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).