Thoughts after 3?

I've only been able to catch bits of the devils games, not nearly as much as I want. Being from Ont will do that to you.

I want to know it's very early but I want to get a feel what you guys think is going on so far. What are the little things that are working and what is not working.

I know that this over use of the penalty box by devils players is one aspect that really needs to be fixed.

I think the play of Parise is amazing, he looks like he's been playing for years in this league.

So on with the discussion.

- Langenbrunner looks slow
- Defense looks lost on coverage
- Discipline is poor
- Gomez isn't doing anything
- 3rd line needs to score more

So far, so good.

Point #1: Brodeur hasn't missed a beat. He's facing more shots and more quality chances, but he's still making the big saves.

Saying that, NJ needs to do a better job at overall team defense.

Point #2: Before the games yesterday, NJ was I think #2 in shots against. Brodeur is great, but eventually with all the SA, you're going to get burned.

Most of the shots have resulted when the other team is on the PP

Point #3: Robinson better crack down on lame, dumb, lazy penalties. Sit some guys out or do something. Not picking on Langenbrunner, but 10 mins in 3 games for things like hooking...come on...

Point #4: PP is doing well. They're in the top 10 right now (9th). One SH goal against already...ouch...

Point #5: PK is doing well. They're in the top 10 right now (6th).

I find it terribly funny that all 3 games have been won by the team that has struggled early. The only game that the Devils weren't floundering in the first 10 minutes, is the only game they lost.

IMHO, Matvichuk is useless out there. He doesn't seem to do much of anything.

I like how Madden is making a visible effort to force opponents to taken penalties to stop him. He seems to be the only guy routinely trying to split defensemen.

Parise is hit-or-miss. He goes too long at-a-time being invisible for my liking; hope that changes soon. However, good that he is occasionally visible, because Gomez isn't even that.

Starting to wonder if this team's leading scorer at year's end might be a defenseman. Martin leads the team in points with Rafalski tied for 2nd...

Discipline is the killer. Even with a pretty-good PK, we can't afford to take penalties as often as we have.

So far, strong marks to Brodeur, Martin, Rafalski, and Madden. Pretty good marks for Parise, Malakhov, Mogilny, and Kozlov. Failing marks for Matvichuk, Gomez, and Langenbrunner.

#1- I love the Kozlov-Parise-Gionta line. Parise is playing great with both of them. Kozlov may prove he's of some use after all.

#2- Our D needs to find that healthy medium between physicality and inteligence. They need to have a strong physical presence without drawing too many penalties. This goes for our offense too, but I think the new rules have affected our defense in a more negative way.

#3- In the preseason and regular season, I haven't seen Matvichuk do anything. He's been invisible out there. I'm thinking get rid of Matty, and bring up someone who actually has something to prove, namely Hale or even Brown at this point.

#4- Bench Langenbrunner and Gomez if they continue to play sloppy undiscipline hockey. I haven't seen Langenbrunner play a decent shift save one.

#1- I love the Kozlov-Parise-Gionta line. Parise is playing great with both of them. Kozlov may prove he's of some use after all.

#2- Our D needs to find that healthy medium between physicality and inteligence. They need to have a strong physical presence without drawing too many penalties. This goes for our offense too, but I think the new rules have affected our defense in a more negative way.

#3- In the preseason and regular season, I haven't seen Matvichuk do anything. He's been invisible out there. I'm thinking get rid of Matty, and bring up someone who actually has something to prove, namely Hale or even Brown at this point.

#4- Bench Langenbrunner and Gomez if they continue to play sloppy undiscipline hockey. I haven't seen Langenbrunner play a decent shift save one.


The only good thing I can say about Brunner is that tip in.

Gomez always starts his season in december to finish with 2 pts per game in the second half.
His play is not very good at this point but he still has 2 assists in 4 games, I expect him to take off in december...

i agree with most everything said so far. I did not see the Philly game, but I don't think Matvichuk has been as bad as everyone says, that said, McGillis and White are playing better than him.

