GDT: Devils vs. Penguins, 7:30PM, NBCSN

[Tretyak 20]

Zubrus will be 35 in a couple of months, Elias will be 38 before next season ends, Hedberg will be 40 at the end of next season, Marty will be 42 next season, Salvador will be 38 next season, Volchenkov will be 32 with a 40 year old body, Tallinder will be 35, Zidlicky will be 37.....

BLOW. IT. UP.

Can't blow it up now, it's too late. The time to blow it up was the deadline, when Clarkson and Zidlicky (probably Tallinder, too) could have been moved for youth.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Hey, I missed the game, how was Gelinas?

Solid, kid has a future.

 

[Tretyak 20]

?

We have 17 ROW and they have 14 ROW.

Is that the tie breaker? I thought it was total wins (Buffalo has 20, we have 19).

 

[Unknown Caller]

Is that the tie breaker? I thought it was total wins (Buffalo has 20, we have 19).

No it's ROW. We can't finish lower than Buffalo.

 

[Oroku Saki*]

Hey, I missed the game, how was Gelinas?

Looked raw. He didn't look out of place though.

 

[Bleedred]

Good to see Moose get a win and rebound from the shaky start tonight. I know a lot of you don't want him back, but I couldn't help but smile that the team gave him a win to repay him for having to step in, and play a role bigger than what he was capable of when Marty was injured.

 

[Tretyak 20]

No it's ROW. We can't finish lower than Buffalo.

Drat! Foiled again!

 

[Emperoreddy]

Good to see Moose get a win and rebound from the shaky start tonight. I know a lot of you don't want him back, but I couldn't help but smile that the team gave him a win to repay him for having to step in, and play a role bigger than what he was capable of when Marty was injured.

I've loosened up a bit on Moose since the bad stretch. Don't get me wrong he was shaky, and single-handedly gave up lots of bad goals, but the team did him no favors either. We played our worst PK in front of him, PP still sucked, and we played our worst D in front of him. Constantly out of position, not clearing, etc. I can't heap all the blame on him.

One Jets game was a good example. We lost like what 1-0? Can't fault Moose for that.

Both Marty and Moose were horrific in the SO this year though...that needs to not happen next year. Again though so were the shooters. We sucked in them on both sides.

 

[NJDevs26]

Lol that draft pick keeps on sliding downward. I actually don't care. We needed to get the bad taste out of our mouths from the losing streak. Get's their confidence out of the toilet for next year. Can't imagine Lou giving up the pick even if we pass Dallas and Phoenix.

Well I'm glad they won the home games for the paying customers but they can lose 9-1 for all I care Saturday, their season ended for me tonight. Especially when the Rangers won in Carolina. Admittedly I'm kinda glad I don't have to watch that game now.

 

[Bleedred]

I've loosened up a bit on Moose since the bad stretch. Don't get me wrong he was shaky, and single-handedly gave up lots of bad goals, but the team did him no favors either. We played our worst PK in front of him, PP still sucked, and we played our worst D in front of him. Constantly out of position, not clearing, etc. I can't heap all the blame on him.

One Jets game was a good example. We lost like what 1-0? Can't fault Moose for that.

Both Marty and Moose were horrific in the SO this year though...that needs to not happen next year. Again though so were the shooters. We sucked in them on both sides.

I don't think we were shutout at all with Moose, but we lost a couple 2-1 games for sure like the Canadiens good in which he was very good in. He was real good his last week before Marty came back minus the Rangers game, and we still only won 2 of those 4 games that he was real good in.

Our offense was pretty pathetic during that stretch, and we scored 1.83 goals per game while Marty was injured. The 5-2 goal explosion vs Philly makes it 2.07 but I'm not counting that because that one game horribly skews the goals for.

I was glad we won in regulation cause I couldn't bear to see another shootout. The goalies have been bad, and the shooters have been astronomically bad. We went 2-7 in shootouts this year. One win coming against a cold Ryan Miller who had just come into the game, and the other being against Winnipeg who didn't exactly have a great record in the shootouts either this year. 2-3 in the shootout this year for them.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

Well I'm glad they won the home games for the paying customers but they can lose 9-1 for all I care Saturday, their season ended for me tonight. Especially when the Rangers won in Carolina. Admittedly I'm kinda glad I don't have to watch that game now.

Yeah, I feel the same way. Tonight was the end. For me personally, there is just a different kind of feeling to close this season out. It's nothing like I've experienced before tbh. I've only witnessed the Devils miss two other times, but in 96 and 11, it was tough to see those teams go (for very different reasons). This year, I don't know, I'm just kind of numb to it all. I'm not not sure if its the uncertain future for the players / team. Maybe it's the fall from grace in just a short ten months. I guess more than anything, it was this stupid ****ing lockout. You just get the sense that the Devils could have got back on track when healthy and with a little bit more time. I mean it couldn't get much worse. But it's over before it even started. It's just a really odd year with a very long off season ahead. I find it very difficult to get a good read on wtf happened this season.

