Albany's Stars

Albany has several players who I would consider our key guys on offense. Zach Parise, Aleksander Suglobov, Aaron Voros, and to a lesser extent Tuomas Pihlman, Adrian Foster, and Ilkka Pikkarainen.

Of our top-3 point getters, Suglobov, Voros, and Parise, who has the best shot at making the Devils when the lockout subsides?

Suglobov - 4G, 5A, 9PTS
Voros - 4G, 4A, 8PTS
Parise - 3G, 4A, 7PTS

Since we are crammed up at center I picked a winger. Suglobov has just been more impressive then Voros to this point. Suglobov is scary good and could be droped right into the 2nd line.

I wanted to vote two of them being on the Devils if they were playing, Suglobov and Parise and I also think Voros will spend the whole year down at Albany, even so he's playing GREAT, I don't think they will want to rush him since the level of college hockey was not the best and maybe his cancer fight. But you never know.

I picked Suglobov because him and Parise might be equal right now but he's been there longer, it's only right.

Voros, who would have thought he would start off this fast? i did not good for him.

Since we are crammed up at center I picked a winger. Suglobov has just been more impressive then Voros to this point. Suglobov is scary good and could be droped right into the 2nd line.


But you just know Voros' game will translate well/maybe better to the NHL! I know you like Voros and I am really exicted to see a real power forward in New Jersey again.

Voros isn't ready for the NHL yet. If you rush him now you would tend to develop him as a 4th line checker. Let him dominate for a season, confidence and consistancy is everything for a power forward.

But you just know Voros' game will translate well/maybe better to the NHL! I know you like Voros and I am really exicted to see a real power forward in New Jersey again.

He seems to have all the tools that a power forward needs...all he needs is a season or two in Albany like Jason said....he's definitley opened some eyes with his early season play.

I wouldn't put Parise on this list because he is going to play for the Devils as soon as the season resumes or the CBA and lockout are over... But I would say Parise and Suggy for sure...

Voros isn't ready for the NHL yet. If you rush him now you would tend to develop him as a 4th line checker. Let him dominate for a season, confidence and consistancy is everything for a power forward.

This comment looks like a legitimate reason on paper to justify VOROS staying in the A for a year or two but there's no need. He has dominated at every level and would continue to if the NHL started up tomorrow. As far as an all around player he is the most ready of anyone on the rats team. I am not knocking your assesment Jason, but it's time for people to stop underestimating him. He will NEVER be a fourth line checker in the NHL. Remeber when everyone was questioning how he'd do in the A? And now after being player of the week people still don't realize the player he is. This isn't some lucky week for him, this is how he plays day in and day out. Period. At 23 years old he doesn't need time to development or a year of confidence boosting in the A, he's ready for the NHL, and this weeks performance is just icing on the cake.

Some of you should re-think your Rookie of the year selections.

Shean Donovan was player of the week one time last year with unbelievable stats.

Just some food for thought OFSY34.

This comment looks like a legitimate reason on paper to justify VOROS staying in the A for a year or two but there's no need. He has dominated at every level and would continue to if the NHL started up tomorrow. As far as an all around player he is the most ready of anyone on the rats team. I am not knocking your assesment Jason, but it's time for people to stop underestimating him. He will NEVER be a fourth line checker in the NHL. Remeber when everyone was questioning how he'd do in the A? And now after being player of the week people still don't realize the player he is. This isn't some lucky week for him, this is how he plays day in and day out. Period. At 23 years old he doesn't need time to development or a year of confidence boosting in the A, he's ready for the NHL, and this weeks performance is just icing on the cake.


He might have been a physical presence in college but he didn't exactly tear it up offensively scoring 36 goals and 24 assists for 60 points in 89 games. Good numbers, but I would not say he was dominating, but then again I never did see him play in college and have only reports to read and hear and some numbers to go by, but I can't think of one reason on rushing him, were not the Rangers you know.

Well to be fair he had a great freshman year with 18 goals. Then all his games after that were with his leng tumor, or after he got back, which took him a while to recover from. Also there wasnt much offensive help for him as Fairbanks isnt exactly a powerhouse team in a good confrence.

I know since your Aaron's friend you would be stuborn to the thought of leaving Voros in the AHL for this full year. You have to realize that if Voros is rushed he will not be able to build the confidence needed to be a top line power forward. There is still a couple of things I would like to see Voros do before he plays consistantly in the NHL. I would like for him to add weight. OFSY34, you know yourself he could hold atleast 20 more pounds on his frame. I would like Voros to play a little more smart, Burns will bench him in a second if he takes some of these stupid stick penalties. Voros will have to add a little more speed in order to really be a force in the NHL. His speed is ok now, but it could be better.

