DeBoer, Devils talking new contract: report

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils coach Peter DeBoer touched upon his future with the organization before the game Sunday against the Boston Bruins. DeBoer is in negotiations for a contract extension, according to CBC's Elliotte Friedman.

“You know what? I don’t know," DeBoer said when asked if he expects to be back next season. "When you're a coach in this League I think you come to work, you invest yourself fully in your job and your team, and you do the absolute best job you can. I’m comfortable that our staff did that and other people make those decisions."

DeBoer also fielded numerous questions during his pregame press conference about the game potentially being the final one for goalie Martin Brodeur as a member of the Devils.

"I would expect the players will feel this is a meaningful game for Brodeur," DeBoer said. "I don't think there's any question everyone knows the potential significance of this. No one can predict what will happen three or four months from now, but I think the guys are very aware of that."

What immediately comes to his mind when thinking about Brodeur?

"Just excellence; decades of excellence," DeBoer said. "That's such rare thing. There are only a handful of people in the history of the game that have breathed it, so that's amazing."

The Bruins gave some of their regulars the day off Sunday to heal injuries and rest up for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Boston, which clinched the Presidents' Trophy on Saturday, will play the Detroit Red Wings in the first round. The schedule has not been announced, but it's expected that Game 1 will be Thursday.

Forwards Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Jarome Iginla, Milan Lucic, Daniel Paille and Chris Kelly, and defenseman Zdeno Chara did not make the trip to play the Devils.

Kelly will miss his third straight game and is considered day-to-day with a back injury. Bergeron did not play the third period Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres because of a minor injury, but Bruins coach Claude Julien said he's fine.

Paille was injured 7:17 into the third period Saturday after he was hit hard by Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe, who was given a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct. Paille did not return to the game, but Julien said he was doing much better Sunday.

"We got some good news today, he's feeling great," Julien said. "It's just about going at it day to day here, but certainly real positive news today."

The Bruins recalled forwards Craig Cunningham, Justin Florek, Matt Lindblad and Alexander Khokhlachev from the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis. They all will play against New Jersey.

Khokhlachev, who leads Providence with 57 points in 63 games, will be the eighth player to make his NHL debut with the Bruins this season. The 20-year-old was Boston's second-round pick (No. 40) in the 2011 NHL Draft.

"It's a dream come true," Khokhlachev said. "Everybody dreams of playing in the NHL and it will be my first game. Just amazing feelings right now. Just ready to go."

NHL.com Staff Writer Mike Morreale contributed to this report.