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

[NJDevs26]

Larsson is playing at the level of a number one or two defenseman. That's a huge addition to the team. But one thing that slipped my mind was that Sal was playing like a number one as well. I may have just defeated my own argument hahaha

Andy Greene is though lol. If Greene/Clarkson continue their current level of play, and other guys like Henrique improve as well then you can argue this year's team is on a par with/better than last year's team.

And people bag on Sal too much anyway, the only reason people thought he was crap before last postseason is because he didn't score and can't move. The only reason people liked him last postseason is because he surprisingly did score. And of course he's back to not scoring now and he still can't move so people don't like him. Thankfully hockey people aren't that obtuse.

 

[jkrdevil]

Poni will almost definitely start with Zajac and Kovalchuk.

 

[Classic Devil]

Poni will almost definitely start with Zajac and Kovalchuk.

Very likely, yes. It would not surprise me if you saw a few mix-it-up shifts where Zajac and Henrique switch lines, either.

 

[Devils Trap]

Also Poni will be on the PP over Bernier I believe

 

[BrodeursCups]

Love this trade for a variety of reasons including the fact that we know he fits in this system and he can play all over the lineup and contribute. Like JKR said, it's a pretty god bet he starts on the first line Friday night

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Andy Greene is though lol. If Greene/Clarkson continue their current level of play, and other guys like Henrique improve as well then you can argue this year's team is on a par with/better than last year's team.

And people bag on Sal too much anyway, the only reason people thought he was crap before last postseason is because he didn't score and can't move. The only reason people liked him last postseason is because he surprisingly did score. And of course he's back to not scoring now and he still can't move so people don't like him. Thankfully hockey people aren't that obtuse.

Very true about Sal, but he hasn't been very good period this year. Not even his defense. I didn't consider Clarkson's emergence either that's a good point. But really, we don't have to be better than last year's team, we need to be better than the teams we play.

 

[Classic Devil]

Also Poni will be on the PP over Bernier I believe

Not convinced, given how well Bernier's performed there. But possibly.

 

[Blender]

So, does Loktionov get sent back down tomorrow?

 

[Classic Devil]

So, does Loktionov get sent back down tomorrow?

Probably.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Brilliant move by Lou.

This is a "playoff move" made at what would normally be at a time when ~65% of the season's in the books.

 

[The 29th Pick]

So, does Loktionov get sent back down tomorrow?

Probably.

I hope he doesn't start feeling the way he did in L.A......like there's no chance he'll ever crack the line up, and start wanting out of here.

 

[Status Quo*]

 

[Jersey Fresh]

We traded our 2013 third in the Zidlicky trade, right? Lou unloading the picks for a run. Got rid of our third, fifth, and seventh of 2013 so far. And our fourth next year, of course.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

That or Matteau gets sent down. So what are the chances Barche is at practice tomorrow?

 

[Status Quo*]

YES YES YES

 

[NJDevs26]

Brilliant move by Lou.

This is a "playoff move" made at what would normally be at a time when ~65% of the season's in the books.

Last year we traded for Poni on January 20. This year we traded for him basically three weeks later (of course with far fewer games played).

Last year we dealt a fourth and a nothing prospect for him, this year we dealt a fourth and a nothing pick.

Last year his debut was against the Flyers at home. This year his debut is against the Flyers at home.

It really is odd, the eerie deja vu of the whole thing. This definitely beats Salmela for fastest re-acquisition of a player

 

[Classic Devil]

I think the Devils may now have the record for both shortest gap between a player's departure and return (Ponikarovsky) and longest (Shanahan).

 

[Blender]

We traded our 2013 third in the Zidlicky trade, right? Lou unloading the picks for a run. Got rid of our third, fifth, and seventh of 2013 so far. And our fourth next year, of course.

If we go deep again, I could see us givng up the first as well. We're hosting the draft, and we won't be making any picks.

 

[kiwidevil]

I think Matteau is going back.

I want Lokti to get a chance at 3rd line C.

 

[NJDevs26]

If we go deep again, I could see us givng up the first as well. We're hosting the draft, and we won't be making any picks.

That'd be the ultimate troll move by Lou...watch us sit there all day waiting for the Devils to make a sixth-round selection, then trade the sixth-rounder for a higher pick next year

At this point if they finish high again might as well give the scouts a write-off year and tell them to take an extended vacation.

 

[Saugus]

And we still have one more D-man than we'd like. Lou isn't done.

Ya, we're still waiting for the other shoe to drop there. I don't think we'll be rolling through the deadline with all 8 defencemen still here.

It would be nice to see the Ponikarovksy - Zubrus - Bernier unit again when Zubrus gets healthy. They just abused on the forecheck.

That was a great line for DeBoer to put out after a goal for or against. Jump-started the team with their energy every time.

 

[njdss4]

As much as I hate to admit it, we miss Parise's offense.

Definitely. Lou needs to get one top 6 wingers and this team will be stacked for a run. Right now I'm unsure where all the goals will come from.

 

[Classic Devil]

Ya, we're still waiting for the other shoe to drop there. I don't think we'll be rolling through the deadline with all 8 defencemen still here.



That was a great line for DeBoer to put out after a goal for or against. Jump-started the team with their energy every time.

I do very much like the idea of this bottom-6:

Ponikarovsky - Zubrus - Matteau
Carter - Gionta - Bernier

 

[NJDevs26]

Ya, we're still waiting for the other shoe to drop there. I don't think we'll be rolling through the deadline with all 8 defencemen still here.

Well one more defenseman than Tallinder/Harrold would like, but Lou's pathological about having eight NHL-caliber defensemen.

I think we'll go right up to the deadline...and if nobody's hurt, then we do Tallinder a favor and shuttle him off to some West team. If someone is hurt though, then we're cashing in our insurance policy and not making a move.

 

[kiwidevil]

Butler - Zajac - Kovy
Elias - Henrique - Clarkson
Poni - Lokti - Josefson/Matteau then Zubrus
Carter - Gionta - bernier