Martin-Brodeur-Bill-Perlman.JPG

Could Devils goalie Martin Brodeur be wearing another team's jersey at the end of this season?

(William Perlman/The Star-Ledger)

There are 68 games remaining and only one team in the Metropolitan Division — the Pittsburgh Penguins — seems capable of running away with a playoff spot. The Devils feel confident they will be in the running for a postseason berth until the bitter end.

But what if they’re not? What if injuries and the inability to score goals puts them in a hole they cannot escape, and general manager Lou Lamoriello decides to sell rather than buy at the March 5 trade deadline?

Jaromir Jagr does not have a no-trade clause, but Martin Brodeur, who does, told The Star-Ledger he would consider going to a contender.

"I hope it will never happen, but if there is a situation that could be really fun for me and really good for the Devils, why not? It’s not like I’m going to play 25 more years here," Brodeur said yesterday.

"I’m not looking for that. I want to get back into the playoffs with this team and try to do something with this team. I would say 99 percent I’d say no right now. But for a little bit of time (in the spring)? Nobody is going to remember it, really. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal."

Brodeur is in the final season of his contract. He could accept a trade to a contender and perhaps even re-sign with the Devils if they wanted him back for another year.

"There is no doubt about that. It’s not like a buyout. I could do whatever I want," Brodeur said. "It’s not something everyone is thinking about right now, but it happens. Some of the best players in the league have moved around. Ray Bourque. You name it. A bunch of guys had success somewhere else.

"I know something might happen, but I doubt if Lou will ask me unless I ask him."

Would the Devils really consider trading Brodeur? Wayne Gretzky was traded twice, and he was younger than 41 years old.

And will there be a market?

"For a goalie it’s a little different because, if it’s a really good contender, usually they already have a good goalie. So that kind of closes doors a little bit. Unless they want to make sure that if something happens they have a guy who has been there before," Brodeur reasoned. "That could be a possibility. That’s not something that interests me right now, but it might."

Jagr, also 41, has been the Devils’ best forward this season. He could interest a contender.

"I don’t have a no-trade clause, so (Lamoriello) can do anything he wants," Jagr said. "I’m just a soldier. They can trade me any time they want."

Brodeur would have a choice.

"Is it a legitimate chance to win a Stanley Cup? I have to make that decision," the goalie said. "At the end of the day, I have the power of doing what I want to do. I’ve never used it, but I might use it. As a hockey player you have to remain open to things. I’m not going to say no. But there is no guarantee I’ll agree to it."

What if Henrik Lundqvist got hurt? Would Brodeur agree to go to the Rangers?

"There are limits," he said with a smile. "Like I said, I can say no to people. Unlike some of my other teammates, I couldn’t do that."

Notes: Rostislav Olesz cleared waivers and the left winger was assigned to Albany (AHL). Coach Pete DeBoer said Olesz failed to take advantage of an opportunity.

"What I was hoping that we would see from him was the ability a 6-foot-1, 215-pound guy could score some goals in the dirty areas of the rink and make some plays," DeBoer said. "And he did some of that. We’re not sitting here with the record we have because of Rusty Olesz."

Jon Merrill had more tests to determine if he suffered a concussion when he crashed into the boards Sunday night in Minnesota, but the preliminary reports are positive for the 21-year-old rookie.

"We’re still doing some examinations. Every indication is he’s 100 percent. He just has to take a very short period of time because of swelling and everything else," Lamoriello said. "We’re just making sure with everything."

Merrill was tripped into the boards by Minnesota’s Torrey Mitchell 4:49 into his NHL debut. He suffered facial lacerations and required stitches on his forehead above his eye, in his lip and nose.

Defensemen Anton Volchenkov (lower body) and Peter Harrold (right elbow), along with forwards Patrik Elias (upper body) and Travis Zajac (right ankle), are day to day.

"We just have to get the guys back that we’re missing right now," Jagr said. "Especially Travis and Patty. I’m talking offense."