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

[DevilChuk*]

How did they get worse? They added depth since they moved a roster player (Gaborik) and got 4 roster players coming their way (Clowe, Brassard, Dorsett and Moore).

That's like adding a entire line and landing a spare d-men. Very solid move on the part of Sather IMO.

That Gaborik guy sucked, I guess?

He's not just a roster player.. let's not go revisionist history here..

 

[Tundra]

They won't give till it's over, I believe in our leaders to put up a fight at minimum. And what's new now, the Rangers, Caps and Philly are suddenly wayyyy too strong for us ?

And if we miss the playoffs, what's the big deal ? **** happens and we desperatly need some talent.

There is nothing wrong with missing the playoffs if a contingency plan is set in place to rectify some key weaknesses going forward. That's all.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

You guys should stop panicking over things that hasn't happen yet. Enjoy the show and cut down the negative thinking fcs.

Some of us are more objective then others.

When the team is on fire, everyone is happy and no one can do no wrong... but when the team is heading in the other direction, you have posters like myself who call it as it is and you have posters who play the "ostrich game" and rather ignore the truth then face the facts.

It's ok to critise our team when they're crapping the bed, like it's ok to throw flowers their way when they're torching the league.

 

[DevilChuk*]

Some of us are more objective then others.

When the team is on fire, everyone is happy and no one can do no wrong... but when the team is heading in the other direction, you have posters like myself who call it as it is and you have posters who play the "ostrich game" and rather ignore the truth then face the facts.

It's ok to critise our team when they're crapping the bed, like it's ok to throw flowers their way when they're torching the league.

Please explain to me why your opinion about where the team is headed is more correct or more objective than any other Devils fan..

Because I keep seeing posts like these where posters proclaim that they are the ones who are right about this team but... unless they can tell the future, can't really tell who's more correct.

They're an average hockey team. Their record says it, their playoff position says it and their play says it. That's my outlook. I'm not expecting world beaters, I'm not expecting a bottom feeder.

Tempered expectations actually makes things still enjoyable to watch, as opposed to approaching things as if the floor is going to collapse any moment. This isn't our job, this is something we do for fun.. not sure why a negative approach is necessarily the correct (or appropriate) one.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If only tedenby and josefson performed like they were touted to be able to...that is the biggest reason why we're failing. just think if those guys were playing like they were supposed to:

henrique-lokti-kovy
elias-zajac-tedenby
zubie-yayo-dags
poni-carter-bernier

now that's a team. oh well..

 

[Tundra]

If only tedenby and josefson performed like they were touted to be able to...that is the biggest reason why we're failing. just think if those guys were playing like they were supposed to:

henrique-lokti-kovy
elias-zajac-tedenby
zubie-yayo-dags
poni-carter-bernier

now that's a team. oh well..

Tedenby was never really given a shot. He was pulled off the stage rather abruptly after 4 or so games. Josefson for some puzzling reason, despite impressive physical attributes could not contribute more offensively.

I think this team's faults have more to do with the hole left by Parise and it's effect on Zajac. Zajac misses that type of puck hound that made his life easier. It's not exactly a shock that Mikko Koivu's numbers that have jumped up a tier after playing with the relentless Parise.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Tedenby was never really given a shot. He was pulled off the stage rather abruptly after 4 or so games. Josefson for some puzzling reason, despite impressive physical attributes could not contribute more offensively.

I think this team's faults have more to do with the hole left by Parise and it's effect on Zajac. Zajac misses that type of puck hound that made his life easier.

i can accept the loss of parise. but tedenby and yayo not being what they were supposed to be this season stings the most for me. i still think yayo can be a good player, but i expected him to be ready this year. those 2 guys doing nothing really hurt our depth.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

That disgruntled forward scored 40 goals two of the last three seasons and, slump or not, was the Ranger's most dangerous forward.

You're looking at last night's game and assuming that Clowe and Brassard are going to continue producing at the same rate.. they won't.

Go look at the Rangers board, plenty of them do not like that trade at all. It has the potential to be a win for them, especially if Moore works out and the Clowe trade will definitely be a win if they do re-sign him.. but short-term, they did get worse.

I'm not basing my comments cause of yesterdays game at all. I'm looking at the big picture and the way Torts wants his team to play.

Rags fans are pissed cause they lost "a name" more then anything else. Gaborik wasn't playing the proper hockey that his HC wanted him to play and by moving him, they got back some grit that went out the door during the offseason.

They basically replaced Gaborik with Nash and got back the "sandpaper" that wasn't resigned (prust) or moved in the Nash deal (Dubinsky, Anisimov, etc) back.

The last I'd do is take the pov of a Rangers fan for any type of info

That Gaborik guy sucked, I guess?

He's not just a roster player.. let's not go revisionist history here..

Gaborik is a fantastic player, when playing in a open system. He's just not as effective when he has to play in a system that won't see him fly down the wing on every shift and float around for a breakout pass.

Kovy was the same way but he put in the efforts to change his game to suit our system... can't say the same about Gaborik.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

It's not only Josefson or Tedenby but a bunch of players underachieving at the same time too, terrible goaltending for weeks and a real, palpable bad luck. All of this during a shortened season.

