New Jersey Devils management did not feel that McGillis, a rugged stay-at-home defenseman, was adapting to the stricter, less-physical NHL. They put him on waivers. He cleared without a claim.
When Vladimir Malakhov suddenly left the organization, McGillis was given a second chance. That ran out Dec. 28, when he was sent to Albany within the 30-day waiver window and replaced by third-year pro David Hale, after earning six assists and being minus-5 in 27 games.
"I'm not sure exactly where or what went wrong, but I'm in a situation now where I can't worry about all that stuff between the lines," he said. "I play hockey. That's what I do, and that's what we all do. You've got to be positive, come here and have some fun."
In his first six games for the Rats, McGillis had two goals, one assist and eight penalty minutes and was a minus-1.
The Second Coming
If McGillis being sent down was surprising, the Devils’ demotion of Mogilny sent shockwaves through the organizations.
The 36-year-old potential Hall of Famer had played 990 NHL games for the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey, with 473 goals and 1,032 points. He won an Olympic gold medal in 1988, the year before he defected to the U.S. from the former Soviet Union - and raised the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2000.
He was reacquired in the off-season for $7 million over two years, and was third on the Devils with 12 goals and fourth with 25 points in 34 games when he was made a healthy scratch for six straight games.
The return of Patrik Elias from a serious bout with Hepatitis-A made Mogilny expendable. After several days in limbo, he was assigned to the Albany River Rats on January 11th.
Mogilny skated with his new teammates the following day, and made his minor-league debut Jan. 13th in Rochester, beating three Americans players before flipping in a backhander for the game-winner in a 2-1 victory.
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