Next year

which players will be called up to NHL next year ?

Tallackson will probably get an extended stint, if not make the team out of camp.

I could see Bergfors getting a cup of coffee, or possible making the team is he impresses enough.

I think it would be feasible to see Clarkson added to the 4th line.

Ryznar/Pihlman will probably make the team as a checking forward.

id like to see vrana get a look

Depends how many guys are gone.

Kozlov will be gone, but he doesn't play as it is.
Rasmussen is a UFA I think, so it's likely he'll not be back, so a 4th line spot would be open
Elias will resign and Langenbrunner too I think.
So all in all there isn't much room for anybody young to play. Tallackson will probably get the 4th line job, though I like Pihlman too, I'm just not sure where or if he fits in anywhere.
Klee and Albelin (maybe..he has to retire at some point I'm thinking) will be gone so Hale will have his spot back

I have been wondering how much room there is for young guys. Too many guys are returning, so there are not a lot of spots open. Guys we already have signed for fowards are Parise, Brylin, Marshall, Pandolfo, Madden, Janssen, and Wiemer. Add in the RFA's like Gionta and Gionta. Add in UFA's that I think will be back, Elias and Langenbrunner. I want Rasmussen back but it may be better to give his spot up to a young guy, but I am not sure. Factor in Ryznar and Tallackson are looking for a spot. I only think 1 or 2 roster spots are not taken. Should be interesting to see how the offseason and training camp shapes up. We may very well not see a new face on the Devils next year.

For defense, I would like to see:
Matvichuk-Rafalski
White-Martin
Hale-Lukowich
McGillis
Rather than going out and getting a new 7th defenseman, why not use McGillis in that role?

hopefully we sign a scoring winger... maybe

Rather than going out and getting a new 7th defenseman, why not use McGillis in that role?

2.2 Million reasons why.

2.2 Million reasons why.
Fair enough, I was just throwing that idea out there. Who do you think would make a good 7th d-man that can be signed for cheap?

Fair enough, I was just throwing that idea out there. Who do you think would make a good 7th d-man that can be signed for cheap?

Not really sure, but Shane Hnidy, Joel Bouchard, Luke Richardson? It's sort of hard to predict there.

I think we may see Langenbrunner and/or Brylin traded for a defenseman or two. That will open up a spot on the forward lines, which absloutley needs to happen soon with all of the up and coming talent. In my mind, the only forwards that absolutely need to be kept are Elias, Gomez, Parise, Madden and Pando. Not all of the rest will be gone, but I wouldn't go out of my way to keep them either.

I think we may see Langenbrunner and/or Brylin traded for a defenseman or two. That will open up a spot on the forward lines, which absloutley needs to happen soon with all of the up and coming talent. In my mind, the only forwards that absolutely need to be kept are Elias, Gomez, Parise, Madden and Pando. Not all of the rest will be gone, but I wouldn't go out of my way to keep them either.

I disagree with this. No way Langenbrunner will be dealt. He will sign for similar money to his $1.7 he is making now and it will be a multiyear deal. He is to much a part of this team and the chemistry. Especially now that he has shown he can play on more then one line and play more then one role. He is an energy player capable of consistantly putting up 50 points, around 20 goals and skates hard. As Chico Resch (the idiot himself) said last night and it was a good point, we can now see how much more creative Langenbrunner is when on a scoring line and in a scoring role. He was much more defensive on the Checking Line. He is a good fit and is good secondary scoring which we lack. Next year we have a healthier then ever Elias from season start, Parise with one year under his belt and he will continue to play with scorers, Gionta and Gomez. Langenbrunner is great secondary scoring.

Brylin is a heart and soul player as demonstrated so many times in the post season and also last night. Returned from injury to score a goal. Lou likes him a lot and he is so mobile and can play LW,RW, C on any line. Both should stay on the Devils.

Tallackson will emerge as a power forward, and maybe a few minor signings up front is all that is necessary. I think the Devils biggest priority this off season is to stock pile legit defensive prospects and even sign a bigger name defenseman.

Langenbrunner is a UFA, so I doubt they sign then trade him. If they want him they will sign him, if they don't they will let him go. I hope he stays, he fits in very nicely.

Tallackson will probably get an extended stint, if not make the team out of camp.

I could see Bergfors getting a cup of coffee, or possible making the team is he impresses enough.

I think it would be feasible to see Clarkson added to the 4th line.

