Shanahan agrees to play for Devils 20 years after starting career in New Jersey

When Shanahan signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Blues in 1991 after four seasons with New Jersey, the Devils received as compensation Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Stevens, who captained the team to each title.

"I have tremendous respect for what Brendan can bring and what he has brought," Lamoriello said. "The major impetus of this was to bring (him) to our power play and specialty teams, which has really been a forte of his in recent years.

"We felt extremely strong that Brendan could add to that, plus what he brings to the overall lineup with experience."

Shanahan is the latest big-name player to come back this season after splitting with the Devils. But unlike forwards Bobby Holik and Brian Rolston, who signed during the summer, Shanahan has never been a teammate in New Jersey with anyone on the current roster.

"That is a nice thing to know that the player knows about the organization, knows what is expected, knows what the philosophy is, so that is something that you don't have to go through," Lamoriello said. "It's nostalgic because Brendan came in when I came in, but that shortly stopped because this is hockey. This is a hockey decision 100 percent in every way.

"You can never have enough experience. He knows what it takes to win."

Shanahan scored 23 goals in 73 games last season but finished with only 46 points, his lowest total in a full year since his rookie season of 1987-88, Lamoriello's first as GM. He was bothered by a sprained knee sustained in January, but played through it -- a move he said was probably a mistake.

Lamoriello isn't concerned, and said he is impressed by Shanahan's work ethic and physical condition.

"He has always been a player that takes care of himself. He looks in great shape," Lamoriello said. "Right now we have an opportunity to add a player without subtracting and get a better feel for who we are."

While Shanahan was targeted for his special teams play, Lamoriello expects him to be a full-time player.

The Devils entered Saturday night's game at Los Angeles having lost two straight and three of five, leaving them third in the tight Atlantic Division race. They were beaten 4-0 at home by lowly Atlanta on Thursday and have scored only 12 goals in five games.

Their power play, ranked 21st in the 30-team NHL, went 0-for-7 in the latest loss and is in a 5-for-36 rut over nine games. The Devils, shut out three times in that span, are 19th in penalty-killing.

"You never make a decision on one or two or even three games," Lamoriello said. "The overall specialty teams' success, or lack of success, in my mind was the impetus in coming to the conclusion right now that (adding Shanahan) would be a positive thing."