Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2023 training camp edition

[My3Sons]

Thanks, Guys!




Nico was historically underrated. I believe it will be the norm for him if he will not win 3+ selky.

There is a push to have more club seats and luxury suites and soon you will see things like the bar in the terrace pushed closer to the ice. Basically something where they can charge a premium. I’d expect some teams will also sell additional in arena perks like eavesdropping on what’s said on the bench or on the ice. Teams add big ticket seats and pull out the ones further back in most instances.

 

[Devil X]

Not to be morbid but I'd much rather see him get that honor while he's alive. Doc or Chico are the only other two that I could possibly see at this point.

Looking at the Islanders schedule and they don't play that day and they are home the day after so Lou definitely makes sense as the #1 guess. I wonder where if they do another giant thing like for McMullen.

I hate back to back home games but at least this is cool, there's also a good amount of bobblehead giveaways too which is great cause people love em...

"February 24-25, 2024 – Next Generation Weekend presented by RWJBarnabas Health – During Hockey Weekend Across America,the Devils will celebrate the next generation of our fans and youth hockey in New Jersey. The team will recognize the Dr. John J. McMullen Service Award winner and Little Devils members will be taking over different game day roles. The first 9,000 fans in attendance each day will receive a Dawson Mercer bobblehead on Saturday and a Jesper Bratt bobblehead on Sunday courtesy of RWJBarnabas Health. Be sure to come to both games that weekend to collect and connect this limited edition bobblehead set!"

As to the Ring of Honor.

I personally think the reason it has taken so long is because they thought Lou would be out of Hockey to put him as the second person inducted into the Ring of Honor.

I dont think they are going to go players yet, i think they are going to do some builders first.

I think a guy like Pat Burns is a good option. Maybe Jacques Lemaire as the all time winningest coach in Devils history.

Of course they could just decide to get Lou up there anyway. The Islanders are off that night and its a Saturday game.

 

[JimEIV]

As to the Ring of Honor.

I personally think the reason it has taken so long is because they thought Lou would be out of Hockey to put him as the second person inducted into the Ring of Honor.

I dont think they are going to go players yet, i think they are going to do some builders first.

I think a guy like Pat Burns is a good option. Maybe Jacques Lemaire as the all time winningest coach in Devils history.

Of course they could just decide to get Lou up there anyway. The Islanders are off that night and its a Saturday game.

Lots of builder options

Max McNabb
Marshall Johnston
David Conte
Jacques Caron
Pat Burns
Larry Robinson


Off the top of my head.

But Lou and Lemaire should go next.

 

[JimEIV]

He might not be significant enough in the franchise but Red Gendron is a favorite of mine.

Was an assistant and head coach in Albany. He was also an assistant for the 1995 cup team..his contributions to high school, college and Hockey USA make me biased towards him but that has nothing to do with Devils...but he was apart of organization for all 3 cups. At some point Denis "Red" Gendron should have his name up on the circle.

 

[MadDevil]

Is anybody else a little nervous that they're all on the same plane?

They're not in an F-35, they should be okay.

 

[Oneiro]

Ring of honor feels too small for Lou. He will get his statue and probably a mural - it feels weird to just put him in with a group of guys that largely owe him their careers. I’d put his name on a banner but that’s me.

 

[njdevils1982]

Lots of builder options

Max McNabb
Marshall Johnston
David Conte
Jacques Caron
Pat Burns
Larry Robinson


Off the top of my head.

But Lou and Lemaire should go next.

this has been talked about before......

do players that dont have their number retired get to have a massive visage on the wall?...

unless the team changes 'the look' of the ring i don't see players anytime soon

lou
jacques
larry
pat
doc
chico (yes, a player but considering his off ice life with the team. broadcasting and devoted love and commitment to all things devils.....owns the title of "Team Ambassador" already)

...also claude carrier spent 30 years with the club, that's something

 

[JimEIV]

this has been talked about before......

do players that dont have their number retired get to have a massive visage on the wall?...

unless the team changes 'the look' of the ring i don't see players anytime soon

lou
jacques
larry
pat
doc
chico

...also claude carrier spent 30 years with the club, that's something

See I'm more apt to cast a vote to someone like Carrier than someone like Doc...

Don't get me wrong...I adore Doc. Every time I hear his voice I think of most of the best moments in Devils history. Gary Thorne and Mike Miller and Sherri Ross too

But how much do media people have to do with team success? I mean they are absolutely the fans link to the team, they get rings and travel with the team but I don't know? They don't seem all that significant to the workings of the organization?

