Anders Lee on the top line; Kevin Connauton at forward? An Alex Semin sighting and more…

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The end of a legend, finally? Jaromir Jagr has two points in his last seven games and his points-per-game average is 0.57. That’s obviously a career low. He turns 43 in just over a week – but finally the legend is showing signs of it. On pace for 45 points, and he’s done that before – but that was in 46 games back in 2003-04. The 45 points would mean another 18 this year and that would give his career exactly 1800. Would he return for another season if he ends this one with 45 points and a minus-20 rating? Three years on the KHL, two lockout-shortened seasons and one cancelled season – I estimate 400 to 450 more points there.

By many accounts, Adam Henrique is having a pretty good year. After all, he’ll end up leading the team in scoring. But his pace is for just 48 points, which still falls short of his rookie total (51) and it falls well short of expectations. Adam turns 25 on Friday so there’s plenty of room to grow, but he’s a second-line player and will never be anything more. So the Devils need an elite gun and the way things are going in this day and age, they’ll never get one via free agency. And there’s nothing in the pipeline that fits the bill either. For the next five years I think you’ll see defensemen lead this team in scoring in that 50- to 55-point range. Like Weber in Nashville or Yandle with Arizona for much of the past half dozen years.

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Kyle Turris has just three points in his last 11 games. And although his upside (and likelihood) is much higher than Henrique’s, Turris’ spot on the first line is clearly just a placeholder until Curtis Lazar is ready.