Devils Keep Sinking

With tonights loss to the Nashville Predators, the New Jersey Devils drop to a 9-21-2 record. After an impressive shutout against the Phoenix Coyotes, the Devils fail to bring that energy over against the Preds. The Devils have dug themselves into a huge hole and the only thing we can look forward to is a turn around in performance. But where do we start?

Lou has not done much to help fix this problem. Maybe he was hoping it would work itself out and i do believe he realizes he must take action. Recently, Brian Rolston has been placed on waivers. If somebody picks him up, this will give the team about 2.5 million in cap space. I am assuming he made this move because he has another signing/trade lined up. Hopefully, Lou does something very soon.

There has been other talks about a possible trade between the Devils and the Flames. Clarkson, Tallinder and a draft pick for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. Bouwmeester currently makes $6.8 million, Clarkson makes $2.6 million and Tallinder makes about $3.8 million. With these two gone we could afford Bouwmeester but I am not sure this will help much. I am all for getting rid of Tallinder because he has done nothing we brought him here for. He was brought to bring some offensive numbers to the defense, and he has done nothing of the sort. Bouwmeester has always put up impressive numbers, with the exception of his seasons in Calgary. Clarkson gives the team a rough player who can come through at crucial times, but he is not the offensive power that we need right now. He also adds a tough guy to the lineup, which every team needs.

A change needs to be made NOW, if we want to see any sort of turn around this season.

Where Are the Devils Headed?

A truly disappointing start for a team with so much talent. 3-8-1 is not how any team wants to start out. Are we doomed for the rest of the year? Should we just give up now? the answer is no. We look amazing on paper, but putting it together is the key. It was pretty obvious we would have a rough start with a new system and a ton of new players.

Our defense is injury plagued, our offense had not been clicking (until recently) and we have not been playing a solid 60 minute game. Here is a mini breakdown of our team:

Positives:
-A ton of shots on goal (LA-40, Pitt-31, Col-43)
-Marty has been solid for the most part
-Offense has been clicking recently
-Smoother passing
-Penalty kill is solid
-Rookies stepping it up (Pelley, Vasyunov, Josesfon).

Negatives:
-The Power play is absolutely awful, need to capitalize.
-Lots of rookie defensemen, taking time to adjust to one another
-Injuries (Salvador, Fraser, Volchenkov, Rolston, Salmela maybe now even Parise).
-Too much passing and not enough shooting at times
-Playing fancy, don't need to always get pretty goals
-Allow less breakaways and 2 on 1 rushes.

It seems odd to put Rolston as a priority on the IR, but he has shown he can still use that nasty slap shot of his and he is a monster on the PP. The Devils need to put the puck on net more, instead of setting up "razzle-dazzle" plays. Our defense is a big issue, considering all of our big names are currently injured. Fraser, although young, was another big loss because he knew the system well and put up impressive offensive numbers.

We will get back on the winning track, hopefully sooner than later. Ignore all the Kovalchuk hate. With Parise, Zajac, Kovy, Elias and Arnott, it is hard for them to know who to give the puck to. Once they figure that out, our offense will be unstoppable.

Lets Go Devils!!!!!

PL3 Put On Waivers

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond has been placed on waivers. PL3, mostly known for his tough guy style is not on waivers and it is unclear if he will head to free agency or if he will go down to Albany. In the Devils second game against the Rangers, PL3 got into a fight late in the third period and the NHL announced that he would be suspended for one game.

As reported by Tom Gulitti, Lamoriello said it had nothing to do with the fight:

It had to do with making a decision as far as whether we add another different type of forward and depending on the injuries. But I didn’t like what transpired at the end of the game in that situation.

Although I do love having PL3 as an enforcer, we also have Clarkson and Pelley. Clarkson also adds some offensive power. This will also leave room for possibly signing Adam Mair, who is still practicing with the team, but is not on the roster.

Nineteen Cut From Training Camp Roster

As reported by Tom Gulitti via twitter, the Devils have cut nineteen players from the roster.

