DALLAS -- The New Jersey Devils sent the center who scored their Stanley Cup-winning goal in 2000 to Dallas on Tuesday for the center who led the Stars to the title the year before.

		The Devils-Stars trade is more about a change of environment. Although they have been two of the league's top teams over the last five years, they have struggled all season and gone stale. They both needed a major shakeup. I like the move for Dallas, getting a great player like Jason Arnott. While Randy McKay is a character player who is tough in the corners and can score the odd goal, no one knows how much longer he will play. But Arnott will be around a long time and has all the attributes a team could want. He has been a terrific player for the Devils and was outstanding for them when they won the Stanley Cup two years ago. For the Devils, Joe Nieuwendyk has had injury problems from time to time. Jamie Langenbrunner, while not a huge talent, is a solid worker with a good reputation due to his experience on a Stanley Cup champion. The trade is interesting from a style standpoint. The two teams are probably comfortable with each other's players and how they will fit into their system because the Stars and the Devils play so close to the vest defensively. I think Stars coach Rick Wilson is trying to open things up a little in Dallas, and I think Kevin Constantine is injecting the Devils with more discipline. I wouldn't be surprised if Nieuwendyk was shocked and maybe a bit upset. I think he liked Dallas a lot. It may be more comfortable for Arnott going to Dallas than it is for Nieuwendyk going to New Jersey.

Jason Arnott, forward Randy McKay and a first-round pick were traded by the Devils to the Stars for Joe Nieuwendyk and right wing Jamie Langenbrunner.

Arnott is moving to the city where he scored the biggest goal of his career, a double-overtime shot in Game 6 of the finals that clinched the championship. In 1999, Nieuwendyk won the Conn Smythe Award as postseason MVP when Dallas beat Buffalo for the Cup.

"All those nostalgic things go through your mind, but you're just trying to do something for your team," Devils president Lou Lamoriello said. "We needed to make a change."

The trade-deadline deal is yet another shakeup for the teams that met in the finals two years ago. Both have fired their coaches this season and are in tight battles just to make the playoffs.

Dallas is fourth in the Pacific Division and holds the Western Conference's final playoff spot, but by only one point going into Tuesday night's games. The Stars, who have won their division five straight years, are seven points behind first-place San Jose with 14 games left.

New Jersey has 73 points, third in the Atlantic Division and seventh in the East. The Devils might need the offensive boost to counter the New York Rangers, who acquired Pavel Bure on Monday.

"First of all, it's quality for quality. Let's not look at it any other way," Lamoriello said. "Both teams are in similar situations -- coming off long, successful runs, but they needed to make a change. It's not change for change's sake, though."

At 27, Arnott is eight years younger than Nieuwendyk, who won the Conn Smythe Award as postseason MVP when Dallas beat Buffalo for the Cup in 1999.

This season, Arnott has 22 goals, including a team-high eight on the power play, and 19 assists. A bad back has kept him from skating since last Monday, and out of three games.

"He was the key for us," Stars general manager Doug Armstrong said. "He brings us some size, some strength and a different attitude at center ice."

Nieuwendyk's age and position made him expendable. The Stars already have Mike Modano and offseason acquisition Pierre Turgeon. Nieuwendyk, who helped Canada win a gold medal at the Olympics, was second on the team in goals (23) and points (47).

"He gives us a top-notch faceoff guy who can play on the power play and the penalty kill," Lamoriello said.

Langenbrunner, who often played right wing on the same line as Nieuwendyk, had 10 goals and 18 assists in 68 games. Although only 26, his points have gone down every season since 1998, his second full season. Lamoriello got to know him that season when both were involved with the United States' Olympic team.

"He brings a fiery desire night in and night out," Lamoriello said.

McKay, 35, has six goals and seven assists with 65 penalty minutes, and was on the Devils' Cup-winning teams in 1995 and 2000. He displayed his strength Sunday night by checking a Vancouver defenseman into the New Jersey bench. He has 1,652 career penalty minutes in 843 games.