Hockey Trade Rumors

Besides picking a coach again, the Devils have another major decision on their hands, which left wing to shower millions upon. They can’t afford both and after next season, not without shortchanging other more-needed positions, and they need to choose now.

Underscoring the imminent nature of that choice, The Post has learned that is dropping his current agent and is seeking a new adviser to guide him through this vital summer.

In the next six weeks, the Devils had better find out which they can best do: extend walk-year contract (officially after July 1, but they’re free to do everything but file the deal before then), or sign before he reaches unrestricted free agency on July 1.

It’s a crossroads decision as important to the future of the franchise as the selection of another coach, and it would be an upset if the choice is over .

did turn down $70 million over seven years from Atlanta, yet it’s clear that money doesn’t trump everything with him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be playing for peanuts as Russia’s captain at the World Championships in Germany, risking injury and his summertime fortune.

Still, to expect him to take a pay cut from last year’s $7.5 million is unrealistic. If he walks, general manager Lou Lamoriello’s impulse buy with , costing Jersey , , prospect and a first-rounder, will prove to have been in vain.

, widely regarded as a future Devils captain, becomes unrestricted after he earns $5 million next season. Failure to extend , which would likely be the case if they sign Kovalchuk, would open the issue of trading as the most-desirable-ever rental at the deadline, regaining the future that was lost Feb. 4.

“I put in the same sentence with and ,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren told The Post before the start of the playoffs, talking about him as a postseason opponent, but giving a clear indication of value.

It seems unlikely that would sign for much less than $8 million a year, or under $7 million per. If those conservative figures prove valid, the Devils would be devoting $29 million in cap space to left wings Kovalchuk, , ($6 million hit), ($5 million) and shifted-out ($3.4 million), half the foreseeable limit, just at one position.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/devils/one_spot_left_ThkZDvOYlPC0rJATZ8968H