McMullen told The Star-Ledger of Newark that the Devils probably will make a move to improve their Stanley Cup chances before the NHL's March 14 trading deadline, but it won't be for the 39-year-old Messier.

"He's a fine young man, but what is he now, 40?" said McMullen, whose team has been upset early in the playoffs the last three years. "I'd like to think if we make a trade, it will be for someone who we can keep for a few years.

"Besides, we have a philosophy," McMullen added. "We've been running this team in the proper manner. If we get one $10 million player, what do we do with our other players? I'm not going to do that."

McMullen's comments in Tuesday's newspaper came a day after the New York Post reported that the Devils were close to a deal with the Vancouver Canucks. The Post said that Messier probably would be with New Jersey when the team returns from its seven-game road trip.

Quoting unidentified sources, the Post said the Canucks probably would get centers Denis Pederson and Brendan Morrison plus a second-round draft pick for Messier, a 22-year NHL veteran who recently appeared in his 14th All-Star game.

Messier, who has a no-trade clause, is in the final guaranteed year of his deal, with the Canucks having the option to either re-sign him to two more years for $12 million, or buy out the remainder of the contract for $2 million.

Messier helped the New York Rangers end a 54-year Stanley Cup drought in 1994. He also played on five Cup-winning teams at Edmonton.

There is one twist to the trade. McMullen is in the process of selling the Devils to YankeeNets for a reported $175 million. That group, which is a merger of baseball's New York Yankees and the NBA's New Jersey Nets, is pushing to get the deal done soon.

If it were to happen before the March 14 trading deadline, the new owners might want to consider a Messier deal.

However, McMullen has indicated he wants to keep the Devils through the end of the season. New Jersey has the best record in the Eastern Conference and might be considered a Stanley Cup favorite but for its playoff failures in recent years.