It's a perfect combination for disappointment. But we're not the Oilers yet.

 

[Tundra]

It's not only Josefson or Tedenby but a bunch of players underachieving at the same time too, terrible goaltending for weeks and a real, palpable bad luck. All of this during a shortened season.

It's a perfect combination for disappointment. But we're not the Oilers yet.

I still wouldn't call it underachieving. They are largely miscast into roles they aren't suited for. Zajac isn't a first line centerman, not even close. Clarkson is ideal for the third line as opposed to a top winger playing close to 20 mins a game. We have alot of pieces up front forced into spots that they don't belong.

 

[DevilChuk*]

I'm not basing my comments cause of yesterdays game at all. I'm looking at the big picture and the way Torts wants his team to play.

Rags fans are pissed cause they lost "a name" more then anything else. Gaborik wasn't playing the proper hockey that his HC wanted him to play and by moving him, they got back some grit that went out the door during the offseason.

They basically replaced Gaborik with Nash and got back the "sandpaper" that wasn't resigned (prust) or moved in the Nash deal (Dubinsky, Anisimov, etc) back.

The last I'd do is take the pov of a Rangers fan for any type of info


Gaborik is a fantastic player, when playing in a open system. He's just not as effective when he has to play in a system that won't see him fly down the wing on every shift and float around for a breakout pass.

Kovy was the same way but he put in the efforts to change his game to suit our system... can't say the same about Gaborik.

He played in the same system the last three years and was able to pot 40 in two of them.. as recently as last year. Not sure why that's not considered adapting or a successful season..

You take a 40 goal scorer every single day. I get they got their sandpaper back, but top end scorers are rarer than guys like Brassard and Clowe.

And between Nash and Gaborik? I said multiple times already this year that I'm scared of Gaborik much more than Nash. Nash needs the puck on his stick to be dangerous, Gaborik finds open space and has a wicked shot. Having to focus on a player who doesn't have the puck opens up your offense.

Again, I think it's a good deal for the Rangers.. but it's certainly not making them better short-term. Long term, it's all in how Brassard (I think he's an RFA after next year), Clowe (if he re-signs) and Moore do. I think it will end up extending their window by a year or two but they aren't as scary a team as they were 48 hours ago with Gaborik AND Nash.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

I still wouldn't call it underachieving. They are largely miscast into roles they aren't suited for. Zajac isn't a first line centerman, not even close. Clarkson is ideal for the third line as opposed to a top winger playing close to 20 mins a game. We have alot of pieces up front forced into spots that they don't belong.

There's no question we need another legit top 6 forward since day 1. It certainly needs to be fixed during the off-season.

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm not basing my comments cause of yesterdays game at all. I'm looking at the big picture and the way Torts wants his team to play.

Rags fans are pissed cause they lost "a name" more then anything else. Gaborik wasn't playing the proper hockey that his HC wanted him to play and by moving him, they got back some grit that went out the door during the offseason.

They basically replaced Gaborik with Nash and got back the "sandpaper" that wasn't resigned (prust) or moved in the Nash deal (Dubinsky, Anisimov, etc) back.

The last I'd do is take the pov of a Rangers fan for any type of info
.

Agreed on all counts, unfortunately. They got a do-over on their offseason. Too bad we can't get a do-over on losing Parise, or the Sal deal

 

[Tundra]

If Lou can successfully add the right pieces (a big IF given his track record) as well as integrate the young defensemen, the devils could have a similar turnaround like Montreal has experienced this year. All is not lost, but he needs to be creative and agressive in the offseason.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

He played in the same system the last three years and was able to pot 40 in two of them.. as recently as last year. Not sure why that's not considered adapting or a successful season..

You take a 40 goal scorer every single day. I get they got their sandpaper back, but top end scorers are rarer than guys like Brassard and Clowe.

And between Nash and Gaborik? I said multiple times already this year that I'm scared of Gaborik much more than Nash. Nash needs the puck on his stick to be dangerous, Gaborik finds open space and has a wicked shot. Having to focus on a player who doesn't have the puck opens up your offense.

Again, I think it's a good deal for the Rangers.. but it's certainly not making them better short-term. Long term, it's all in how Brassard (I think he's an RFA after next year), Clowe (if he re-signs) and Moore do. I think it will end up extending their window by a year or two but they aren't as scary a team as they were 48 hours ago with Gaborik AND Nash.

As a Devils fan, you should know that having a team of All-Star doesn't always materialise in championships. You need a mix of talent, grinders, etc... to have a winning formula and they did just that by acquiring the missing pieces that made them one of the best teams in the East last year.

It's not a surprise that they slowed down dramaticly after losing so much depth during the offseason. They landed a very solid player in Nash... but lost most of their identity in the same process.

With the Gaborik trade, they sort of reversed the role that saw them acquire a solid player for a bunch of players. To me, that move will fill the proper holes that were made in the Nash deal this summer.

The Nash deal made them a one team line with very minimal depth on the other 3 lines. Now, they're back to maybe rolling 3 solid lines and that's always a winning formula in my books.

