UPDATE 2: While Bob McKenzie had previously downplayed Colin White’s eye injury, Rich Chere is today reporting that White not only suffered a laceration above the eye, but a badly broken nose as well. White, who underwent plastic surgery Wednesday night to fix his nose is still expected to be sidelined for about two weeks.

UPDATE: Bob McKenzie is reporting that Colin White is expected to miss up to two weeks after taking a puck to the eye during practice on Wednesday. While Devils GM Lou Lamoriello stated White did not suffer any serious sight issues or facial fractures, it is unknown if White will be ready for opening night action.

Well, today sucked.

It has been announced that Jamie Langenbrunner will indeed undergo surgery on Thursday to repair his ailing groin, while Cam Janssen is also set to go under the knife for a dislocated shoulder suffered in a preseason scrap against Philadelphia’s Jesse Boulerice.

Janssen previously missed 11 games last season with the same injury.

Oh, and Mr. Anger Management (Colin White) took a puck to the eye during practice today. White suffered a laceration above the eye, but he will be re-assessed tomorrow once the swelling around his eye has subsided.

Preseason is stupid.

Sean Burke has decided to hang up the skates, announcing his retirement on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old netminder was originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 1985 draft, appearing in four seasons for the Devils. He also skated for the Whalers, Flyers, Hurricanes, Canucks, Panthers, Coyotes, Lightning and Kings.

Coming straight out of Canada, Burke lit the league on fire in his NHL debut, posting a 10-1 record with a 3.05 GAA to propel the Devils to their historic first playoff berth in 1988.

Although he was unable to capture a Stanley Cup throughout his 20 year career, Burke holds an Olympic Silver Medal, three NHL All-Star appearances and two IIHF World Championship Gold Medals.

Burke also holds the franchise record for most games played by a goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Best of luck in retirement, Sean!

There’s a silly little pre-season game goin’ down in Trenton tonight, where surprisingly enough, the Devils were actually the home team against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Alas, this was in name only, for two reasons. A) Trenton is practically Philly. And 2) the starting lineup for black ‘n red really consists of many Baby Devils rather than Big Devils.

Of course, with such a display, should it really have been expected for the Devils to win?

Surely, one would know the answer to such a silly question.

Regardless, Philly kicked the crap outta the boys, uh, somewhat literally, defeating New Jersey 3-2.

Yes, there were about nine million fights, and Cam Janssen apparently lost all of them. He also lost his head and appeared to injure his fightin’ hand.

Poor Cam.

For inquiring minds, Zach Parise and Andy Greene netted goals for New Jersey. It should also be noted that newbies Karel Rachunek and Arron Asham tallied primary assists on each goal. Woo.

It ain’t all bad, folks.

UPDATE: Word is Cam suffered an injured shoulder in last night’s contest. Janssen missed 11 games last season with a shoulder dislocation.

There’s a reason why Elias wasn’t photoed with the captain’s C yesterday. It’s ‘cuz, well, he ain’t the cappy no mo’.

At least, for now.

As it stands, little ol’ C is up for grabs, or so says brand spanking new head coach Brent Sutter. Patty may or may not retain the C, but I’m thinking there’s another guy waiting in the wings who deserves a piece of the ABC pie.

And no, his name is not Colin White.

Alas, Sutter and his coaching staff and Louie Lams are set to go through a “process” (sounds fun) to determine who shall don the C, along with the alternates as well.

They should totally hold a hot dog eating contest.

Chico for Captain?

NOTES: Former first rounder Adrian Foster is taking a second crack at making it to the NHL — this time, with the Minnesota Wild. The oft-injured Foster was invited by the Wild to training camp on a tryout basis. Good luck Adrian!

DARREN SAYS: John Madden would be a solid choice but I only see him staying in New Jersey for the next two seasons, unless the Devils are looking for a 36 year old checking center with a ridiculous paycheck. Colin White is the only defenseman on the roster that would even be considered but no captain should take that many stupid penalties. Travis Zajac and Zach Parise are the captains of the future but aren’t ready yet. The only obvious choice can’t wear the C because he plays between the pipes.