Ryznar/Pihlman will probably make the team as a checking forward.

That's a pretty reasonable analysis I think. Many of the forwards on the farm are on the cusp of cracking the Devils next season. Bergfors is the one to watch though. Despite his age, he could make in impact in New Jersey sooner rather than later. He's been producing very well for being the youngest player in the AHL with one of the league's worst teams. Playing on one of the top two lines with a playmaker like Gomez or Parise is something that has to be considered if he shows enough in training camp and the pre-season......

Bergfors is the one to watch though. Despite his age, he could make in impact in New Jersey sooner rather than later. He's been producing very well for being the youngest player in the AHL with one of the league's worst teams. Playing on one of the top two lines with a playmaker like Gomez or Parise is something that has to be considered if he shows enough in training camp and the pre-season......

Bang on. From the little I saw of him in camp this year, he seems like the type that could make an early jump. He plays the game at a very high speed, has good hockey sense and good skill. His biggest problem was his size and getting pushed around, though he showed an almost frightening fearlessness going into the corners. If you add a little muscle and a little experience to what I saw in September, I think he's got a good shot.

That's a pretty reasonable analysis I think. Many of the forwards on the farm are on the cusp of cracking the Devils next season. Bergfors is the one to watch though. Despite his age, he could make in impact in New Jersey sooner rather than later. He's been producing very well for being the youngest player in the AHL with one of the league's worst teams. Playing on one of the top two lines with a playmaker like Gomez or Parise is something that has to be considered if he shows enough in training camp and the pre-season......
Do you think Zach will be ready to play center next year or do you think he's going to turn out to be a LW.

I ask this because Zach has shown much more poise with the puck (I know I know HF slang) and can create on the second PP. If we had Gomez and Parise as our top two centermen it could really make shuffling the lines easy because I really can see the resemblance in their style of play.

I think we need one more guy to get garbage type goals...I think that's why the Brylin line isn't working right now. Jamie could fill that role but he hasn't shown it yet.

We could have the playmaking centerman, the shooting winger, and the guy who goes to the net and picks up the garbage.

Playmakers, Gomez, Parise
Shooters, Bergfors, Elias
Garbagemen, Gionta, Langs

Playmakers, Gomez, Parise
Shooters, Bergfors, Elias
Garbagemen, Gionta, Langs

this is a nice way to see things. never thought of it like this before... i don't think we need to sign a forward. just re-sign and get a GOOD all around defenseman

Do you think Zach will be ready to play center next year or do you think he's going to turn out to be a LW.

I ask this because Zach has shown much more poise with the puck (I know I know HF slang) and can create on the second PP. If we had Gomez and Parise as our top two centermen it could really make shuffling the lines easy because I really can see the resemblance in their style of play.

I think we need one more guy to get garbage type goals...I think that's why the Brylin line isn't working right now. Jamie could fill that role but he hasn't shown it yet.

We could have the playmaking centerman, the shooting winger, and the guy who goes to the net and picks up the garbage.

Playmakers, Gomez, Parise
Shooters, Bergfors, Elias
Garbagemen, Gionta, Langs

Parise has looked very comfortable on the wing, but ultimately, I think that the Devils would be better off with him manning the middle. However, with the depth the Devils have accumilated at the center ice position, maybe staying at the wing isin't out of the question. Zajac may be ready to assume the 2nd line center role after next season. Parise, Gomez, Gionta, Elias, Zajac and Bergfors make up a potentially very dangerous group of Top 6 fowards in the very near future

Amen to that :bow: I hope we'll be able to sign The EGG to fairly long deals

Parise has looked very comfortable on the wing, but ultimately, I think that the Devils would be better off with him manning the middle. However, with the depth the Devils have accumilated at the center ice position, maybe staying at the wing isin't out of the question. Zajac may be ready to assume the 2nd line center role after next season. Parise, Gomez, Gionta, Elias, Zajac and Bergfors make up a potentially very dangerous group of Top 6 fowards in the very near future
I agree that it's great to see Parise do well on the wing and we do have quite a bit of depth at the center ice position...but I'm just thinking for next year, who's going to be our second line center? Are we going to stick with Brylin or are we going to try and upgrade. I want to see Parise where he's most effective, which is on the wing right now, but if he could pull off second line center duties it could really round out our lines for next year.

