If Stevens retires, is that Good or Bad?

Now before everyone flames away, think about it...If Stevens retires that opens up more cash for Niedermayer and maybe a very good and tough defenseman like Aucoin or even Hamrlik. I mean I rather have Stevens and Nieds back, but if it's a choice, I'll take Niedermayer over the captain at this time in his career.

Let's face it, although, we all want the captain to come back and play, he might only play one season and if his retirement helps us the organization for the future, aren't we better off. Also, does anyone know if Stevens was paid his salary during the lock-out? Now you can flame away.

I don't think money will be the main factor determining whether or not we'll be able to retain Niedermayer.

To get under the cap, we'd be trimming the fat with guys like Friesen, Kozlov, Hrdina.

We're committed to 20.2 million in salaries for 2005-06 to 10 players: Brodeur, Madden, Brylin, Matvichuk, Oliwa, Pandolfo, Marshall, Rasmussen, Langdon, and Clemmensen.

RFAs: Elias (5.5), Friesen (3), Gomez (2.9), Hrdina (2.4), Kozlov (2.3), White (2.25), Langenbrunner (2), Gionta (.75), Martin (.6), Hale (.6), Brown (.5).

UFAs: Niedermayer (7), Stevens (6.9), Rafalski (3.1)

I don't think money will be the main factor determining whether or not we'll be able to retain Niedermayer.

To get under the cap, we'd be trimming the fat with guys like Friesen, Kozlov, Hrdina.

We're committed to 20.2 million in salaries for 2005-06 to 10 players: Brodeur, Madden, Brylin, Matvichuk, Oliwa, Pandolfo, Marshall, Rasmussen, Langdon, and Clemmensen.

RFAs: Elias (5.5), Friesen (3), Gomez (2.9), Hrdina (2.4), Kozlov (2.3), White (2.25), Langenbrunner (2), Gionta (.75), Martin (.6), Hale (.6), Brown (.5).

UFAs: Niedermayer (7), Stevens (6.9), Rafalski (3.1)


I believe that there might be no more then a few teams Niedermayer would sign with, Vancouver and the Devils probably on a very short list, but I disagree that money won't factor in, especially, when Nieds might feel like he lost out on
$7 million this year and probably more under the future CBA.

If Stevens retires that opens up more cash for Niedermayer and maybe a very good and tough defenseman like Aucoin or even Hamrlik. I mean I rather have Stevens and Nieds back, but if it's a choice, I'll take Niedermayer over the captain at this time in his career.

Let's face it, although, we all want the captain to come back and play, he might only play one season and if his retirement helps us the organization for the future, aren't we better off.

You currently possess the best goalie on the planet, a core (Elias, Gomez, Stevens and Niedermayer) as solid as any in the NHL, and you are one year removed from winning the Stanley Cup. Poised with that lineup, you are more concerned about "the future" than doing everything possible to recapture the Cup the next time NHL hockey is played?

When you have a team like the Devils you live for the moment. As in, especially when you are right there as far as competing for Lord Stanley. The future is right now. (And, as discussed in another thread, the future should be bright as well.)

Stevens makes you a better team. Dramatically, even at his advanced age. You do not replace that presence.

Sidenote: Adrian Aucoin and Roman Hamrlik are solid NHL dmen. But as you suggest, neither will ever be confused with Stevens, even at age 40. And neither would come that much cheaper than Stevens to justify the "exchange", so to speak. (And one cannot put a value on the large hole Stevens loss will make, both on and off the ice. You simply do not replace the impact of a ~15-year captain and HOF with "another good NHL dman" like the two NYI backliners that you mentioned.

You will not know what you are missing until he is gone. Come to think of it, given his injury last season, every Devil fan should know already what they will miss!...Which is why you should be rolling out the red carpet for his return. The end of his career will come soon enough.

Just my opinion.

As a Flyers fan, if Stevens were to retire, it would be a bad thing for the Devils. Stevens is the rock on that defense and he keeps all teams honest when they are in the Devils defensive zone. All it takes is one hit from Stevens and it has the ability to change the game.

