Craiger on the move?

[Stemmer]

This story is from today's record in North Jersey. As much as I'd love to see Craiger playing "in my backyard", it would kill me to see him improve the Devils!

By TOM GULITTI
STAFF WRITER



Gomez going again?

In Scott Gomez's five seasons in New Jersey, talk of the Devils shopping him has become an annual tradition, such as leaves turning color in the fall. And, sure as the leaves return each spring, Gomez is still a Devil when the trade deadline passes each March.

This time all it took was Devils' coach Pat Burns moving Gomez off a line with Patrik Elias in the third period of Saturday's 1-0 win in Ottawa - a move that resulted in Gomez helping to set up Scott Stevens' game-winning goal - to initiate speculation that the 23-year-old center will be traded.

"I had the guy [on another line] for half of a period and we're talking about trading him," Burns said after reuniting Gomez with Elias and Brian Gionta for Monday's practice. "That's ridiculous."

Although one NHL source indicated the Devils have some interest in Calgary center Craig Conroy - a right-handed, two-way center who would fit in perfectly - and the Flames have had scouts at more than half of the Devils' home games, it's doubtful Gomez would be headed to Calgary in a deal for Conroy, 32.