OFSY34, saying I was doubting Voros's allround package and potential is a little unfair. I actually stayed up and listened to every Fairbanks game last year. I raved about him for the past year and constantly post about him in any power forward thread started. The guy is a beast, he is big, physical, mean and has soft hands.

I don't think Jason is doubting Voros, he has talked him up on numerous occasions.

I know we have some slick playmakers and a potential sniper in our system right now, but for me, the thought of a big nasty winger with some scoring touch wearing a devils sweater during a home-and-home series with Philadelphia makes me want to drool.

Regardless of how long it takes, I just hope it happens.

I know since your Aaron's friend you would be stuborn to the thought of leaving Voros in the AHL for this full year. You have to realize that if Voros is rushed he will not be able to build the confidence needed to be a top line power forward. There is still a couple of things I would like to see Voros do before he plays consistantly in the NHL. I would like for him to add weight. OFSY34, you know yourself he could hold atleast 20 more pounds on his frame. I would like Voros to play a little more smart, Burns will bench him in a second if he takes some of these stupid stick penalties. Voros will have to add a little more speed in order to really be a force in the NHL. His speed is ok now, but it could be better.

OFSY34, saying I was doubting Voros's allround package and potential is a little unfair. I actually stayed up and listened to every Fairbanks game last year. I raved about him for the past year and constantly post about him in any power forward thread started. The guy is a beast, he is big, physical, mean and has soft hands.


I'm not trying to be abrassive here but if you'd watched him from 16yrs old you'd have a better understanding of what I am talking about. You can't make assumptions about his confidence, speed etc. and the stick penalties I agree are sometimes stupid, but he's a physical player. You can't say what he needs or doesn't need from listening to games on the radio and scouting reports. If you'd read any of them done on him in Junior A you would have said this kid is going knowhere. Things like him needing 20 pounds is silly when he got up to 210lbs his sophmore year in college after power lifting all summer and wasn't happy with his agility at that weight. That comes straight from his mouth, and seeing as he's not weak and getting knocked off the puck or the goon of the team, 20lbs won't do him as an individual, anygood. If Robbie and Chris see him in the NHL if it started up tomorrow I am not going to argue. Great for the Devils considering they got a steal on him.

I'm not trying to be abrassive here but if you'd watched him from 16yrs old you'd have a better understanding of what I am talking about. You can't make assumptions about his confidence, speed etc. and the stick penalties I agree are sometimes stupid, but he's a physical player. You can't say what he needs or doesn't need from listening to games on the radio and scouting reports. If you'd read any of them done on him in Junior A you would have said this kid is going knowhere. Things like him needing 20 pounds is silly when he got up to 210lbs his sophmore year in college after power lifting all summer and wasn't happy with his agility at that weight. That comes straight from his mouth, and seeing as he's not weak and getting knocked off the puck or the goon of the team, 20lbs won't do him as an individual, anygood. If Robbie and Chris see him in the NHL if it started up tomorrow I am not going to argue. Great for the Devils considering they got a steal on him.
I am not saying his confidence is bad right now, I am saying it could take a shot when he gets to the NHL. It is a trend that occurs with many big power forwards.
There have been many other devils fans who went to Albany camp this year and have had concerns about his speed. Everyone at uscho boards have said Voros has speed problems. I am not trying to make Voros out as a bad player but if everyone see's the same thing then he must have a problem.
If Voros doesn't like the extra weight then I will go with him there. Some people just don't adjust to the extra weight that well.
Up above you said Voros is the most NHL ready player on Albany, there I really disagree. Suglobov is not only Albany's best player but he would be the best player to call up in if a season is to start. Much of Voros's production is because of Suglobov.

Works both ways, almost all of Suglobov's goals are a result of Voros working in the corners (where Suglobov rarely goes), digging out the puck and getting it to him. When it comes to who would get called up it would depend on the role that needs to be filled...I think NJ has enough smaller skilled forwards already in place, that's why I see Voros having the advantage over Suglobov. Hopefully they get there at the same time though so they can continue the play they've shown together with the Rats.

we do have some small skill forwards on the devils, but we dont have a sniper(which Suglobov is)

If we are playing an important divisional game: I'd personally rather have a Voros type of player in the lineup vs a Suglobov style of player.

I am not commenting on eithers ability........Just given the choice between a mean nasty power forward or skilled sniper in an Eastern Conf. showdown, I'm taking the nasty player every time.