New Jersey Devils (Team/Player Discussion)-Offseason FA and trade talk Part XIIX

[Richer's Ghost]

i don't remember if it's still valid, but as of a couple seasons ago, nobody had scored more goals than kovalchuk since he came into the league. i'm sorry, but to say the offense will be better because he is gone is just ridiculous to me. i think we will have a better offense this year, but it won't be because kovalchuk is gone. maybe because his contract is gone, but not because of him as a player.

Currently Ovechkin has 402 goals including playoffs.
Kovalchuk has 428 goals including playoffs.

3 three year buffer (108 goals) Kovy had entering the league in 2001 will evaporate this year if Ovy can stay healthy or not "retire".

If you flip that analysis around starting with when Ovechkin entered the league, he passed Kovy in 2007 after 2 seasons and has outscored him every season except 2011.

 

[Bleedred]

I wish we could fix our faceoffs. That's one of the few things that irritated me about Deboer last season, and why I don't have the greatest confidence in him (Among a few other things)

He needs to recognize when he's got two guys with a lower than 40 percent faceoff win rate regularly taking faceoffs. One guy isn't that big of a deal but two? Winning faceoffs at a higher clip than 38% is a lot more important that making sure a right handed shooter is not playing on the left wing IMO.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Something as monumental as a projected franchise player bagging out of a 15-year, $100M contract definitely results from a snowstorm of events. Obviously, it's very hard to pin the tail on the donkey and say, "Hey, now that's why he left."

But I agree with the bolded. I firmly believe that if there's no lockout, Kovalchuk is still on our roster. Whether that's good or bad or neutral is moot. However, I will also concede that I also believe that lockout could have been the final nail in the coffin that was his NHL career--again, a lot of factors went into this dramatic turnaround.

im with you on why he left, in the sense there is no "thats why he left." a decision that big isnt made on one factor IMO. but thats a whole other discussion, it was more to show how his play could have been affected by things other then "no Parise."

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Just about every offseason, I think I would spend ridiculous amounts of time drawing up lines for the Devils of the upcoming season. But this summer, I just can't do it. With so many moving pieces, so many new additions, so much speculation re: rolling lines evenly, it seems like there will be a LOT of shuffling around... at least to start off the year.

I said a bit earlier how I wanted Loktionov with Jagr, and Henrique with Ryder. But now that I think about it, Zajac with Ryder maybe won't be such a bad idea. And, yeah, that Zubrus--Zajac--Jagr line sounds pretty beastly.

So while I hope certain combo's get tested together, I mostly hope that everyone gets a chance to play with each other, and that we discover each player's niche and head into the postseason as a united force.

 

[TrufleShufle]

I wish we could fix our faceoffs. That's one of the few things that irritated me about Deboer last season, and why I don't have the greatest confidence in him (Among a few other things)

He needs to recognize when he's got two guys with a lower than 40 percent faceoff win rate regularly taking faceoffs. One guy isn't that big of a deal but two? Winning faceoffs at a higher clip than 38% is a lot more important that making sure a right handed shooter is not playing on the left wing IMO.

listen, Gionta may have not won many face offs, but when he did, he did it with the butt end of his stick. that has got to count for something....

 

[ThePSEGPowerPoster]

I think Ryder and Zajac are decent fits together, actually. I don't think Ryder needs an insane playmaker, but would benefit most from puck possession time in the offensive zone.

He hasn't been asked to do that in his career I don't think. I could be wrong. But he is a playmaker in his own right. I've watched a few games in the NHL Vault and he's pretty creative.

I just don't think it's the best fit in the world. I'm all about magnifying what makes Travis amazing and minimizing his failures. It's ok that he's not Datsyuk. Not saying you're saying that at all I just don't think Ryder's creativity is best for him.

Elias and Ryder...that's a match made in heaven in my opinion.

 

[Benedict Parisechuk]

I wish we could fix our faceoffs. That's one of the few things that irritated me about Deboer last season, and why I don't have the greatest confidence in him (Among a few other things)

He needs to recognize when he's got two guys with a lower than 40 percent faceoff win rate regularly taking faceoffs. One guy isn't that big of a deal but two? Winning faceoffs at a higher clip than 38% is a lot more important that making sure a right handed shooter is not playing on the left wing IMO.