As for the talk of replacing Stevens with a Hamrlik or an Aucoin, that wouldn't work. Neidermeyer does what Hamrlik and Aucoin do. If you were to put two defensemen like that on the ice at the same time, it wouldn't work. Stevens defensive ability allowed Neidermeyer to do the things that he did. I'm not saying that Neids is a slouch in his own end, but Stevens was the rock solid defender that everyone feared.

If Jersey were ever to look at a replacement, you can bet they would look at something similar to Stevens. I'll be honest, there are only a couple of players who I've seen that have even reminded of being anything close to Stevens. First would be Phaneuf in Calgary. He's gonna be a good one for years to come. The second would be Volchenkov in Ottawa. Before his sophmore year (the injury plagued year), his rookie was what had people raving he might be a Scott Stevens type. He isn't dirty, but man oh man could he hit. I remember reading an ESPN article about Volchenkov and Stevens commented on him and Stevens said that Volchenkov reminded him a little of himself and that if he can control his emotions, there's no reason why he couldn't be in the league for 20 years. But yeah, one of those two players would fit well with Neids.

Darkside, I do believe that Stevens was paid during the lockout because of his concussion, not 100%, but a good source says that he did. The rumour was that he could of played the last couple of games against Philly but didn't because he would of lost his pay. He was not 100% healthwise but he is a competitor and would of played at 80%. He is better than most at 70%.

I believe that there might be no more then a few teams Niedermayer would sign with, Vancouver and the Devils probably on a very short list, but I disagree that money won't factor in, especially, when Nieds might feel like he lost out on
$7 million this year and probably more under the future CBA.

I meant that the Devils will make a competitive offer. The rumor was that we offered Niedermayer 5 years, 40 mil before the lockout. Lou doesn't get cheap when it comes to the core guys. He offered Holik 41 mil to stay and luckily missed out.

I don't think money will be the main factor determining whether or not we'll be able to retain Niedermayer.

To get under the cap, we'd be trimming the fat with guys like Friesen, Kozlov, Hrdina.

We're committed to 20.2 million in salaries for 2005-06 to 10 players: Brodeur, Madden, Brylin, Matvichuk, Oliwa, Pandolfo, Marshall, Rasmussen, Langdon, and Clemmensen.

RFAs: Elias (5.5), Friesen (3), Gomez (2.9), Hrdina (2.4), Kozlov (2.3), White (2.25), Langenbrunner (2), Gionta (.75), Martin (.6), Hale (.6), Brown (.5).

UFAs: Niedermayer (7), Stevens (6.9), Rafalski (3.1)

that leaves the devils at 60m
but with a 24% rollback they are just creaking over 45m
so whats the problem?

You currently possess the best goalie on the planet, a core (Elias, Gomez, Stevens and Niedermayer) as solid as any in the NHL, and you are one year removed from winning the Stanley Cup. Poised with that lineup, you are more concerned about "the future" than doing everything possible to recapture the Cup the next time NHL hockey is played?

When you have a team like the Devils you live for the moment. As in, especially when you are right there as far as competing for Lord Stanley. The future is right now. (And, as discussed in another thread, the future should be bright as well.)

Stevens makes you a better team. Dramatically, even at his advanced age. You do not replace that presence.

Sidenote: Adrian Aucoin and Roman Hamrlik are solid NHL dmen. But as you suggest, neither will ever be confused with Stevens, even at age 40. And neither would come that much cheaper than Stevens to justify the "exchange", so to speak. (And one cannot put a value on the large hole Stevens loss will make, both on and off the ice. You simply do not replace the impact of a ~15-year captain and HOF with "another good NHL dman" like the two NYI backliners that you mentioned.

You will not know what you are missing until he is gone. Come to think of it, given his injury last season, every Devil fan should know already what they will miss!...Which is why you should be rolling out the red carpet for his return. The end of his career will come soon enough.

Just my opinion.

The RD version: better off? you're on crack.

I've read about a few 40 yo vets who have said they probably won't be back if things don't start up in Sept; Hull, Scott among them. If Stevens is feeling ok I hope he returns for 1 more season. If he has a lousy camp he should retire;he's done it all. It's going to be hard for everybody but the older 25% are probably really going to feel it in September.
Wonder if somebody like Almo is going to go through the motions? Or is Holik up to like 255 now after taking the year off? Most of these guys will want at least 1 last big payoff but you have to wonder about guys like N'ke,Roberts,Yzerman,Chelios.....