Langenbrunner in the Ranger game took so many penalties, at one point he knocked a Ranger down and stopped skating and threw his arms up in the air waiting for one when none was coming. It was ridiculous. He's letting the calls affect his play and his game. Its a shame as he is normally such a steady hustling player and I don't see it yet this year.

Right now when Elias comes back I'd say the two who should be moved are Langenbrunner and Matvichuk. Bring Hale up to play D, move Gionta to Madden's line and either put Elias back with Gomer or add him to Kozlov and Parise's line.

Parise himself has played well, he's still learning so you can't fault him to much on mistakes but his effort is always there. Only player in front of the net more than him is Gionta, who has been our best forward so far.

Another guy who has struggled big time is Marshall. He is killing them on the power play, gave the puck away so many times against the Rangers and Rasmussen is out hitting and out hustling him on the 4th line. Marshall needs to step it up a little or he may be on a short leash as well.

After three games:

- We're not perfect, but luckily nobody else is either.
- Unlike previous years where we had a lot of continuity, we have three new D playing major minutes. We need to give them some time to gel.
- Brodeur's breakout passes seem to be confusing the power play at times.
- Still miss the days of Holik and/or Arnott planting themselves in front of the net on the PP.

Considering that I haven't been able to catch a single game on TV, this isn't first hand.

But what I gather from what I read here is a lack of chemistry.

Considering that I haven't been able to catch a single game on TV, this isn't first hand.

But what I gather from what I read here is a lack of chemistry.

I think that's something that's happening league wide. Can't think of too many teams that kept even half of their team intact from the end of the 2003-04 season. Most teams had massive roster turnover, and a lot of teams are trying to break in basically 2 years worth of rookies into one season. I think it's a bit much for people to expect everything to click immediately.

This year's potential Calder list is amazing.

The Devils had no business winning the game against New York the other night. They were thoroughly outplayed for 2/3 of the game and just looked dreadful in the first two periods. Bad passing, lackluster skating, poor coverages, etc... Feels like they should rightfully be 1-2 right now even though they are 2-1.

I really hope the Devils players don't make a habit of regularly criticizing the officiating to the degree Joe Thornton did in '03-'04. His surgical precision like tirade both on-ice and in the media probably has cost him more no calls and penalties against then he'd ever care to admit to in print. I'm hoping Larry Robinson similarly cools the public questioning of whats being called and what isn't even though I agree with him a hundred percent that we're not seeing penalty uniformity calls through 60 minutes in the first 3 Devils games. NJ has had 3 controversial goal/no goal calls in the first week of play now. Thats just unheard of.

The Devils had no business winning the game against New York the other night. They were thoroughly outplayed for 2/3 of the game and just looked dreadful in the first two periods. Bad passing, lackluster skating, poor coverages, etc... Feels like they should rightfully be 1-2 right now even though they are 2-1.

I really hope the Devils players don't make a habit of regularly criticizing the officiating to the degree Joe Thornton did in '03-'04. His surgical precision like tirade both on-ice and in the media probably has cost him more no calls and penalties against then he'd ever care to admit to in print. I'm hoping Larry Robinson similarly cools the public questioning of whats being called and what isn't even though I agree with him a hundred percent that we're not seeing penalty uniformity calls through 60 minutes in the first 3 Devils games. NJ has had 3 controversial goal/no goal calls in the first week of play now. Thats just unheard of.

i agree, the calls haven't gone their way but public complaining about officiating isn't going to turn it around.

The first two periods of that Rangers game was dreadful wasn't it? I can't believe how pathetic they played.

i agree, the calls haven't gone their way but public complaining about officiating isn't going to turn it around.

The first two periods of that Rangers game was dreadful wasn't it? I can't believe how pathetic they played.