 

[Bleedred]

The offseason won't be too long Nona. The first round playoff matchups are usually ending today. It was a year ago today that we beat Florida in game 7 I think. While the season starts in early October I'm really excited once training camp starts. I figure only 4.5 months for that. It's only a little over a month longer than this season even lasted, and it really flew this year.

 

[NJDevs26]

The fact the draft's in Jersey kind of helps bridge the gap a tiny bit between now and the end of the season, though it will feel like eternity during the two months of playoffs (and all my dead months as a sports fan with the Mets/Jets not giving me diddly poo). At least I'll be going to the Rock for a hockey event 'one' time in the next five months. After that it'll feel like a normal offseason.

Plus I might be wishing for a 48-game season next year with the schedule the way it is and all the non-rival games.

 

[Uli Hiemer]

This is the only team sport I watch, so I am done. Time to focus on Djokovic and tennis.

It will be a long off season for sure, and if Lou does nothing, it will feel even longer.

 

[NJDevs26]

The offseason won't be too long Nona. The first round playoff matchups are usually ending today. It was a year ago today that we beat Florida in game 7 I think. While the season starts in early October I'm really excited once training camp starts. I figure only 4.5 months for that. It's only a little over a month longer than this season even lasted, and it really flew this year.

Yeah it kinda works out that way on the calendar...hell, practically all of our seasons for almost a decade before last year were ending in late April anyway.

 

[Bleedred]

This is the only team sport I watch, so I am done. Time to focus on Djokovic and tennis.

It will be a long off season for sure, and if Lou does nothing, it will feel even longer.

It's the only one I really watch too. I watch some football, and baseball but just casually with friends. No emotional attachment to any teams.

Yeah it kinda works out that way on the calendar...hell, practically all of our seasons for almost a decade before last year were ending in late April anyway.

Yup pretty much. The last two years have been a little bit different. In 10-11 it ended about 3 weeks earlier than usual, last year it ended 1.5 months later than usual, and this year it's back to where it ended from 08-10.

Look at it this way. The SCF this year won't be over until almost the 1st of July. So if you plan on watching the entire playoffs like me then by the time they're over we only got 2.5 months until training camp. Maybe some of you don't wanna rush the Summer, but it's warm where I live now most of the year other than December-February so I'm in no rush to savor the Summer or anything. I do got a couple trips hopefully when I get some vacation time like Jersey in the Summer possibly, and Las Vegas to see my uncle, and maybe Denver to see my buddy. Hopefully can keep myself busy with things to do.

 

[battlingBard56]

For a guy some pegged to be an adventure in his own end, I thought Gelinas was quite solid tonight. Raw, as someone else said, but very solid. Handled the puck well, played physical and in the limited PP time he got, he looked very promising. Too bad Kovalchuk fanned on the one timer Gelinas feed to him

 

[Bleedred]

You can never have too defensemen like Gelinas, Larsson, or even Zidlicky. However you can have too many defensemen like Volchenkov, and Salvador and one is usually enough. At the very most a tweener like Tallinder is okay to keep around too if you need more than one stay at home guy.

 

[NJDevilsZG]

I think Euros generally have a higher opinion of the devils org than their North American counterparts. Remember Kovy telling the story about Tverdovsky and another Euro showing him their devils stanley cup ring??? They also spoke well of the org.

That is veru true. Some Russian legends did well with this organisation and they speak highly of it. Not to mention Patty. Then recent influx of Sweeds.
I think it also factores in that players from Europe generally don't give a $hit about trap, swamp and other legends. They just see winning organisation. And one with rules and structure. Which is not something that is repellant in Europian culture.

And - I loved this win. Honestly don't care about draft position around #10. I loved that they didn't mail it in and pulled of a comeback. Happy for Moose too.
Loved the crowd, especially "Patty" chant.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Yeah, I feel the same way. Tonight was the end. For me personally, there is just a different kind of feeling to close this season out. It's nothing like I've experienced before tbh. I've only witnessed the Devils miss two other times, but in 96 and 11, it was tough to see those teams go (for very different reasons). This year, I don't know, I'm just kind of numb to it all. I'm not not sure if its the uncertain future for the players / team. Maybe it's the fall from grace in just a short ten months. I guess more than anything, it was this stupid ****ing lockout. You just get the sense that the Devils could have got back on track when healthy and with a little bit more time. I mean it couldn't get much worse. But it's over before it even started. It's just a really odd year with a very long off season ahead. I find it very difficult to get a good read on wtf happened this season.

You can look at the last two games as sort of a testament to that. We handled the shortened season about as badly as a team could of. Over a long season none of the injuries we suffered would of hurt as much. Plus the extra time off would given the team a chance to loosen back up during any rough patches. You saw it Tuesday and today how much better they played once they loosened up. When Marty and then Kovy went down they worked themselves into such a ball of over trying that just nothing went right. If you go on the ice expecting something to go wrong...well it is going to go wrong.

