What's gonna happen with Devils icon Bobby Holik? Here's a handy FAQ:

Question No. 1: Will the Devils deal the unrestricted free agent-to-be before the March 19th trade deadline?

I don't see it. As a potential unrestricted free agent, Holik will not bring the Devils fair market value. And if the Devs dealt Holik, they'd be flushing any remaining hope of winning their third straight Eastern Conference title and their second Cup in three years. Holik is a unique player who brings intangible qualities, which make him extremely valuable come playoff time. Who else on their roster can go head to head with the likes of Mario Lemieux, Mats Sundin and Eric Lindros in the East?

While you never want to lose a player without getting something in return, the Devils clearly would be better served by taking another shot at the Cup. Holik and fellow center Jason Arnott give the Devils some serious size and skill up the middle. If you take Holik out of the equation, the Devils suddenly become very vulnerable at center ice.

That said, if GM Lou Lamoriello became convinced that he couldn't (or wouldn't) re-sign Holik, St. Louis would be very interested in bringing big Bobby to the Wild West.

Question No. 2: Will Holik actually dip into the pool of unrestricted free agency on July 1?

Well, because the words came out of his own mouth, I believe Holik will test the market. He can be a very stubborn guy (much like Lamoriello). It's quite obvious that he was very upset with the way he was characterized by the Devils at his arbitration hearing in August.

Simply put, arbitration is about offensive numbers, not the intangible qualities a player brings to a team. That's why Devils teammate Petr Sykora was able to score a big-time raise through arbitration. He had the numbers.

That's the catch-22 for the players. Because of salaries, each NHLer must decide whether or not he'll put the team's needs above the personal desire to accumulate more eye-catching stats. In the past, Holik has always chosen team above self. In his arbitration hearing, he didn't feel a sense of appreciation. Because of that, he'll likely be wearing another uniform next fall.

Question No. 3: Will either party benefit from Holik's departure?

Not likely. The Devils will miss Holik's gritty game. He's a perfect fit for the club's two-way defensive style of play. And, they'll miss his ability to shut down the game's top players.

And Holik will miss being in a system that plays to his strengths as a power forward. He could end up in a really good spot, or he could end up rotting away on a losing team.

Either way, it'll be a risk. A risk neither side (especially the Devils) needs to take.

E.J. Hradek writes puck for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.