It was just brutal. Credit the NY Rangers for retooling with younger and hungrier players and for their new coach making the proper statement right away benching players like Lundmark and Poti for poor play. He's brought accountability to a team that has desperately lacked it for some time now. But wow were the Devils ever completely outclassed in the hustle department. Not used to seeing them so badly outplayed by many teams let alone the Rangers. I heard the Washinton Capitals yesterday were a bit offended by what was written in the New York papers regarding the Rangers and Caps game being game 1 of 4 in the Phil Kessel sweepstakes. Apparently they don't wish to be viewed as a team thats given up on the season early this year.

Anyone else catch Stan Fischler's strong feelings that John Madden wouldn't be named captain the other night? He seemed to have that look on his face like he had some good inside information backing this assertion.

Players that need to step up their game IMO:

(In no particular order)

Scott Gomez
Vladimir Malakhov
Jamie Langenbrunner
Richard Matvichuk
Colin White
Dan McGillis
Jay Pandolfo

Players playing very good IMO:

(In no particular order)

Zach Parise
Brian Gionta
Brian Rafalski
Martin Brodeur
Paul Martin
Sergei Brylin
Grant Marshall

Players playing about as expected IMO:

(In no particular order)

Viktor Kozlov
John Madden
Pascal Rheaume
Alexander Mogilny
Eric Rasmussen

After three games:


- Still miss the days of Holik and/or Arnott planting themselves in front of the net on the PP.

What a PP that year

Arnott-Holik-Elias

Sykora-Rafalski

That was the PP, Sykie would just blast pucks from back there and out of Holik and Arnott, one would grind, the other in front of the net, and Elias doing the skill stuff. Rafalski made pucks tippable..........*sigh* great days.

Players that need to step up their game IMO:

(In no particular order)

Scott Gomez
Vladimir Malakhov
Jamie Langenbrunner
Richard Matvichuk
Colin White
Dan McGillis
Jay Pandolfo

Players playing very good IMO:

(In no particular order)

Zach Parise
Brian Gionta
Brian Rafalski
Martin Brodeur
Paul Martin
Sergei Brylin
Grant Marshall

Players playing about as expected IMO:

(In no particular order)

Viktor Kozlov
John Madden
Pascal Rheaume
Alexander Mogilny
Eric Rasmussen

only couple I disagree with are white and marshall. White had an excellent game against Jagr on saturday while Marshall was abysmal on the PP and gave the puck away several times. hard to judge after 3 games. and this delay between devils games is killing me!

Parise is hit-or-miss. He goes too long at-a-time being invisible for my liking; hope that changes soon.
I know that NJ has a lot of expectations put upon him, but he has filled the 2nd line center position admirally for a rookie. I truly think its unfair that NJ put him in the situation where he has to produce immediately because he is still learning. What I really like about him is that he seems to have Gionta's hustle, which is always good.

One great game, two terrible games. I know I have criticized players already, but it is a bit early.

Point #4: PP is doing well. They're in the top 10 right now (9th). One SH goal against already...ouch...

Point #5: PK is doing well. They're in the top 10 right now (6th).

Those are both very good start for the specialty teams. In this new age of the NHL, special teams are key, and if you can be in the top half of the league in both PP and PK, that is something that will help out a lot as the season progresses.

I know that NJ has a lot of expectations put upon him, but he has filled the 2nd line center position admirally for a rookie. I truly think its unfair that NJ put him in the situation where he has to produce immediately because he is still learning. What I really like about him is that he seems to have Gionta's hustle, which is always good.


We also have to remember that Zach has been cooling his heels on the bench while the team spends have the game on the pk. From what I've seen in the first three games, he's been one of our better forwards. If there is one criticism, it's that he has a tough time in the corners with the bigger and stronger players. That is to be expected with his size. However, he battles all the time and will get better on the boards as he gets more experience and gets a bit stronger.

I think the overall game has been pu$$yfied. More games against the so called "rivals" but there's not intensity. Hopefully the games will be more American/Canadian than his Euro cr@p we are seeing now.