My vote is for Brian Gionta because he goes out on the ice every single night to try and prove his critics wrong.

Cancel the Jim Dowd-for-PR-Guy campaign.

The 38-year-old Jersey boy has agreed to a tryout with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Booooo.

Granted, he really had no place on the Devils, but, uh, the Flyers?

Really?

Good luck with that Jimmy. Tell Turner Stevenson we said hi.

Oh, wait…

But seriously, good luck Jim. Sorry it didn’t work out with the Devils.

JOE SAYS: *#%&@^# !!!

After what feels like years - but was actually only six weeks or so - we have news! Things of which to discuss! Devils-related and all! Huzzah!

It seems like every other team in the NHL has made a big to-do over their new jerseys. Some have been good, most have been bad, and a few have been downright destructive to the retinas of hockey fans everywhere. But it’s safe to say that we have a pretty good bead on just about everyone’s new duds. That is, of course, except one - well, two if you count the Avalanche, but I don’t.

So where is the new New Jersey jersey? (I’ve been dying to say that for months) According to the grand poobah Louie Lams, we aren’t seeing it ’til the boys step on the ice for the first pre-season game, September 17th against the Flyers in Trenton. No press conference, no glitzy unveiling at the arena or a local mall (though how New Jersey would that have been?), no weird John From Cincinnati-esque photos of Colin White on the beach in his pretty new jersey like a certain Islander (link opens in new window).

This really shoud come as no shock, seeing as The Rock is not complete so there is no real logical gathering point of a fan-rally type event (and seeing as how this IS the Devils we’re talking about here). So I guess we wait just a little longer, though it’s unlikely much will change visually with the jerseys. As Lou said: “Our jersey will still be our jersey.”

That’s my Lou!

Lou must have been feeling rather frisky of late, as the usually tight-lipped chief also stated to Mr. Tom Gulitti that it’s still “an open subject” on whether or not unrestricted free agents Jim Dowd and Eric Rasmussen would return this season.

I know it’s been said before, but I don’t see how either fit into the Devils circa ‘07-’08 at this point. Give Rass a shot at training camp and see if he surprises (presuming no one picks up on him sooner), and offer Jimmy Dowd a cushy PR job with the team. There’s no reason Mr. Dowd should be on the ice for the Devils this year but there’s also no reason he should be anywhere else.

I expect to see Jimmy hand-delivering Devils jerseys to lucky lower-level fans during the first TV time-out at The Rock come late October and beyond.

It is September and most people have their eyes on the upcoming NFL season but training camps open in the next few weeks and hockey news is starting to pick up. It was announced today that the Montreal Canadiens will raise Larry Robinson’s #19 to the rafters of the Bell Centre this upcoming season. Larry will have his night on November 19th in a game where the Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators.

“I was very honored to play on some tremendous hockey teams, and I wouldn’t be the player I was if I hadn’t played with them,” Robinson said at a news conference.

Bob Gainey will also have his number raised to the rafters this season. The Canadiens, who had not retired a number since Jacques Plante’s in 1995, began annual jersey retirements in 2005-06 leading up to the club’s 100th anniversary in 2009.

Congratulations Larry, we all know you deserve this!!

The Devils lost another member of their family as Max McNab passed away on September 2nd.

For those that don’t know the name, Max was the Devils second GM, replacing Billy MacMillan mid-season in 1983. Current GM Lou Lamoriello suceeded McNab in 1987.

The Devils drafted such players as Kirk Muller, Chris Terreri, Sean Burke and Eric Weinrich during his tenure, and these draft moves would help change the team image from a Mickey Mouse club to respectability. He remained with the team as Executive Vice President until retiring in 1994.

I tend to think of the Devils organization as a close knit family and anytime we lose a member of that family, we should take a moment and say a little prayer. So as training camp looms on the horizon, take a moment and think about Max and what he did for our little hockey team. His son David McNab is Assistant General Manager with the Anaheim Ducks and I hope that Max got to spend one more day with the Cup before his death.