The New Jersey Devils have graduated from a "slow start" to "having a bad season." They have the second fewest points in the league, the secord worst goal differential (minus-35), and have lost five in a row. Injuries and struggling players have hurt them from all sides, and Brian Rolston has been an example of both this season. After getting off to a really rough start, Rolston has been placed on waivers by the Devils.
If Rolston isn't claimed, which will likely be the case, he'll still count against New Jersey's cap, so the Devils have very little to gain, other than getting a struggling player off the roster. Due to injury, Rolston has been limited to 15 games this season. In that time, he's scored two goals and four points. He's also a minus-6. Just last year, he scored 20 goals and had 37 points, so clearly that's part of the reason for the big drop in New Jersey's play. Of course, Zach Parise's injury combined with Ilya Kovalchuk and Martin Brodeur both having poor seasons has been a bigger part of it.
Rolston has had a fine career, he's scored 323 goals and 707 points, but he's also 37 and it appears his career may be sputtering to a conclusion while the Devils crumble around him.
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