:shakehead

Hopefully the games will be more American/Canadian than his Euro cr@p we are seeing now.
:shakehead

Euro cr@p? that's the same as players complaining about the calls - *wake up* - the players made the new agreement with the new rules - if they didn't bother reading the memo its their own fault.

But yeah, watching a hack&slash, water skiing, clutch and grab, pull down, obstruction hockey is fun. and lets not forget the trap! I can't wait for 1-0 scores to come back in style!

:loony:

Euro cr@p? that's the same as players complaining about the calls - *wake up* - the players made the new agreement with the new rules - if they didn't bother reading the memo its their own fault.

But yeah, watching a hack&slash, water skiing, clutch and grab, pull down, obstruction hockey is fun. and lets not forget the trap! I can't wait for 1-0 scores to come back in style!

:loony:

No, I love this new hockey were if you touch someone its 2min. I'm not talking about hooking or obstruction. There are fewer body checks. No intensity at all. Its pathetic. NHL = Disney on Ice. Fighting is pretty outlaw. Guys should start wearing G strings.

What has changed with the Devils since the Flyers playoff ouster in 2004?

1) Devils players are now playing more tentative in fear of taking a questionable penalty which has led to some guys being less aggressive when battling along the boards, fighting for loose pucks, or making other teams pay the price for making frequent contact with Brodeur while others like Langenbrunner and Malakhov are simply not adjusting well at all to the new rules.

2) The team was designed (before the new CBA) from the nets out to be a defense-first thinking mechanized mobile assault vehicle. They won a tremendous number of close regular season games in 2003 by one goal with scores of 2-1, 3-2, and 1 or 2 to 0 being the norm. The margin of error was very little for them offensively and still is today. Problem is, the league has turned its back on defensive hockey and has decided excitement revolves primarily around goals, goals, and more goals. That said though, the Minnesota Wild had no problems lighting up Vancouver the other night for six or seven goals, but do the Devils have the horses to engage in an offensive shootout today and regularly come out ahead on the scoreboard? With Brylin on a top line? With Kozlov on a top line who is notorious for disappearing for long stretches of time? With Gomez no longer being pushed and kicked in the *** by Pat Burns to step it up? With no true goal scoring center aside from Zach Parise in the entire lineup????

3) The offseason transactions were greatly impacted by Scott Stevens taking his sweet time with his retirement decision and Scott Niedermayer similarly sitting on a max salary cap offer while the team waited for him to make his decision. Defense took a big hit in terms of leadership and veteran experience so it was addressed the most in terms of cap money. Friesen was a casualty of the cap and no move was made to offset his top six scoring presence on the left side side with a proven scorer. Devils are now relying unrealistically on a guy like Sergei Brylin to be a top line scoring threat when he hasn't been pushed into this role in years. Imo, he helps the team far more in a devensive minded role while a guy like Langenbrunner would help the Devils more in an offensive minded one. He's gone from regularly putting up 4 ot 5 shots a game to sometimes just barely registering a single shot in 60 minutes. It used to be everyone knew their role and things were very mechanical for the Devils. All thats been turned upside down though since the new CBA.

4) Players are afraid for their job security and it shows in their play through the first four games. You see a lot of guys afraid to make a play and boom you have yourself a turnover and another redlight behind Martin Brodeur. Its a tentative play issue that likely won't be resolved until the Patrik Elias situation resolves itself.

Good Post but its up to LR to put the right combination together. Brylin is not a top scores. He's a thirdline guy at best. Panolfo should be bench. He's done nothing. Madden better learn how to score fast. I would've kept McAmmond and let Pandolfo go. Lou should've known Nieds was out no matter what. When you offer him the top $$$ and he take his time, its a sign. He put all his eggs in one basket with Neids but did anyone really think he was going to stay? All I heard after the Dev's won in 03 how Nieds was sad cause he brother was crying like a *****. :D Right then and there Neids was gone.