TRENTON -- The T-Devils made three for-future-considerations trades yesterday to fill out their depleted roster.

The T-Devils acquired three forwards -- Dan Eves (from Idaho), Jeff Prough (from Gwinnett) and Dan Travis (from Florida).

TRENTON -- In search of better and consistent play, T-Devils head coach Rick Kowalsky's cause won't be helped by this.

Forwards Tyler Burton, Eric Castonguay and Trevor Kell were recalled to the Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League yesterday.

BY JOSHUA BRETT

TRENTON -- Think it couldn't get worse for the Trenton Devils than Friday night's third period collapse? It did in last night's 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the same Dayton Bombers at Sovereign Bank Arena.

There was no late lead for the T-Devils to squander in this one. They were outplayed and outworked from start to finish by the team that entered the night tied for the fewest goals scored in the league. Nino Musitelli, who scored only 21 goals in four college seasons at Miami (Ohio), recorded his first professional hat trick. The offense couldn't get anything going. And beleaguered goalie Jason Smith, forced into nightly action due to Jeff Frazee's call-up to the American Hockey League, was under siege for most of the game.

The ECHL released a press release late last night.

It read:

BY JOSHUA BRETT

TRENTON -- Last night probably couldn't come quickly enough for the Trenton Devils. After posting the worst record in franchise history and missing the playoffs for only the second time ever, last night finally brought a chance to start anew.

But even with a new, highly-touted goaltender, some more size and considerably more experience, the T-Devils' first night of 2008-09 looked like all-too-many nights in 2007-08.

TRENTON -- Five points.

That is all that separated the Trenton Devils from a ECHL Kelly Cup playoff appearance. Head coach Rick Kowalsky had to go through the summer with that fact in mind.

The T-Devils have yet to select their captains for this season. The team will wait until prior to the opening night game to pick its captains for the upcoming season. So we won't know until they hit the ice for their 7:30 p.m. game.

TRENTON -- Jim Henkel's offseason was filled with apprehension.

That's what comes about when a team misses the ECHL playoffs by just five points.