Amen to that :bow: I hope we'll be able to sign The EGG to fairly long deals

Hopefully we can sign Gionta for a Cheechoo-esque 3 mil per year over 4 or 5 years, Gomez for a Koivu-esque 4.5 mil per over 3 years, and Elias for around 6 mil per over 3 years. If we can have all 3 locked up for a combined 13.5 mil per, then gradually incorporate the talented kids into the lineup, we should be in good offensive shape for the next half decade.

Hopefully we can sign Gionta for a Cheechoo-esque 3 mil per year over 4 or 5 years, Gomez for a Koivu-esque 4.5 mil per over 3 years, and Elias for around 6 mil per over 3 years. If we can have all 3 locked up for a combined 13.5 mil per, then gradually incorporate the talented kids into the lineup, we should be in good offensive shape for the next half decade.


i don't see Gionta signing for more than 3 mil, maybe like 2.5-2.8. Same for gomez, i think he would get just above mogilny money. Elias i agree

i don't think the devils have enough young talent right now. next year might be fine, but after that? forget about it.

I think our lines for next season should be

Parise-Gomez-Gionta
Elias-Zajac-Langenbrunner (Maybe another A Line esque)
Brylin-Madden-Pandolfo
Janssen-Bergfors-Tallackson/Marshall

Rafalski-Lukowich
Martin-White
Hale-Ference (I'd Like to see Brad get a chance & he's righthanded)

Marty
Doyle as the backup

Maybe we could send clemmer to a team for a 3rd or 4th rounder pick

I think our lines for next season should be

Parise-Gomez-Gionta
Elias-Zajac-Langenbrunner (Maybe another A Line esque)
Brylin-Madden-Pandolfo
Janssen-Bergfors-Tallackson/Marshall
I like the first and 3rd lines (although I would switch Pando and Brylin). I seriously doubt we see Zajac next year, but I like the thought. The 4th line is weird. The Devils can either go with an energetic 4th line like they have now, or can give the spots to rookies who will be offensive players. Either Janssen and Wiemer are on that line, or Tallackson, or Ryznar are.

Rafalski-Lukowich
Martin-White
Hale-Ference (I'd Like to see Brad get a chance & he's righthanded)

What about Matvichuk? Also hasn't Ference been awful for the Rats this year?

Marty
Doyle as the backup

Maybe we could send clemmer to a team for a 3rd or 4th rounder pick
I wouldn't mind Doyle but I don't see the need to move Clemmensen. He may not be the best but he is servicable. I'm not sure if we would be able to trade him for anything above a 6th round pick.

i don't think the devils have enough young talent right now. next year might be fine, but after that? forget about it.

Um, next year, if all goes according to plan, we would have Tallackson, Ryznar, and maybe someone like Clarkson. That's not terribly much.

After next year I think we are in good shape. In 07-08 we will see Zajac, Bergfors, Vrana, and possibly Nittel.

Younger guys like Khomutov, Davis, Fraser, etc., could also be looking at roles on the team in the coming years.

I think we are in good shape for the next several years. At least at forward.

Also hasn't Ference been awful for the Rats this year?

Yeah, he has been pretty bad. Sort of amazing that he actually played a full season in the NHL. I would much rather have Schultz back. :)

I think this could potentially be our lineup for next season:

LW--C--RW
Elias--Gomez--Gionta
Rasmussen<-->Parise--Langenbrunner
Pandolfo--Madden--Scott Young???
Brylin<-->Bergfors--Marshall
Pihlman or Wiemer and Janssen and possibly Zajac???

RD--LD
Rafalski--Lukowich
Martin--White
Matvichuk-- Brian Leetch???
David Hale or Andy Greene

Marty
Ahonen ( He has got to play sometime!!! )


What do you think? Remember, the cap goes up to over 40 mil

Tallackson should and I think will make the Devils out of camp next year and remain on the roster. Maybe a 4th line of Tallackson-Wiemer/Jannsen-Marshall. Barry is a power forward and can be used as Rasmussen is. A body in front of the net on the PP and he can see some time on the highter lines as well at even strength. He is a big game player. I think Ryznar has a shot as well and could be on the RW of Madden-Pando or even a utility 4th liner. Smart defensively and works hard.

Believe it or not Tallackson and Ryznar on the roster and Langdon and Kozlov gone, if we keep all the other forwards I think the devils are better up front. More can be done with these guys and we have seen good things from them.