This is why having Loktionov in the top 6 scares me. Hes going to get maimed by opposing teams top 2 centermen on taking draws unless he somehow improved drastically over the offseason. For a team that relies on puck possession, winning faceoffs is a pretty big deal.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Ryder and Zajac are both shoot first. not sure I want them together.

 

[ThePSEGPowerPoster]

listen, Gionta may have not won many face offs, but when he did, he did it with the butt end of his stick. that has got to count for something....

If Gio earns his spot on this team, I implore Pete to just let Carter take face-offs. Also, I feel like Zubrus should be taking more face-offs too...especially if Lokti is on his line.

 

[Colin226]

Bit of random Devils news but my company just signed an agreement to license our solution to the team's workforce management provider (can't disclose the name sorry), so the NJ Devils will be using our Time and Attendance, HR, and Payroll solutions. Other NHL teams that will also be using our system via this provider are the Capitals, Panthers, and the AHL (guessing it's the front office and league staff)

 

[TrufleShufle]

Just about every offseason, I think I would spend ridiculous amounts of time drawing up lines for the Devils of the upcoming season. But this summer, I just can't do it. With so many moving pieces, so many new additions, so much speculation re: rolling lines evenly, it seems like there will be a LOT of shuffling around... at least to start off the year.

I said a bit earlier how I wanted Loktionov with Jagr, and Henrique with Ryder. But now that I think about it, Zajac with Ryder maybe won't be such a bad idea. And, yeah, that Zubrus--Zajac--Jagr line sounds pretty beastly.

So while I hope certain combo's get tested together, I mostly hope that everyone gets a chance to play with each other, and that we discover each player's niche and head into the postseason as a united force.

you know with out a doubt with the way the lines have been sent out in the recent past EVERYONE will play with EVERYONE at some point, im excited to see the different line combos.

my only problem is when its for less than a period and sometimes just a shift. you have to give a line a little bit to go through different situations together. CBGB had some long plays in the offensive zone that made them stand out as a line together. but they didn't do that every shift, they had some bad ones, but they were givin a little bit of time together to show how good they could work together.

i like the no set in stone line system they have, but when you close your eyes and pick three players to send out give them a little bit of time to work with each other.

 

[ThePSEGPowerPoster]

Ryder and Zajac are both shoot first. not sure I want them together.

I think Ryder gets a bad rap in that respect. Not saying you're criticizing him or anything. I had the same impression too.

While he loves to shoot the puck you'd be amazed at how well he creates for others and how well he can make a play happen.

I think I'll post a few game dates for those with Vault or maybe I can find some highlights. I think Ryder fits perfectly here, especially with Patty, and I certainly wouldn't mind putting Lokti there to center them.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Lokti could still play center and just not take the faceoffs

but I don't think they'd do that

 

[Bleedred]

This is why having Loktionov in the top 6 scares me. Hes going to get maimed by opposing teams top 2 centermen on taking draws unless he somehow improved drastically over the offseason. For a team that relies on puck possession, winning faceoffs is a pretty big deal.

Yeah I can't stand him in the dots. Love the guy, but I wish there was a way he could play wing.

If Gio earns his spot on this team, I implore Pete to just let Carter take face-offs. Also, I feel like Zubrus should be taking more face-offs too...especially if Lokti is on his line.

He won't do it though. He'll keep Carter on LW, because he won't let Gio play LW since he shoots right handed.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Win, meaning a championship and simply being competitive are two vastly different things....we weren't even competitive for 2 of the last three years.

So let's temper the conversation to just being competitive... we weren't with just Kovalchuk and we were with just Parise...

How did Parise score 94 points with Zajac and Langenbrunner and Kovalchuk look lost with Zajac for 2 of 3 years? There was a problem that everyone seems to want to ignore.

In 2011 we missed the playoffs by 12 points, but had the gap narrowed down to six at one point. Considering the cap issues we had (icing a 17 man roster at one point) and the John MacLean debacle I can't see how anyone can say in good faith that you can take anything that happened that season as gospel, let alone blame one player for it.

In 2013 we only missed the playoffs by 7 points. That's two more games and an even shootout record. We were in it until game 44 or 45 if I recall correctly. We were 18-13-6 with Kovalchuk in the lineup last year and 1-6-4 without him last year. We had the highest shot differential in the league. How is that not competitive?

 

[Wingman77]

Ryder and Zajac are both shoot first. not sure I want them together.