Off season is going to suck for sure. I know for it will because I am not expecting diddly-squat from the Yanks this year (though I need to go and check a few games since this is the last year of Rivera )

I know I'll feel better once camp starts. I expect Elias and Zubs to be back, and Clarkson well at the price he wants he is expendable enough, but I think he might be back too. Hopefully Lou trims the fat and we go into camp with a younger D, and hopefully a new forward or two to watch. I still don't understand realignment at all as far as playoffs go, but it will be nice to have a long season again. This short season blew ass, it really is just a joke and the NHL should be ashamed of itself.

Fact that Zubs and Elias pretty much said flat out they want to be back shows as long as Lou doesn't low ball them they will come back for sure. I don't think the market will be there for Clarkson and he will come crawling back as well.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

- No way we miss the playoffs in a 82 games season with Marty and Kovy healthy. What is our record with both healthy already ?
- Chemistry everywhere, we've finally found Ilya's center in Andrei Loki Lokti Loktionov. Kid's going to center Kovy fo years hopefully.
- I wanted him out previously but the last few weeks proved me wrong, Baby Gio is playing like a legit NHL player. He's been great lately.
- Volchenkov played great tonight, he was moving his feet like he never did before.
- Zajac is back to his former-self. I'm not worried for his future.
- I'll say it again : Gelinas's got everything to be a legit puck mover in the big league. His game is so likely to translate well in the NHL moreover.Kid was poised tonight, really relaxed. You couldn't say it was 1st NHL game and he's going to be great player for us.



Ps: How the **** Loki has not been credited with a goal on the breakaway ??? May be wrong but I was sure he redirected Kovy's pass.

 

[Emperoreddy]

- No way we miss the playoffs in a 82 games season with Marty and Kovy healthy. What is our record with both healthy already ?
- Chemistry everywhere, we've finally found Ilya's center in Andrei Loki Lokti Loktionov. Kid's going to center Kovy fo years hopefully.
- I wanted him out previously but the last few weeks proved me wrong, Baby is playing like a legit NHL player. He's been great lately.
- Volchenkov played great tonight, he was moving his feet like he never did before.
- Zajac is back to his former-self. I'm not worried for his future.
- I'll say it again : Gelinas's got everything to be a legit puck mover in the big league. His game is so likely to translate well in the NHL moreover.Kid was poised tonight, really relaxed. You couldn't it was 1st NHL game and he's going to be great player for us.



Ps: How the **** Loki has not been credited with a goal on the breakaway ??? May be wrong but I was sure he redirected Kovy's pass.

Ya I am feeling better about Zajac too, though I still want a forward that can have better chemistry with him that isn't Clarkson. Not sure who. Also wonder what was wrong with him. Was he feeling the pressure of his new contract or something?

Between how well Merrill's game has translated from college to the AHL, and what I saw of Gelinas tonight I am excited about our D prospects again. We may be bare at forward, but we have the tools to have a young and good defense. Future is bright on that side of the ice. Why trimming the old defensive fat is so important. Time to give some kids real shots so we can get younger and faster on the blueline in a hurry. (want Merrill to stay one more year in the AHL, but it is time to let Urbom and Gelians have a camp battle for a spot on the big club)

 

[Volodya Krutov]

Ya I am feeling better about Zajac too, though I still want a forward that can have better chemistry with him that isn't Clarkson. Not sure who. Also wonder what was wrong with him. Was he feeling the pressure of his new contract or something?

Between how well Merrill's game has translated from college to the AHL, and what I saw of Gelinas tonight I am excited about our D prospects again. We may be bare at forward, but we have the tools to have a young and good defense. Future is bright on that side of the ice. Why trimming the old defensive fat is so important. Time to give some kids real shots so we can get younger and faster on the blueline in a hurry. (want Merrill to stay one more year in the AHL, but it is time to let Urbom and Gelians have a camp battle for a spot on the big club)

Drouin

 

[Emperoreddy]

Drouin

May the hockey gods smile on us and let the ping pong balls fall our way. Let us TROLLOLOLOL the draft once more.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

If Lou had forfeited the Matteau pick last year on the reasoning that he expects to lose Parise and expects the team to miss the playoffs this year (and according to most of this board, next year too), that's the only reason he should be fired. He kept the pick because goddammit, the New Jersey Devils make the playoffs and nothing less is acceptable, and based on that, a pick in the 20s in 2012 is worth more than a pick in the 20s later. I don't want a general manager who expects failure next year. And frankly, I expect this team to be picking in the 20s again next year because I'm a goddamned fan of the New Jersey Devils and that is the least that is expected. If mistakes (in hindsight) are made, at least they are mistakes born from the effort to be better. If that's not what you want from your team, and if that's not what you want from your general manager, good luck getting affordable tickets in Edmonton.

I just wanted to say thank you, thank you for this. Just read the whole GDT and to see a non-stop negativity is a real disappointment. it warms the cockles of my heart to hear you say that.