 

[Satans Hockey]

this has been talked about before......

do players that dont have their number retired get to have a massive visage on the wall?...

unless the team changes 'the look' of the ring i don't see players anytime soon

lou
jacques
larry
pat
doc
chico (yes, a player but considering his off ice life with the team. broadcasting and devoted love and commitment to all things devils.....owns the title of "Team Ambassador" already)

...also claude carrier spent 30 years with the club, that's something

I was thinking they could change the look to be just a name and maybe years with the team. Not every single one needs to be a giant picture of their face.

 

[njdevils1982]

See I'm more apt to cast a vote to someone like Carrier than someone like Doc...

Don't get me wrong...I adore Doc. Every time I hear his voice I think of most of the best moments in Devils history. Gary Thorne and Mike Miller and Sherri Ross too

But how much do media people have to with team success? I mean they are absolutely the fans link to the team, they get rings and travel with the team but I don't know? They don't seem all that significant to the workings of the organization?

maybe not the actual workings but these people are vital to the fans and what we enjoy about watching. doc is the pinnacle for the devils. honoring him would not be second guessed by anyone.

shit, i've never been a fan of sabres RJ but i believe they have every right to give him his due in their arena and don't question it


...at least the team hasn't raised a banner with the number 1 on it like the wild did for the fans...

 

[JimEIV]

maybe not the actual workings but these people are vital to the fans and what we enjoy about watching. doc is the pinnacle for the devils. honoring him would not be second guessed by anyone.

shit, i've never been a fan of sabres RJ but i believe they have every right to give him his due in their arena and don't question it

I definitely believe that they have a place at the table, but do they get a seat before actual staff? I'm not so sure I put a media person in before a guy that burned the midnight oil watching tape of an opponent to find an edge.

It's just a thought... I'm not going to be upset about anyone being honored before anyone else but it just makes me think what is the proper criteria.

 

[My3Sons]

They're not in an F-35, they should be okay.

That’s a subtle dig. Well played.

 

[Bleedred]

He might not be significant enough in the franchise but Red Gendron is a favorite of mine.

Was an assistant and head coach in Albany. He was also an assistant for the 1995 cup team..his contributions to high school, college and Hockey USA make me biased towards him but that has nothing to do with Devils...but he was apart of organization for all 3 cups. At some point Denis "Red" Gendron should have his name up on the circle.

I actually didn't realize he was still here by the last cup. I remember him here when Lemaire was first brought in, but then we I guess demoted him to AHL head coach?

He's listed as a scout for a few years in the early 00s, before returning to coaching in Albany again, but that time as a head coach for 2 years.

For some reason I thought it was Ftorek who was the head coach for Albany again at that time, but I guess he was the next head coach after that.

Both Gendron and Ftorek are listed as head coach for the Albany River Rats in the 03-04 season. Was Gendron fired as AHL head coach sometime that year? I have no recollection of what happened there.

 

[Nubmer6]

Is anybody else a little nervous that they're all on the same plane?

They should all fly to games on separate planes too

 

[JimEIV]

I actually didn't realize he was still here by the last cup. I remember him here when Lemaire was first brought in, but then we I guess demoted him to AHL head coach?

He's listed as a scout for a few years in the early 00s, before returning to coaching in Albany again, but that time as a head coach for 2 years.

For some reason I thought it was Ftorek who was the head coach for Albany again at that time, but I guess he was the next head coach after that.

Both Gendron and Ftorek are listed as head coach for the Albany River Rats in the 03-04 season. Was Gendron fired as AHL head coach sometime that year? I have no recollection of what happened there.

Gendron was only head coach for a year +. 2002-03 and into the the 03-04 season when Ftorek replaced him during the 03-04 season.

Edit:
Ftorek was the head coach for the Bruins for the 2003 season. He was also fired from there with 9 games left. I remember people laughing about that here.

There never seemed to be a lot of love for Robbie here but I thought he was great.

 

[JimEIV]

In fact, I would say, the two most underrated figures in Devils history were Tommy McVie and Robbie Ftorek.

It always bothered me that those two guys got such a raw deal. McVie moved the Devils into another level only to be dismissed for Herb Brooks... it's never a good thing to speak ill of the dead but Herb Brooks should have NEVER replaced McVie...

