Albelin Update

http://www.nj.com/devils/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1128923957170110.xml&coll=1

"Defenseman Tommy Albelin, an unsigned free agent, is still traveling with the team but said he has not received any news about his immediate future."

This says to me that once Elias returns one of our defenseman is gone to clear cap space. Tommy will be signed for $450K and finish our the year,

I don't know, wouldn't David Hale fill in that role? Unless more than 2 d-men are gone; but even then I don't know whether Albelin would be better than, say, Sean Brown.

Or he could be learning the role of an assistant coach.

Or he could be learning the role of an assistant coach.
And well he should, because he is a guy the Devils should have in their organization for as long as he wants to be there.

That said, he should only play if there is a dire emergency.

And well he should, because he is a guy the Devils should have in their organization for as long as he wants to be there.

That said, he should only play if there is a dire emergency.Yeah, like say the entire team was killed in a plane crash. Then (and only then) would I want Tommy on the ice for New Jersey.

Yeah, like say the entire team was killed in a plane crash. Then (and only then) would I want Tommy on the ice for New Jersey.

That's a horrible thing to say.

That's a horrible thing to say.Maybe, but I believe my point was clear enough.

I'd rather have Tommy A out on the ice in the 3rd period of a 3 to 2 game with the lead than Malaknob.

I'd rather have Tommy A out on the ice in the 3rd period of a 3 to 2 game with the lead than Malaknob.

These are trying times for Devils fans, we can't even agree on people who are good, Malakhov has been very sturdy for us.

I'd rather have Tommy A out on the ice in the 3rd period of a 3 to 2 game with the lead than Malaknob.Yes, you're probably right. If he is taking his geritol, he can leave little piles all over the ice which could impede a pass or alter a shot. If all else fails, he could just sieze up and fall over in front of Marty's net taking away most low shots. You do have a point.

These are trying times for Devils fans, we can't even agree on people who are good, Malakhov has been very sturdy for us.This is nothing new. There are always negative people ripping apart players for what ever reason, rightly or wrongly.

I thought Tommy Albelin was going to retire after the Devils won the Stanley Cup in 2003, but he came back and was a good 7th defenseman. Albelin saw too much action after Scott Stevens and then Brian Rafalski were injured.