 

[NJDevs26]

btw serious question, how did the CBJ players make it to MSG so fast? The trade went through at 2:30, the game started at 7. Meanwhile we have to wait for Sullivan even though there's more than 24 hours difference between the trade and tonight's game.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

btw serious question, how did the CBJ players make it to MSG so fast? The trade went through at 2:30, the game started at 7. Meanwhile we have to wait for Sullivan even though there's more than 24 hours difference between the trade and tonight's game.

league conspiracy to get the rangers in the playoffs. They flew on Bettman's private jet.

 

[Devils Trap]

@TGfireandice: Elias on Sullivan being brought back by Devils: "That's usually what we do, right?"

 

[GameSeven]

btw serious question, how did the CBJ players make it to MSG so fast? The trade went through at 2:30, the game started at 7. Meanwhile we have to wait for Sullivan even though there's more than 24 hours difference between the trade and tonight's game.

The Garden is such a beacon (all players want to play there, hussle bussle, etc. etc.) that all players in the league migrate to it like moths to a light even on their days off. Last CBJ game was on Sunday and SJS on Monday. The players were probably partying in Manhattan all day Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

[DevHock]

As a Devils fan, you should know that having a team of All-Star doesn't always materialise in championships. You need a mix of talent, grinders, etc... to have a winning formula and they did just that by acquiring the missing pieces that made them one of the best teams in the East last year.

It's not a surprise that they slowed down dramaticly after losing so much depth during the offseason. They landed a very solid player in Nash... but lost most of their identity in the same process.

With the Gaborik trade, they sort of reversed the role that saw them acquire a solid player for a bunch of players. To me, that move will fill the proper holes that were made in the Nash deal this summer.

The Nash deal made them a one team line with very minimal depth on the other 3 lines. Now, they're back to maybe rolling 3 solid lines and that's always a winning formula in my books.

I watched almost every Rangers game last year, I have a slightly different take.
The lost depth for sure, but I don't think that was why they struggled.
If you look at the game logs of the Rangers top 7 scorers from last year, with the exception of Gaborik, they all show a very eratic scoring pattern. Multiple lengthy stretches without recording a point mixed in with 2-3 game stretches of multiple points/game.
It seemed to me that the Rangers, while getting production from a good number of players over the season, relied on top heavy production within a game itself.

Finally, the Rangers formula for success last year was Lundqvist playing out of his mind until March. Just look at the splits http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/lundqhe01/splits/2012/
No coincidence that they were a .500 team after he cooled off a bit.

 

[Wingman77]

btw serious question, how did the CBJ players make it to MSG so fast? The trade went through at 2:30, the game started at 7. Meanwhile we have to wait for Sullivan even though there's more than 24 hours difference between the trade and tonight's game.

Ohio to NY is an hour and change plane ride with no time zone difference, both sides of players knew of the deals well before 2:30 - 2:30 is just the time both teams agreed to announce the deal to the press/public

Lou said there was no rush to get Sullivan here because he had just played the night before and still had to fly to NJ to get his physical and that it would be a waste to fly him through time zones to NJ and then to get him up to Boston because by the time he'd arrive to Boston he'd be wiped and Lou wanted to give him some time to figure out his family situation

 

[Scott04]

Ohio to NY is an hour and change plane ride with no time zone difference, both sides of players knew of the deals well before 2:30 - 2:30 is just the time both teams agreed to announce the deal to the press/public

Lou said there was no rush to get Sullivan here because he had just played the night before and still had to fly to NJ to get his physical and that it would be a waste to fly him through time zones to NJ and then to get him up to Boston because by the time he'd arrive to Boston he'd be wiped

I saw a few seconds of Brassard being interviewed on the ice after the game (by the NBC Sports crew) and he said he had gotten to the Garden at about 6:30 before the game. Really cutting it close, but they got there. Guess they were lucky it was a 7:30 start.

 

[MartyOwns]

btw serious question, how did the CBJ players make it to MSG so fast? The trade went through at 2:30, the game started at 7. Meanwhile we have to wait for Sullivan even though there's more than 24 hours difference between the trade and tonight's game.

on the trade deadline day, it’s not uncommon to see players for all teams in the league flock to the most famous arena in the world, in the hopes that they will be dealt to the almighty rangers. plus, legend has it that if you scratch your balls above penn station, mark messier will cry into your onion soup

 

[Bleedred]

on the trade deadline day, it’s not uncommon to see players for all teams in the league flock to the most famous arena in the world, in the hopes that they will be dealt to the almighty rangers. plus, legend has it that if you scratch your balls above penn station, mark messier will cry into your onion soup

Haha this was awesome! I LOL'd!

 

[Wingman77]

I saw a few seconds of Brassard being interviewed on the ice after the game (by the NBC Sports crew) and he said he had gotten to the Garden at about 6:30 before the game. Really cutting it close, but they got there. Guess they were lucky it was a 7:30 start.

That makes sense, find out at 2ish, get your **** figured out with family and personal belongings by 4, hop on a plane by 430 getting into NY by 545 and then dealing with the traffic of getting to the arena gets him there by 630ish

But yea that shows how much the Rangers wanted him/them in the lineup last night