I also thought Frorek's firing was completely unfair, losing streak and all...that was a bit of the prisoners running the asylum in my opinion. Lou sided with the players over coaches frequently... Ftorek didn't deserve that in my opinion.

 

[Triumph]

In fact, I would say, the two most underrated figures in Devils history were Tommy McVie and Robbie Ftorek.

It always bothered me that those two guys got such a raw deal. McVie moved the Devils into another level only to be dismissed for Herb Brooks... it's never a good thing to speak ill of the dead but Herb Brooks should have NEVER replaced McVie...

I also thought Frorek's firing was completely unfair, losing streak and all...that was a bit of the prisoners running the asylum in my opinion. Lou sided with the players over coaches frequently... Ftorek didn't deserve that in my opinion.

Very funny to read something like this given what's being talked about in the Around the League thread.

Ftorek lost the room by many accounts, it sucks, but the team was on a bad run and it was the best Devils team of all time, talent-wise. No reason for a team like that to go on a 4-8-1-1 run.

 

[NJDevs26]

Ftorek was the guy people tried to paint Babcock as - socially awkward who played mind games just because he was dense. He did stupid crap like sit Rafalski when we played in Detroit or confused the players talking in riddles.

 

[JimEIV]

Very funny to read something like this given what's being talked about in the Around the League thread.

Ftorek lost the room by many accounts, it sucks, but the team was on a bad run and it was the best Devils team of all time, talent-wise. No reason for a team like that to go on a 4-8-1-1 run.

I think the 01 team was significantly better than 00 team but that's not the point, I understand.

No doubt the team quit on Robbie...probably similar to Claude Julien situation...some say it was spurred by the Daneyko benching for his 1000th game. Whatever the reason I'm not sure that you want players dictating the situation that much?

 

[JimEIV]

Ftorek was the guy people tried to paint Babcock as - socially awkward who played mind games just because he was dense. He did stupid crap like sit Rafalski when we played in Detroit or confused the players talking in riddles.

Rafalski was a 26 year old UFA rookie...who gives a frick if he was benched or whatever his situation was?

 

[NJDevs26]

Rafalski was a 26 year old UFA rookie...who gives a frick if he was benched or whatever his situation was?

It was the only game he was healthy scratched all season and you’re gonna sit a Michigan kid there with family and friends in the stands? Sitting Dano so he’d play his 1000th game on the road was dense enough.

 

[Triumph]

I think the 01 team was significantly better than 00 team but that's not the point, I understand.

It wasn't. But yeah, not the point.

No doubt the team quit on Robbie...probably similar to Claude Julien situation...some say it was spurred by the Daneyko benching for his 1000th game. Whatever the reason I'm not sure that you want players dictating the situation that much?

This is what a control freak says. Surely lots of GMs have made that decision, that I picked the coach and if the players don't like it, they can f*** off. A better GM realizes that his players want to win and if the coach has lost them, he shouldn't be the head coach anymore.

 

[njdevils1982]

I definitely believe that they have a place at the table, but do they get a seat before actual staff? I'm not so sure I put a media person in before a guy that burned the midnight oil watching tape of an opponent to find an edge.

It's just a thought... I'm not going to be upset about anyone being honored before anyone else but it just makes me think what is the proper criteria.

thing is, these honoring things also happen on the fact more people know about doc then they do about the carriers, the contes...et al

 

[glenwo2]

Ftorek was the guy people tried to paint Babcock as - socially awkward who played mind games just because he was dense. He did stupid crap like sit Rafalski when we played in Detroit or confused the players talking in riddles.

Did Ftorek demand his players show him pictures of their family or something like that, too?

EDIT : No response? I mean comparing Ftorek's "coaching style" to Babcock's blatant invasion of privacy is comparing apples and diarrhea.

 

[Devil X]

this has been talked about before......

do players that dont have their number retired get to have a massive visage on the wall?...

unless the team changes 'the look' of the ring i don't see players anytime soon

lou
jacques
larry
pat
doc
chico (yes, a player but considering his off ice life with the team. broadcasting and devoted love and commitment to all things devils.....owns the title of "Team Ambassador" already)

...also claude carrier spent 30 years with the club, that's something

I think players could get there. But I think its likely that guys like Lou Jacques Pat Maybe Larry Doc and Chico get there before any players. I think once you get past Lou and Jacques you could start to see a player like Brylin out up there.