become the only real talking points of relevance down the stretch.
The Devils are trotting out a roster that was best suited to contend just after the 04-05 lockout.
The Leafs have one win in the year 2015 and are now without a top pairing defenceman; the current solution with Phaneuf out is moving Korbinian Holzer over to his weak side and playing him on the top pairing with Cody Franson.
The Leafs do have Leo Komarov, expected to start with Kadri and Kessel, and Peter Holland, expected to play with Winnik and Santorelli, returning to the lineup.
Maple Leafs Projected Lines
Leo Komarov – Nazem Kadri – Phil Kessel
(5-13-18) – (13-14-27) – (19-25-44) (37g, 89pts TOT)
James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – David Clarkson
(20-21-41) – (14-18-32) – (10-4-14) (44g, 77pts TOT)
Daniel Winnik – Peter Holland – Mike Santorelli
(3-16-19) – (8-8-16) – (9-17-26) (20g, 51pts TOT)
David Booth – Trevor Smith – Richard Panik
(1-1-2) – (1-2-3) – (7-1-8) (9g, 13pts TOT)
Korbinian Holzer – Cody Franson
(0-4-4) – (6-23-29) (6g, 33pts TOT)
Morgan Rielly – Roman Polak
(4-10-14) – (5-3-8) (9g, 22pts TOT)
Jake Gardiner – Petter Granberg
(2-9-11) – (0-0-0) (2g, 11pts TOT)
Jonathan Bernier
(16-14-3, 2.76GAA, .914SV%)
James Reimer
Scratched: Stuart Percy
Injured: Dion Phaneuf (hand), Joffrey Lupul (lower body), Stephane Robidas (upper body)
New Jersey Devils Projected Lines
Adam Henrique – Scott Gomez – Jaromir Jagr
(10-16-26) – (4-12-16) – (9-16-25) (23g, 67pts TOT)
Martin Havlat – Travis Zajac – Patrik Elias
(5-7-12) – (8-8-16) – (6-14-20) (19g, 48pts TOT)
Dainius Zubrus – Mike Cammalleri – Michael Ryder
(2-4-6) – (15-6-21) – (6-12-18) (23g, 45pts TOT)
Tuomo Ruutu – Jacob Josefson – Jordin Tootoo
(5-3-8) – (2-3-5) – (4-0-4) (11g, 17pts TOT)
Andy Greene – Adam Larsson
(0-11-11) – (1-8-9) (1g, 20pts TOT)
Mark Fraser – Marek Zidlicky
(0-1-1) – (4-16-20) (4g, 21pts TOT)
Eric Gelinas – Jon Merrill
(4-7-11) – (2-8-10) (6g, 21pts TOT)
Cory Schneider
(16-19-4, 2.41GAA, .920SV%)
Keith Kinkaid
Scratched: Peter Harrold, Steve Bernier
Injured: Bryce Salvador (lower body), Ryane Clowe (head), Stephen Gionta (hand), Damon Severson (ankle)
