2013 New Jersey Devils (Team News, Player Discussion - Part VIII)

[NJD Kula]

It won't be. We don't need like a metric ton of things to improve to win games.

Yo I know Marty is fat but he ain't that fat

Team lost greatest goalie alive and hasn't won a game since, if there's something going on in the locker-room it's the fact they all know the extent of his injury and we don't and it's shaken their confidence.

I think the slump will end once the team realizes they can win without Marty and Scott clemmer will have to do!

 

[Nick0930]

It's like complaining that someone gave you a free can of Sprite when you've been dying for a free glass of Cristal.

Better than being thirsty. Better than Barch.

Amazing. And it is exactly like that.

 

[guitarguyvic]

It won't be. We don't need like a metric ton of things to improve to win games. We just need some kind of effective line set up and the goaltending to improve.

To say we don't have enough talent in our top 6 to make the playoffs is silly panic talk. Kovy, Elias, Zajac, Henrique, Clarkson are all top 6 guys more then talented enough to carry a team. We need one more but for a playoff run not to end a slump. We are just in the most unfortunate times where they all went cold at once.

Plus that doesn't even count guys like Loki and CBGB who are capiable of chipping on goals too.

The talent and team is there. Sometimes you can't explain why things are going bad.

Don't even bother. Everyone seems to think that getting a top 6 forward is going to somehow fix the fact that we have 5 forwards capable of scoring goals not doing their jobs, and a backup goaltender who couldn't stop a beachball right now.

And who would this top 6 forward be? What assets do we have that will land us this savior? What team is willing to give that person up at this juncture of the season?

Realistic options IMO:
- Play the top six forwards on the top two lines. Stop with the two rookies on the top line. I'd rather have the best we got on the top two lines with a mediocre 3rd line and a garbage 4th line than trying to spread out the offense and having nothing clicking except CGBG.

- Give Moose at least one game off, if not more. There is no way in hell Kinkaid or even Frazee can be any worse than him right now and it could give the team a spark.

- Consider changes to our assistant coach personnel. The PP in particular went from being decent to completely useless. Kovy being on the right side seems to make absolutely no sense and there does not appear to be any strategy in place.

- Take the C from Sal. He doesn't have the talent level to lead by example the way a C should. That would be a pretty big shakeup.

 

[Bosskarelli]

I think the team misses Zubrus' music more than they'd want to admit.

 

[Officer Rod Farva]

I think the team misses Zubrus' music more than they'd want to admit.

They were all excited to be rid of him...when in the end he knew what he was doing!

 

[SKNJD9]

Jesse Katsopolis will wear 25 for us according to twitter

 

[guitarguyvic]

It's like complaining that someone gave you a free can of Sprite when you've been dying for a free glass of Cristal.

Better than being thirsty. Better than Barch.

They are mad that a guy like that is being acquired rather than a stud top 6 player like Iginla or Perry. Because you know, it should be just as easy to pick those kind of guys up as a guy off the waiver wire.

I remember when everyone was mad that Lou picked up Carter off waivers. That was funny.

 

[Oroku Saki*]

Jesse Katsopolis will wear 25 for us according to twitter

 

[Oroku Saki*]

Lou vs Shero

 

[Emperoreddy]

I think the team misses Zubrus' music more than they'd want to admit.

haha I've been saying that for a bit now. We need DJ Dainosaur to get us pumped up again.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Larry Robinson seems to like Kostopoulos.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The Pens just signed him yesterday to a two way and we claimed him

How bad could it be? Because we all knew what we'd be getting from guys like Bernier, Carter, etc who most of us doubted

Everybody wants every move to be a big trade or a big name

haha Lou be trolling. Weren't they trying to bring him up to the NHL when we snatched him?

 

[Lou is God]

- Take the C from Sal. He doesn't have the talent level to lead by example the way a C should. That would be a pretty big shakeup.

You want to lose the locker room midseason? Do this.

Salvador might not be a great captain or even a good one, but you can't take the "C" away from him during the season, you'd humiliate him and probably get the players mad at Pete and Lou for doing it.

It certainly don't look good right now folks, but its also too early to start make panic moves, we win back to back games starting tomorrow night and everyone will forget the last couple weeks.

 

[Zippy316]

Not bad.

Have him skate with Barch-Gionta.

Maybe he can look good with Carter-Gionta, allowing Bernier to play on the third line. If not, we just send him back down. But at this point, he's better than Janssen, so why not.

 

[Emperoreddy]

You want to lose the locker room midseason? Do this.

Salvador might not be a great captain or even a good one, but you can't take the "C" away from him during the season, you'd humiliate him and probably get the players mad at Pete and Lou for doing it.

