from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

- Thirty-one years after deciding to go the straight-and-narrow and thereby blow their shot at Mario Lemieux, the Devils get a do-over. They’re going to need a do-over sooner rather than later anyway, what with the plethora of aging pending free agents on the roster, so why not now?

It only makes sense to get on with it — and the process of joining the race for the bottom and the corresponding chance at drafting Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel — as quickly as possible and without pretense.

Obviously, a plan to dump — veterans, not games — contradicts everything for which Lamoriello has stood for throughout his career at Providence and in New Jersey. But these aren’t normal times.

- Remember how a few short weeks ago Andrew Barroway was on the verge of gaining majority control of the Coyotes, the news first reported by The Post?

Not so fast, for now comes word from a plugged-in source that the deal appears to be falling apart, with Barroway seemingly on the verge of backing out.

Slap Shots has been told the current ownership has directed GM Don Maloney to shed payroll … which would mean stripping the club with the league’s third-lowest payroll into a bare-bones operation.

Who could be going in addition to Keith Yandle (at $5.2 million per season through next year)?

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