Eh, Zajac tends to go into little funks every season where he won't shoot first, but otherwise I agree I'd like them separately because I'd like to have the strength of their shots distributed on different lines

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

I swear to God, if this handedness bull**** extends to Jagr and ****s him up for the season...

 

[TrufleShufle]

I swear to God, if this handedness bull**** extends to Jagr and ****s him up for the season...

i can't see that happening, kovy was much younger signing a contract to spend the next decade here. Jagr is probably playing his last year after a massive career, to switch him now would be insane.

 

[SeidoN]

wouldnt mind seeing Larsson do 20 of these on the PP this year

 

[Benedict Parisechuk]

Eh, Zajac tends to go into little funks every season where he won't shoot first, but otherwise I agree I'd like them separately because I'd like to have the strength of their shots distributed on different lines

Agreed.

Elias-Zajac-Clowe
Jagr-Henrique-Ryder

That would be my ideal top 6 right now. Both of those lines are extremely balanced and provide a bit of everything. Creativity, puck possession, forechecking, shots. If I'm Deboer, thats what I'm going to war with on opening night and tweak accordingly.

 

[SeidoN]

hilarious trade board comment of the week

Severson + 2014 2nd for Havlat

 

[JimEIV]

i don't remember if it's still valid, but as of a couple seasons ago, nobody had scored more goals than kovalchuk since he came into the league. i'm sorry, but to say the offense will be better because he is gone is just ridiculous to me. i think we will have a better offense this year, but it won't be because kovalchuk is gone. maybe because his contract is gone, but not because of him as a player.

I've said it before and I'll say it again ....I am willing to take any bet we score more goals per game than any Kovalchuk year without Parise ...that is 2.09 and 2.29...the average is 2.19...any bet.

30th and 29th in scoring is what Kovalchuk by himself brought to the table...so if the idea that the offense will be better without him is so ridiculous I'm looking forward to hearing your wager proposal.

 

[Brodeur]

hilarious trade board comment of the week

Severson + 2014 2nd for Havlat

Only worth it if they play this clip every time either him or Patty get a point.

 

[JimEIV]

In 2011 we missed the playoffs by 12 points, but had the gap narrowed down to six at one point. Considering the cap issues we had (icing a 17 man roster at one point) and the John MacLean debacle I can't see how anyone can say in good faith that you can take anything that happened that season as gospel, let alone blame one player for it.

In 2013 we only missed the playoffs by 7 points. That's two more games and an even shootout record. We were in it until game 44 or 45 if I recall correctly. We were 18-13-6 with Kovalchuk in the lineup last year and 1-6-4 without him last year. We had the highest shot differential in the league. How is that not competitive?

You really think finishing 9th worse and 8th worse in a 30 team league is being competitive?

I really don't even know how to respond to that without being snide....cause the only word that comes to mind is delusional.

 

[BahlDeep]

Come on man...you've got to make the playoffs to get past the first round....how many times has Kovalchuk made the playoffs? And how many times has he done it WITHOUT Parise? I believe the answer is twice in 13 years...Yeah that is a bit telling.

That's putting facts in a way that favors your opinion

In the first full season of kovy with the devils, the whole first half no one was producing, can you atleast admit that fact instead of cherrypicking facts and put them in your favor?

Not his fault JMac was a horrible coach and Mr Grumpy was acting up . Did you notice that after those two were gone, the team went on one of the most amazing second half in nhl history until the last couple of games, and who was leading the charge? It was Kovy.

Who led the team in scoring in both the regular season and the playoffs the year after? Kovy it was.

Sure he was horrible last season, beyond horrible, and we all knew something was wrong, either it was mentally or his body.

You blame everything bad that happened to the team on him. Kovy did not cost us Parise, the 98 million contract he got cost us Parise.

it waa a threat watching him, we might not get a player that brings that much excitement in a long time.

This guy had heart, and you see he cared about the team until after the lockout .

Why don't you point out all the good things he has done, you were wrong all along about Kovy, you just lucked out that he "retired" , and now you're taking advantage of that fact.

Everything you said about Kovy was wrong, he changed his game to suit the devils, and yet he was our best player in the season where we made the playoffs and went to the finals.

This guy played with no back and still led the team in scoring in the playoffs... but no, he's just a turnover machine right?..

Everybody who would take Parise at a higher cap hit then Kovalchuk is either stupid or doesn't know anything about hockey.