It certainly don't look good right now folks, but its also too early to start make panic moves, we win back to back games starting tomorrow night and everyone will forget the last couple weeks.

This, though I would consider taking it away next year, but you can't do it now for that very reason.

Things are grim, but we do have enough talent on the ice to get back to winning, and you are so right. We got three games coming up, we win 2 out of 3, maybe points in all this whole thing will be behind us.

The ONE thing I am starting to get panicy about is Marty right now. The news or lack of news is starting to get scary and we really need him back more then anything else right now. Moose's confidence is shot and kind of scary to watch. I want him to bounce back in the worst way, but I don't know if he even can by being thrown out there again and again.

 

[guitarguyvic]

You want to lose the locker room midseason? Do this.

Salvador might not be a great captain or even a good one, but you can't take the "C" away from him during the season, you'd humiliate him and probably get the players mad at Pete and Lou for doing it.

It certainly don't look good right now folks, but its also too early to start make panic moves, we win back to back games starting tomorrow night and everyone will forget the last couple weeks.

I'm not saying it should be done, but it is a more realistic "shakeup" option than acquiring a top 6 forward that is not available. But your point is valid.

Really not too many options with this team right now other than to see if our best players become our best players again and right this ship on their own.

 

[Lou is God]

The ONE thing I am starting to get panicy about is Marty right now. The news or lack of news is starting to get scary and we really need him back more then anything else right now. Moose's confidence is shot and kind of scary to watch. I want him to bounce back in the worst way, but I don't know if he even can by being thrown out there again and again.

I don't think Marty's back is a minor issue either, with the Devils you need to read between the line onc what's going on and the way they are bringing up goalies its like they are auditioning to be Moose's backup for a long period. And if that's the case then it is panic time, because we are done!

 

[RNCDevil]

Tommy Non-stopolous!!! Yeah...

Ok, I'm calm now. You know, let's just hope for a good first shift and take it from there. Let's. Go. Devils!

 

[Richer's Ghost]

I think pretty much sums it up.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I think pretty much sums it up.

Wait how did you get us into 5th? Looks like a really good photoshop job

 

[guitarguyvic]

Can someone explain to me why PDB insists on "spreading out" our forwards when we continue to struggle offensively?? Keep it simple and put our best forwards on the top two lines:

Elias-Henrique-Kovy
Poni/Mattaeu-Zajac-Clarkson
Mattaeu/Poni-Lokti-Bernier
Carter-Gionta-whoever

When Zubrus gets back:

Elias-Henrique-Kovy
Zubrus-Zajac-Clarkson
Poni-Lokti-Bernier
Mattaeu-Gionta-Carter

That doesn't look bad. Find a way to acquire a legit 3rd line winger, slot Bernier back down to the 4th line, scratch Mattaeu, and all of a sudden it looks even better.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

that shows the last 10 games record - note the bold.

 

[Lou is God]

I'm not saying it should be done, but it is a more realistic "shakeup" option than acquiring a top 6 forward that is not available. But your point is valid.

Really not too many options with this team right now other than to see if our best players become our best players again and right this ship on their own.

It's honestly not a realistic option at all, it's a kneejerk reaction and one that could lose the players confidence in the coaches and management. When you give the C to a player unless they get traded or injured its theirs to keep for the season.

Also I wouldn't say a top six forward is unrealistic either, while he might not be a legit top six player anymore, RJ Umberger would be a great addition if Lou can swing a deal for him, I think he would make an impact much like Poni did last year.

 

[Zajacs Faceoff]

It's like complaining that someone gave you a free can of Sprite when you've been dying for a free glass of Cristal.

Better than being thirsty. Better than Barch.

But that free can of Sprite further continues to push aside what you really need, the Cristal.

 

[Emperoreddy]

It's honestly not a realistic option at all, it's a kneejerk reaction and one that could lose the players confidence in the coaches and management. When you give the C to a player unless they get traded or injured its theirs to keep for the season.

Also I wouldn't say a top six forward is unrealistic either, while he might not be a legit top six player anymore, RJ Umberger would be a great addition if Lou can swing a deal for him, I think he would make an impact much like Poni did last year.

Type of move we need winning or losing as we need that extra type of player to put the team over the hump, but it always looked like more of a deadline type of deal. Don't think it would make a huge impact with the way everyone is playing right now.

I am confident though that the scoring will return and our forwards will get themselves out of this.

Like you said though our season really hinges literally on Marty's back unless Moose can somehow find his swagger again (something I am not sure will happen, and if it will he needs a game or two off first)