The New Jersey Devils scratched veteran captain Jamie Langenbrunner prior to Thursday's game with the Philadelphia Flyers and asked him to waive his no trade clause.

Why is this interesting to Flyers fans?

Because the Flyers are pushing hard to get Langenbrunner.

I talked to a source familiar with both sides of the deal tonight and I was told that Devils' GM Lou Lamoriello called the Flyers a few days ago asking if they were interested in Langenbrunner, who makes $2.8 million and will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Not coincidentally, the Flyers waived Michael Leighton that same day, creating cap room to acquire a player of Langenbrunner's ilk.

The source said the Flyers offered the Devils "draft picks" in exchange for Langenbrunner but have not heard back from Lamoriello since, making the Flyers believe the Devils' GM had gotten a better offer somewhere else.

However, playing in the Flyers favor is the notion that Langenbrunner will only waive his no trade clause to go to a contender, and that team would either have to be on the East Coast - so his family can stay put, or back to Dallas, where he made his bones in the NHL.

Some reports are suggesting Washington and Boston could be frontrunners, but the Caps' don't make much sense - they have enough up front. Boston is a legit possibility though, however the Flyers are going to try to convince Lamoriello otherwise.

According to the source, Flyers' G.M. Paul Holmgren was spending his time at the Prudential Center Thursday hunting down Lamoriello trying to work the deal.

However, it should be noted, Lamoriello has never orchestrated a trade with the Flyers, and might choose to send Langenbrunner outside of the Atlantic Division before helping a chief rival.

Stay tuned as the drama continues...