To Albany:

G- Dave Caruso
D- Mark Fayne
D- Dan Kelly
D- Tyler Miller
D- Chris Murray
D- Harry Young
F- Adam Henrique
F- Nathan Perkovich
F- Matt Anderson
F- Jean-Sebastien Berube
F- Trevor Kell
F- Kory Nagy
F- Louis Robitaille
F- Myles Stoesz
F- Darcy Zajac

To Junior teams:

G- Maxime Clermont (Gatineau, QMJHL)
G- Scott Wedgewood (Plymouth, OHL)
G- Thomas Nesbitt (Ottawa, OHL) (Unsigned FA)
G- Shane Owen (Moncton, QMJHL) (Unsigned FA)

No real surprises except for Adam Henrique. He did not play in the Devil's two preseason games. He has incredible talent but unfortunately the Devil's have solid depth at center with Zajac, Arnott, and Zubrus. Adam Mair, who is on a try out basis, has been fighting for his spot on the team. This may be why he was sent to Albany.

Preseason Is Here!

Normally, I will not post previews to games or recaps to specific games. But this is our first pre-season game AND it will be aired on NHL Network. This is big for me and other west coasters because we never get to see preseason hockey.

The results of preseason are not important, but how the team plays is what matters. As previously posted by the NHL Devils and Tom Gulitti on twitter, here are the lineups:

Goalies:
Mike Mckenna and Johan Hedberg

Defensive Lines:
Salvador – Greene
Urbom – Tallinder
Fraser – Corrente

Offensive Lines:
Elias – Arnott – Langenbrunner
Zubrus – Josefson – Clarkson
Vasyunov – Mair – Nilson
Leblond – Mills – Palmieri

Players to watch:
-Hedberg: We need to see how our new veteran back-up goalie will be on the ice. Marty could use a rest this season and hopefully that is what Hedberg will provide.

-Jacob Josefson: I did a player profile on him awhile back and he is one of a few players we will need to keep an eye on. How well he can play with some experienced NHL players and how comfortable he looks on the ice. He will definitely be an attribute to the team.

-Alexander Vasyunov: He had a solid season last year with the Lowell Devils and with Maclean as head coach, maybe some of that magic will be brought back.

-EAL: The Elias-Arnott-Langenbrunner line should be an exciting line to watch. Elias and Arnott have a history together and as I have read reports of training camp, it looks like they were never apart for ten years. Langenbrunner is a dynamic player and anyone you place him, he can contribute to the line.

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Final score Devils: 3 Flyers: 4
As I said, results do not matter, it is how we play that does. Keep in mind the ENTIRE Philadelphia lineup were pros except for goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who was put in for the third period. The Devils had seven rookie players suited. We also managed to force the game too a shootout. Overall I think we played well. Here is some key notes:

-Hedberg was shaky in the first period, but he was solid for the second.
-Hedberg played the puck well, the team will not have to worry about the difference in play between him and Marty.
-Josefson was able to keep up with the quick pace of the game. Will be ready to make the step up tto the NHL shortly.
-EAL looked solid. Made quality passes and set up some great chances that just didn't make in.
-Mike McKenna played a hell of a game, after having a bad start at training camp. He does need to work on rebound control though.
Most surprising player(s):
-Alexander Urbom had a solid game paired with Henrik Tallinder. He had two assists and ended up with a +2 rating for the night. Urbom,19, is 6'3" and showed his ability to play tough by knocking the Flyers around all game. Hopefully he will keep this up, I would love to see him with us this year.

The Price We Pay..

The NHL has fined the Devils $3 million, and must forfeit their third round 2011 draft pick, and their first round draft pick in one of the next four years. They must make their decision after the Stanley Cup which year they wish to forfeit their first round draft pick. It is unlikely they will do it in 2011 because we already traded our second round pick for Jason Arnott. Lou Lamoriello will most likely pick a year when the drafts are not the best.

