Kozlov

Who (and be honest here) actually wanted this guy to stay, and thought he could be of value? There are 2 names here that I can say, yes, I know for sure, that distinction belongs to Classic Devil and Dkball7, and I did too.

Who (and be honest here) actually wanted this guy to stay, and thought he could be of value? There are 2 names here that I can say, yes, I know for sure, that distinction belongs to Classic Devil and Dkball7, and I did too.

Well I wanted him more than I wanted Jan Hrdina. And I thought it made more sense to keep his salary vs. Jeff Friesen's salary. I'm glad he's still around but with Elias coming back I guess its anyones guess as to if he gets moved or not

I've been saying for months that the last person I wanted traded was Kozlov...

I wanted Kozlov here over Friesen, but I won't be heartbroken if he gets dealt once Elias is ready to return.

I didn't want Kozlov here over Friesen and I'm still not sure I do. he still gives the puck away to much and 3 games doesn't prove he's become anymore consistent of a scorer than Friesen was. Hopefully he can keep it going at a steady pace. Based on their play right now though I'd trade Langs over him but I also know what Friesen and Langs can do in the post-season. Kozlov gets a pass for last year but he still has alot to prove and I'm not ready to jump on his bandwagon yet.

Thanks for the recognition DF. Again, I feel that what we've seen from Kozlov is just the tip of the iceberg. Parise and Gionta are both incredible compliments for what he brings to the table. The only thing I would like him to improve on is turnovers at the opponents blueline, he must pick his spots better for dekes, because now he is giving the puck away a bit too much for my liking. His biggest doccumented problem has always been "not shooting enough", well it looks like he's addressed that and now it's paying dividens for him (Rafalski goal).

I've been saying for months that the last person I wanted traded was Kozlov...Would you rather keep Kozlov or Brylin when Elias returns? There's a good chance that one of them will be traded when Elias comes back.

I would choose Brylin because he is more versatile.

I posted here before the trade deadline in 2004 that the Devils should look at bringing in both Viktor Kozlov and Val Bure to boost the secondary scoring. Half of my wish was granted and it looked very much like a pretty bad fit based on what little he did for the team at the end of the regular season and then into round 1 of the playoffs against Philadelphia. He did have one productive regular season game against a very weak Penguins team which stood out from among a dozen or so other incredibly uninspired games. Seemed like NJ had brought in square peg in a round hole Igor Larionov part 2 initially. Speaking of which, I saw Larionov sitting up in a box during the Red Wings game the other day. Looks like he's spending time catching up with his old buddies now.

Anyways... Did Viktor Kozlov deserve a clean slate heading into training camp? Yes.

Do I still have reservations that he'll eventually return back into the player he was habitually criticized for being while playing for the Panthers? Yes. I'm not entirely sold on him just yet like Drewr15, but so far so good. NJ needs for him to stay motivated and strive for more consistency. Otherwise he may wind up frustrating us with his talents not fully realized just as much as Jeff Friesen did in 2004.

Would you rather keep Kozlov or Brylin when Elias returns? There's a good chance that one of them will be traded when Elias comes back.

I would choose Brylin because he is more versatile.

Neither. Langenbrunner goes. If I had to pick I'd probably pick Brylin to stay because of sentimental reasons...

However, what this team needs is offense. Brylin has looked like a second line left wing with Gomez and Mogilny so far this season. Kozlov looks like an above average second line winger. However, I've been saying for a pretty long while that the lines I want to see are:

Elias - Gomez - Gionta
Kozlov - Parise - Mogilny
Pandolfo - Madden - Brylin
Rasmussen - Rheaume - Marshall

That's what I want and hope to see. Jamie is great and all but he hasn't been inspired since Nieuwendyk left. Trade him to Florida and they can put together a Roberts - Nieuwendyk - Langenbrunner line (which would perform well if healthy). He just doesn't have chemistry with anyone in this lineup anymore, or not that we've seen. He needs to develop it, and fast, or he's gone.

The Brylin thing isn't really fair. Trading Brylin would be like cutting off my right arm... like trading McKay was. I can barely conceive of doing it. I can't imagine this team without him.

... I also couldn't imagine the team without Daneyko or Stevens though.

Who (and be honest here) actually wanted this guy to stay, and thought he could be of value? There are 2 names here that I can say, yes, I know for sure, that distinction belongs to Classic Devil and Dkball7, and I did too.

Me

I wanted to get rid of him until Parise said he enjoyed having Kozlov on his line and Friesen appeared to be stuck in his 03-04 form during the preseason. Now I'm almost convinced he should be kept instead of Langenbrunner.

I wanted to get rid of him until Parise said he enjoyed having Kozlov on his line and Friesen appeared to be stuck in his 03-04 form during the preseason. Now I'm almost convinced he should be kept instead of Langenbrunner.
Iwanted him gone and still want him gone if he has anywhere close to a PPG come the time Elias is ready to come back. If he has that many points it has got to be a fluke and he will hurt us later in the season. Trade him when his value is high.

I wanted to get rid of him until Parise said he enjoyed having Kozlov on his line and Friesen appeared to be stuck in his 03-04 form during the preseason. Now I'm almost convinced he should be kept instead of Langenbrunner.
Me too, at first I wanted Friesen to stay because I thought his style of play fit better with Parise's. Still I fear both Langenbrunner and Kozlov will both be traded.

Kozlov this season is becoming just the most recent example of one of the most overlooked benefits of a winning, competitive team. Good teams, winning environments, bring out the best in players, even players with flaws/dubious reputations. The exact same players' deficiencies will be accentuated on lesser teams. They are hidden for the most part on good teams.

Which is exactly why the idea that a team like NJD should simply dispose of its best players, throw in the towel and do a complete rebuild (i.e., be willing to have a few "losing seasons") in light of losing Stevens and Niedermayer (suggested by some geniuses) is absurd.

The winning heritage/legacy is in place in NJ. Don't lose it; don't take a step back, build (once again) upon it. Lose it and it won't come back easily, if ever. Take it from an NYI fan from the dynasty era.

Elias - Gomez - Gionta
Kozlov - Parise - Mogilny
Pandolfo - Madden - Brylin
Rasmussen - Rheaume - MarshallI don't like a small player like Brylin on the most important line. Langenbrunner is a world class checker. When he finally got a chance to play in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, he looked great for Team USA. I don't think Brylin can do as good of a job on the Madden Line as Langenbrunner or Gionta once did, but Gionta's ability to score goals is too valuable to be have him on the team's shutdown line.

Langenbrunner does look like the kid in school who can't keep in his seat or keep his mouth shut during class. He looks like the kid who knows he's going to get detention. I hope he can play more disciplined hockey.

That's what I want and hope to see. Jamie is great and all but he hasn't been inspired since Nieuwendyk left.Langenbrunner got off to a great start in 2003-04, but suffered an injury around Thanksgiving. When he returned to the lineup, he wasn't playing well because of the lingering effects of his injury.

Not me. I was a pretty big Friesen fan (especially his Outlaw Josey Wales face), but I knew he had to go. I'm not even going to bother with Kozlov. I hope he plays well while he's here, but when Elias is activated, he's gone.

Iwanted him gone and still want him gone if he has anywhere close to a PPG come the time Elias is ready to come back. If he has that many points it has got to be a fluke and he will hurt us later in the season. Trade him when his value is high.Jason, it scares me how much we think alike.