I think Tallackson on the 4th line with Wiemer and Marshall would be great. It would be energetic and still have somewhat of a scoring threat. I like Ryznar and ideally someday he would go on the Pandolfo-Madden line, but I doubt he starts there as a rookie. With guys like Tallackson, Ryznar, Wiemer, Marshall, and Janssen the Devils seem to have a logjam at the fourth line. Unless maybe Marshall would still be on the Madden line. Then there would be 4 players competing for spots on the 4th line. I would hate to make Tallackson and Ryznar healthy scratches because that would be detrimental to their development. Here is what I think we may see next year, but I doubt it. Lou will add a FA or two, so this is going to be off most likely.

Parise-Gomez-Gionta
Elias-Brylin-Langenbrunner
Pandolfo-Madden-Marshall
Tallackson-Wiemer-Ryznar
Janssen

I'm not really a big fan of putting Bergfors on the 4th line. He's our top prospect, and that seems like it would impede his progress. I'd rather see him either get put on one of the top 3 lines or continue to develop in the minors. Also, Lou isn't one to rush prospects, so I doubt we'll see 3-4 young guys full-time in the lineup next season...especially ones that have barely played in the NHL thus far in their careers.

Tallackson should and I think will make the Devils out of camp next year and remain on the roster. Maybe a 4th line of Tallackson-Wiemer/Jannsen-Marshall. Barry is a power forward and can be used as Rasmussen is. A body in front of the net on the PP and he can see some time on the highter lines as well at even strength.


That's not really how Tallackson plays though. He's a power forward, but he isn't the John Leclair stand in front of the net power forward. He's more so finesse than he is physical, but he is still is physical and uses his size well. He also isn't nearly as good a hitter as Ras is. If anything, I wouldn't mind seeing Tallackson on the second line.

I wouldn't count the younger guys out. Guys like Davis and Fraser ...Davis for example had a great camp last year...some could argue better than anyone other than Bergfors...plus Davis is Bigger and stronger with the same scroing threat. I wouldn't be surprised if he sees the Show next year at least for a while. He is older than Bergfors too so he is not really one of the younger guys.

Fraser...well he is just solid. He might go as well. You never know. The guys from the OHL are a lot more experienced than the likes of the Devil's CCHA draft picks of the past. The guys from the O can make an easier jump than the College kids.

Devil's need to focus on the CHL more and less US college...at least for the next couple drafts.

Next season.....

I would really like to see the Devils add Willie Mitchell in the off season.

Next season.....

I would really like to see the Devils add Willie Mitchell in the off season.
Would be nice, but if we can go with White, Matvichuk and Hale as our checkers, we can have Rafy, Martin and possibly Green as our puck movers. Willie Mitchell is a stud for sure, but I think we are fairly set at the physical-defenseman position.

Would be nice, but if we can go with White, Matvichuk and Hale as our checkers, we can have Rafy, Martin and possibly Green as our puck movers. Willie Mitchell is a stud for sure, but I think we are fairly set at the physical-defenseman position.

Isn't Matvicuk an UFA??

Isn't Matvicuk an UFA??
If that is the case and we don't want to sign him, I'd feel great about acquiring Mitchell. In fact, he would be perfect in our system again.

I'm not a 100% on that? I just though when the devils signed him it was a two year deal and one was lost during lockout??

I'm not a 100% on that? I just though when the devils signed him it was a two year deal and one was lost during lockout??
Yeah, for some reason I thought it was a 3-year deal. I'm not certain. There is a thread on the Trades board talking about every team's UFAs. I'll check it out.



Edit: According to the thread (http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=197710), Matvichuk is NOT on the UFA list for this summer. I didn't read through all pages to see if somebody disputed it, but for what it's worth (if he can recover from these various injuries) I think Matvichuk is the perfect Devils defenseman.

cool thanks

Next season.....

I would really like to see the Devils add Willie Mitchell in the off season.

Jim,

I heard that Mitchell really like's playing for Dallas and want's to resign there. Got that from OLN, take it for what it's worth.

why not keep matvichuk?

Matvichuk signed a 4 year deal if I recall correctly.

Matvichuk signed a 4 year deal if I recall correctly.
You are right: Jul 12, 2004 Matvichuk has signed a four-year contract worth $8.5 million with the New Jersey Devils.

Source (http://games.espn.go.com/cgi/fhl/playernewsarchive?statsId=897)