Is this an extreme fine? Should we have seen it coming?
I was among many of the Devil fans who were pissed off due to these fines, but I also expected it. Yes these fines are extreme, but the $3 million could go against our cap, which would screw the team over BIG time. Thankfully, it does not.

We all need to put this behind us because the fact is, WE GOT KOVALCHUK! Expect a long post-season run this year and future years to come.

The Kovalchuk Saga Ends!

The NHL has finally approved the Devils contract for Ilya Kovalchuk. The decision was supposed to be made on Wednesday (September 1st), but the deadline was pushed back until Friday (September 3rd). As aggravating as it was, it is finally over and the new $100 million 15 year deal has been approved.

This deal will actually help the Devils because it allowed them to put more money into the later years of the contract. The old contract numbers were less spread out and more money was given early in the contract. The current reported numbers have the money more spread out, which will allow Parise, and other players to be signed longer. These are not the official numbers, but when they are announced, I will compare the two and see which is better.

And so it is, at 12:05 am (2:05 am for the east coasters), the contract is signed and official. Good thing I am a night owl. It is over. Odd right? What will we talk about now. A big thanks to Devils correspondent Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice), who has been staying up for this and informing all of us via twitter.

According to an article on NHL.com:
The Kovalchuk contract reportedly calls for him to make $100 million across 15 years, including $90 million in the first 10 years and $10 million over the last five -- with an annual salary cap hit of $6.67 million. Kovalchuk, who turned 27 in April, will be 42 upon completion of the contract.

I can assume that the numbers posted above are true. As you notice from seasons 2012-2013 to 2017-2018, both contracts are in the $11 million range. But in the new contract, Kovy makes $10 million over the last five years instead of $2.5 million in the old contract. This will allow the Devils to lock up Parise long term and give him the money he deserves. We will also be able to afford Elias (assuming we make some roster moves).

Arbitrator Rejects Kovalchuk Contract

The "Kovalchuk Saga" just never seems to end. After a long wait, he finally made a decision to sign with the Devils. Then when the contract was rejected by the NHL, we had to wait weeks for the decision to happen. Now, Kovalchuk goes back to being an Unrestricted Free Agent.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch listened to both sides(NHL and NHLPA) of the story during the two day court trial. Late Monday night, he announced his decision for the contract to be rejected, agreeing with the NHL.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the League would not approve it because it was a "circumvention of the Collective Bargaining Agreement." The entire statement can be found here.

Lou Lamoriello made the following statement:

“We have reviewed and respect Arbitrator Bloch's ruling in the Kovalchuk matter. We also note and appreciate his finding that nothing in his opinion should be read as suggesting that either the club or Ilya Kovalchuk operated in bad faith or on the basis of any assumption other than that the Standard Player Contract was fully compliant with the CBA. That has been our consistent position throughout".

What do i think of all of this?
First off i think that the contract was rejected not due to the CBA, but because it is considered a "retirement contract". I think that is why Bloch decided to go with the NHL. With that said, i STILL disagree with it because there are many contracts that are the exact same. Roberto Luongo's contract ends at age 43 and he will make $1 million.

I still see Kovalchuk becoming a Devil, and there is a strong possibility there already is a back-up contract in the works, if not already completed.

Devils Bring Back Retro Jersey

The Devils have decided to bring back their "Christmas Tree" retro jersey again on March 18th against the Caps!

Last years St. Patricks day game against the Penguins was one of the most anticipated games of the season because it was the first time they would wear their retro jersey. This year they will be on the road for St. Patricks day, but that following night they will be back at home.

The Capitals coming to town already brings a loud, energetic crowd, but you can expect it to be even more intense now. I am hoping to make it out for this game as well as many other Devils fans who don't live in New Jersey,

Expect the retro jersey to be a yearly occurrence.

2010-2011 Devils Schedule

Now that the NHL has released the full 2010-2011 schedule, we can view the Devils key games this season.

The scheduled can be viewed here

The Devils open their season on Friday, October 8th at home against the Dallas Stars.
The following night they play their first away game against the Capitals.

