Confirmed with Link: Devils get Alexei Ponikarovsky from Jets for 2013 7th & 2014 4th round picks

[Zippy316]

Just about to post this. The mistake teams like Pittsburgh made with Poni is that they expect him to play top minutes. He isn't going to be able to excel in that role and shouldn't be put in that spot.

The mistake they made was lofty expectations. We expect Poni to come in, be outstanding on the forechecking, pay a safe game, and chip in a few goals here or there. We don't expect him to be a top line player. It's similar with Zubrus. We don't look for more than 40ish points a year but we respect all the little things he does.

 

[Zippy316]

1) Henrique-Loktionov-Kovalchuk
2) Elias-Zajac-Clarkson
3) Ponikarovsky-Josefson-Butler
4) Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Posted it in the other thread. Thoughts?

 

[Devils Insiders]

Morning Devils fans! Pumped that Ponikarovsky is back? We are too. Jeff O'Connor explains why this move makes a LOT of sense.

http://wp.me/p347yn-nS

 

[GM17*]

1) Henrique-Loktionov-Kovalchuk
2) Elias-Zajac-Clarkson
3) Ponikarovsky-Josefson-Butler
4) Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Posted it in the other thread. Thoughts?

nope.

Tom Gulitti @TGfireandice
Devils return C Andrei Loktionov to Albany (AHL).

 

[Zippy316]

nope.

Tom Gulitti @TGfireandice
Devils return C Andrei Loktionov to Albany (AHL).

Alright, then I retract that statement.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

luls so much for that

 

[Better Call Sal]

Told you! Say you can't play wing, acquire winger, demote said complainer, profit!

And just to be clear, I'm not saying he was complaining in a serious manner. But even TG's article referenced DeBoer saying that you have to make yourself versatile. When you come off as though you are saying you won't, can't or refuse to be (whichever the case), it's not going to do you any favors.

 

[devilsblood]

too bad, would have liked to see Lokti get at least one game.

 

[Atas2000]

Loktionov is booking his flight to Russia

 

[NJDevilsZG]

Poni - Zajac - Kovalchuk
Elias - Henrique - Clarkson
Bernier - Gionta - Carter
Matteau - Josefson - Butler/Barch

With Loki sent down, I'm thinking those lines are kind of obvious.

 

[Rhodes 81]

i hope they sit barch for now. not that i don't like him because he is a competent hockey player, but i'd like to see what josefson and butler can do with matteau/poni on their wing.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

Someone is going to get injured, hopefully not, but odds are someone will go down with something and that's why we acquired him, for depth... not to center our 1st line.

He just has to be patient and I'm certain that Lou sat down with him and explained to him what the reasonning was behind the move.

Lou doesn't seem like the type of Gm who would just acquire a expiring contract who's 2 seconds away from bolting to Russia and not talk to that player about what his "plans" are for him in our organisation.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

i hope they sit barch for now. not that i don't like him because he is a competent hockey player, but i'd like to see what josefson and butler can do with matteau/poni on their wing.

I'd be stunned if that happens. I fear either Butler or Matteau is going to sit.

 

[glenwo2]

Things change, DATW.

Perhaps Lou wasn't expecting to be able to get Poni back which is why he brought Loki here. Now that Poni is back, there's really no place for him plus he's got an attitude/primadonna problem.

 

[GameSeven]

Things change, DATW.

Perhaps Lou wasn't expecting to be able to get Poni back which is why he brought Loki here. Now that Poni is back, there's really no place for him plus he's got an attitude/primadonna problem.

This is an exaggeration that really should stop. The kid hasn't even taken the ice once for us and labels are being attached to him. The "I had a problem playing wing" could reasonably be taken as saying I 'struggled' or 'wasn't very good in my stint' there.

He may or may not be a flight risk, but that's Lou's responsibility for assessing the situation as well as for communicating his vision to the kid.

And I'll always bet my money on Lou...

 

[glenwo2]

^ We'll just have to see what happens, GameSeven.

I hope you're right 'cause one can't have too many weapons on their team.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

Things change, DATW.

Perhaps Lou wasn't expecting to be able to get Poni back which is why he brought Loki here. Now that Poni is back, there's really no place for him plus he's got an attitude/primadonna problem.

How slowly but surely Sushi got labeled as a primadonna on HF/ Season 1. Episode 3.

 

[glenwo2]

^ Sushi? I don't get the reference....

 

[Richer's Ghost]

he ate sushi once on tv.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

Things change, DATW.

Perhaps Lou wasn't expecting to be able to get Poni back which is why he brought Loki here. Now that Poni is back, there's really no place for him plus he's got an attitude/primadonna problem.

We lost a 5th round pick for a guy that can play at the NHL level. He's a depth move, nothing more, nothing less. If someone goes down, he's right there waiting in the wings.

When Barch will be healthy scratched during the postseason, it wouldn't surprise me to see him in our lineup ala Steven Gionta. I don't know why young players like him have to earn a immediate spot on our roster to be "worth something".

And what's with this primadonna attitude crap I've been hearing the past couple of days? The kid said he'd rather play at center, what's wrong with knowing what you want in life? If he knows he's no good on the wing, might as well said it out loud then cost your team a game, no?

I rather have someone who'll speak up and say what's on his mind then someone that will screw things up, costing us 2 pts.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I'd be stunned if that happens. I fear either Butler or Matteau is going to sit.

Barch is going to play against the Flyers, pretty much need an enforcer against those goons.

 

[Brick City]

1) Henrique-Loktionov-Kovalchuk
2) Elias-Zajac-Clarkson
3) Ponikarovsky-Josefson-Butler
4) Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Posted it in the other thread. Thoughts?

Besides the news that Loktionov was sent down, I would not break up the Elias-Henrique-Clarkson line. Keep Zajac with Kovy and Matteau until we (hopefully) acquire a top 6 winger.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

^ Sushi? I don't get the reference....

Starts at 11:00 mins.

 

[Devil X]

Barch is going to play against the Flyers, pretty much need an enforcer against those goons.

So if Barch plays tonight who sits?

Practice lines ups were the same as the last game:

Matteau Zajac Kovy
Elias Henrique Clarkson
Carter Gionta Bernier
Barch Josefson Butler

Does Matteau sit? I feel like he has been playing his best lately since his goal.

Butler? Same problem he is a threat when he is on the ice and i feel like he always has a couple changes a game either on the PP or 5v5.

Because a line up that looks like this:

Matteau Zajac Kovy
Elias Henrique Clarkson
Poni Josefson Butler
Carter Gionta Bernier

Looks better plus puts our 4th line where it needs to be! We didnt have an enforcer during the playoffs with them and we see how that went.

 

[devilsblood]

i hope they sit barch for now. not that i don't like him because he is a competent hockey player, but i'd like to see what josefson and butler can do with matteau/poni on their wing.

Same. I think JJ, Matteau, and Butler is an interesting line. Good energy, and a good mix of skills.