This is going to be more trouble than the Devils want, for as long as Jason Arnott remains unsigned. Even before starting to experiment with Scott Gomez as his replacement,

Larry Robinson figured he’d want someone else.

They are the Stanley Cup champs, but they are also an economically arranged group up front, making maximum use of their talent in complementing trios. None was more so than their top line.

Patrik Elias, Arnott, Petr Sykora, left to right, were the No. 1 line of the Stanley Cup champs, with 20, 20 and 17 points, respectively, in the playoffs, while no other Devil forward had more than 10. Arnott was crucial to that threesome, especially because his size and toughness kept opponents honest when they’d consider working over his wingers.

With Sykora out of camp following a tonsillectomy, Robinson has pasted Elias on the left of Gomez and Alexander Mogilny, a group that was to get its first exhibition chance last night in Detroit.

But Robinson says he isn’t planning on this threesome staying intact when Sykora returns.

“I wouldn’t have thoughts of moving Mogilny away from Gomez. They work off each other

pretty well. And we’ve seen what Sykora and Elias do together. I’d prefer those [duos] to stay together,” Robinson told The Post. “I’ll have to find a third person to go with Gomer and Alex.

“Assuming Jason doesn’t start the year, I may have to look at alternate plans there, as well. I would think of finding another center for Elias and Sykora. It’s nice to be two-dimensional than one-dimension. You know, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

That sounds as if he might consider Bobby Holik there, especially since Holik offers that physical element.

“Believe me, that would be a lot of fun. But ask them. They get picky after awhile: ‘He’s too slow,'” Holik said, half serious of this possibility at the start of camp.

Robinson’s checking line already looks like John Madden between Turner Stevenson and Jay Pandolfo. so his solution may be to go mainly with three lines. A fourth line of Sergei Nemchinov, Sergei Brylin and Randy McKay sounds promising, too.

*

The Devils are expected to get their NHL video presentation today on the slashing crackdown. Four slashes were called in penalty-fest during Saturday’s 5-3 victory over Penguins in Wilkes-Barre. New guidelines mandate calls for chops to arms and hands.

“It’s tough. Guys have been doing it for 20 years, and it’s become natural, if a guy gets a step, you take a poke at his gloves. Now it’s got to stop right away,” one Devil said.

Ed Ward, Turner Stevenson and Colin White each had two points in triumph over Penguins … After last night’s visit to Detroit, Devils face Bruins tomorrow in Albany and visit Isles Wednesday.