The Devils longest road trip is six games, from October 24th-November 3rd. They face the Rangers, Sharks, Ducks, Kings, Canucks and the Stanley Cup Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks.

Their longest homestand is four games from December 23rd to December 31st against the Islanders, Maple leafs, Rangers and the Thrashers.

Offseason Report

Instead of creating seperate blogs, I will dedicate this blog to all the off season trades. I will update on all new trades, free agency and contract extensions as soon as possible so keep checking back.

1. Jason Arnott returns:

Jason Arnott, 36, has been traded from the Nashville Predators for a 2nd round Draft Pick in 2011 and prospect Matt Halishuck. Arnott was with the Devils from 1997-2002 and is most known for scoring the game winning goal in Game 6 of the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals against the Dallas Stars.

Arnott is a 50 point Center who can add a lot of depth to the team. He will fill a much needed center position and adds depth and playoff experience to the team.


2. Peters and Pandolfo placed on waivers:

Andrew Peters and Jay Pandolfo have been placed on waivers by the Devils.

If Pandolfo is not claimed, the team can buy out the last year of his $2.5 million contract for roughly $1.67 million. If Peters is not claimed, his $500,000 contract can be bought out for $333,333.

3. Clarkson Signed to Multi-Year Contract Extension:

Right wing David Clarkson, 26, has signed a three year contract extension with the Devils. The contract is worth 2.6 million AAS.

Clarkson had 11 goals and 13 assists in 46 games last season. He missed a large portion of the season due to a broken right leg after he blocked a shot from defenseman Zdeno Chara. He has become a core player on the Devil's roster and he will continue to be a valuable asset to the team.

4. Devils ink Volchenkov, Tallinder and Hedberg

During the first day of Free Agency, the Devil's came out with some top notch players. Paul Martin made it pretty clear that he was not going to return to the Devils when he said he wanted to "test the market", so it was necessary to sign some top defenseman.

Volchenkov, 28, is a hard hitting defenseman who had 4 goals, 10 assists and a plus-2 rating last year with the Senators. He will make it tough to play in the zone and is known for his shot blocking.

Tallinder, 31, is an offensive defenseman who had 4 goals, 16 assists and a plus-13 rating last year for the Sabres. Tallinder will add some depth and can easily replace Martin due to similar playing styles.

Hedberg, 37, is a veteran goaltender with 9 years of NHL experience. Hedberg will be used to lighten the work load of Brodeur who played 77 games last year, the most of all goaltenders. Last year, he posted a 21-16-10 mark with a 2.62 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and three shutouts in 47 games with Atlanta. He will be a reliable No.2 goaltender for the Devils.

The Devils no doubt came out as winners in the Free Agency. Most fans were worried that the Devils defense would suffer with the loss of Paul Martin. I think we are actually better off without him. These two defenseman will add new depth to the team. Keep in mind he missed 60 games last year and the team was just fine.

5. Ilya Kovalchuk Returns

After hearing many news reports of Kovy making a decision soon and "sources" that he would sign to various teams, he has finally signed a contract with the Devils. He signed a contract worth $102 million over 17 years. The official numbers can be found here. This means that we will have him until he is 44.

I've heard alot of negative comments about the amount of money we are spending on him. Although if you look at the previous website i posted, the numbers are spread out so that re-sign players such as Parise and Elias because we are not spending all the money at once. This still puts the Devil's over by $1 million dollars. So what do they do? I have come up with some ideas of how to clear some cap space:

1. Put Salvador and Zubrus on waivers:
-Salvador will be making $2,900,000 the next two seasons and if he clears then we will only pay $966,667.
-Zubrus will make $3,400,000 the next three seasons an the buyout will be $1,133,333.
2. Don't resign Brian Rolston.
-Rolston will make $5,062,000 and at 37 that is quite expensive.

Don't get me wrong i love all these players, but with Volchenkov and Tallinder added to the roster, Salvador is not needed. We also have Anssi Salemla and Rob Davison who are solid defenseman. Rolston still has alot of talent scoring 20 goals and 17 assists for 37 points and a plus-2 rating. But paying $5 million is just too much.

If you still think Kovalchuk is not worth it, remember in 27 games he tallied 10 goals and 17 assists in 27 games with a plus-9 rating (talk about not being defensive). Including Elias and Parise, thats THREE 40 goal scorers on the team.

Contract details found via Capgeek.com

6. Devils avoid arbitration, sign Fraser

The Devils have re-signed 23 year old defenseman Mark Fraser for a one year contract worth $500,000. Fraser was drafted 3rd(84th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Fraser initially filed for salary arbitration which was set for July 30th but it has now been avoided.

Fraser had his first NHL season with the Devils playing 61 games tallying 3 goals, 3 assists for 6 points and a plus-3 rating. I was hoping to see a longer contract but with a lot of other issues at hand, hopefully this is just a temporary contract

Welcome Back Johnny Mac

After Jacques Lemaire retired, there was alot of speculation as to who the new coach would be. Some rumors were Ken Hitchcock, Mario Tremblay and Michel Therrien. After a long wait, it was announced that John MacLean will be the new head coach of the Devils.

MacLean was an assistant coach for the Devils for seven seasons and last year he was the coach of the Lowell Devils. He led them to a playoff berth and their best record since the franchise was formed.

I think MacLean is the best for the Devils. He is a "players coach" which might be exactly what the team needs. It may be a rough start but the Devils are in for a good season

Devil's Top Prospects

Devils Top Prospects:
With the Devil’s season over, it is time to take a look at some possible players that the Devil’s could bring up. The Devil’s have a long line of talented prospects, but there are three that stand out over the rest.

1. Mattias Tedenby (LW):

Career: Tedenby made his debut in the 2005-2006 season with the Swedish U16 team. In the 2007-2008 season, he was brought up to the Swedish Elite League to play for HV 71 where he helped his team win the championship. In 2008-2009, he was mostly fourth lined but he showed his talent when brought up in the playoffs with six goals and three assists in 18 games. Tedenby was drafted in the first round, 24th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Future: He had a year left on his contract with HV-71 of the SEL. He has signed with the Devils for the 2010-2011 season.

Plays like: Tedenby is an exciting player who is all about speed. Not only can he add to the offense of the team, but he will be a playmaker as well and bring excitement to the
Devil’s roster. He has a similar playing style to Martin St. Louis.


2. Jacob Josefson (C):

Career: In 2007-2008 Josefson spent most of his time in the SEL with Djurgardens where he totaled 31 points in 34 games. He also played in the U17 and U18 WJC. In 2008-2009 he played for Djurgardens and represented Sweden in the U18 and U20 WJC. He was drafted in the first round, 20th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Future: With his contract up in the SEL, the Devil’s recently signed Josesfon. Contract details have not been released.

Plays Like: Josesfon is someone who can play a two-way game. He plays similar to Henrik Zetterberg and Vincent Lecavalier


3. Adam Henrique (C):

Career: In 2007-2008 he made his debut with the Windsor Spitfires where he recorded impressive numbers. In 2008-2009, Henrique had a +39 rating with the Spitfires and he helped lead them to a Memorial Cup Champion. He also tied for most goals in the tournament. Windsor made it to the Memorial Cup Final again in the 2009-2010 season. Henrique currently has 2g and 3a for 5 points. He is only trailing #1 prospect Taylor Hall. Henrique was drafted in the 3rd round, 82nd overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Future: It is likely to see Henrique to play some time with the Devils. He will most likely turn pro this upcoming season.

Plays Like: Henrique is not a flashy player but he plays a style that will fit into the organization well. He has great leadership skills and he can play a two-way game.

Welcome to the DA

Welcome to the Devil's Advocate. I have been a New Jersey Devil's fan since i was five years old and i will be analyzing the team during the season. I hope you enjoy it.

First post coming soon