Langenbrunner revisited through 33 games

Lots of talk in the offseason about Jamie Langenbrunner being the popular Devils player to be moved. Many Devils fans have stated he has no business being considered a legitimate top six winger on this team and had preseason lines drawn up with him being utilized strictly on the checking line with Madden and Pandolfo. Anyone changing their mind on how they felt earlier about Langenbrunner's importance to the team? He still takes his share of untimely bad penalties same as in seasons past, but by and large he's been playing a far more consistent role offensively then he could usually be counted on this time around.

JL's numbers through 12/21/06:
-More goals scored then Elias, Gionta, Gomez, and Parise. Leading the team in goals.
-Tied for first in Devils game winning goals.
-Better plus/minus then Brylin, Gionta, Elias, Rupp, White, Rafalski, and Martin.
-2nd best in total points with 27.
-2nd best in power play goals.
-2nd best in shots on goal.
-2nd best in shot percentage.
-2nd best in forwards average time on ice.
-Tied for 3rd best in faceoff percentage.
-5th best in power play points.

Lately he's been a key forward in regularly keeping his team in games when other forwards have been letting Brodeur and Clemmensen down.

Yeah, Langs has been terrific so far this year.

What a great signing by Lou! He has the attitude of a winner.
http://imagesource.allposters.com/images/pic/PHO/AAFR009~Jamie-Langenbrunner-NJ-03-St-Cup-Photofile-Posters.jpg

Who said he isn't a top 6 winger? He looks more like a 1st line RW than anything... atleast moreso than Gionta has. He has finally learned to control his shot and he isn't letting missed opportunities get to his head... instead of throwing a fit after a missed scoring chance, he just acts normal. I'm glad we have him for 4 more years at under 3 mil per.

Lots of regulars had Bergfors pencilled in for 2nd line RW duty before the season started behind Gionta. If memory serves, a few even had Clarkson earning a full time roster spot this season.

The Devils definately got the better end of the deal that sent Arnott to Dallas.

Langs is awesome, no doubt about it. I think his failure as a "top 6" would be if he were asked to be the main guy or ignite a weak forward group - he isn't that type of player. But he can play on a first line with the right center, like Modano. And on the Devils he fits in as top 6 perfectly - He doesn't have to be the go-to guy but still plays big minutes the right way. All-around great player.

He's really come to life in December.

11 pts in 10 games.
6 of his 10 power play points scored.
3 of his 4 game winners scored in the last 3 weeks.

On top of this, Friday has been his best day for points, power play goals, and plus/minus.

Still available in a lot of Yahoo! fantasy leagues as he's climbed the charts pretty quickly.

Consistency has always been his problem throughout his career. It's great to see him playing so well for so long. Come playoff time this guy is money so that's an even bigger plus. Keep it up Langs!

Who said he isn't a top 6 winger? He looks more like a 1st line RW than anything... atleast moreso than Gionta has. He has finally learned to control his shot and he isn't letting missed opportunities get to his head... instead of throwing a fit after a missed scoring chance, he just acts normal. I'm glad we have him for 4 more years at under 3 mil per.

One thing that I found to complain about Gionta is his shooting. He can make some bad decisions when shooting. I remember the Devils had a 3-on-1 and Gionta shot the puck over the net. He should of shot the puck low and hard to try and create rebounds, especially on a 3-on-1. Other times he doesn't shoot and makes a bad pass.

You gotta give some of his credit to his line mates, Parise and Zajac have really given him some motivation.

One thing that I found to complain about Gionta is his shooting. He can make some bad decisions when shooting. I remember the Devils had a 3-on-1 and Gionta shot the puck over the net. He should of shot the puck low and hard to try and create rebounds, especially on a 3-on-1. Other times he doesn't shoot and makes a bad pass.

Or the other time when it was a 3 on 2 (I think) and he didn't shoot the puck, instead giving away the puck which led directly to a goal at the other end. He has been playing pretty poorly this season, especially considering that he had 7 goals in the first few weeks of the season.

I think Langenbrunner will get at least 35-40 goals this season.

I refuse to apologize for comments made during the offseason about who should be moved, etc. Hindsight is 20-20 and for most of the summer most of us were working under the assumption that Mogilny AND Malakhov would still make up a large part of our cap picture. It just seemed unreasonable to assume that they would be off the cap from the start.

With that in mind, last summer would you have kept Langs over Gionta? Him over Madden? Him over Rafalski? I never thought he would be moved because you just don't trade a guy you signed off the UFA market. That just doesn't make sense.

Seriously, give me a break. He's been great so far this year but you must remember he's always been a streaky player. If he can keep up this pace over the whole season and playoffs, then we'll have a big steal. But I'm not counting any chickens before they hatch.

I refuse to apologize for comments made during the offseason about who should be moved, etc. Hindsight is 20-20 and for most of the summer most of us were working under the assumption that Mogilny AND Malakhov would still make up a large part of our cap picture. It just seemed unreasonable to assume that they would be off the cap from the start.

With that in mind, last summer would you have kept Langs over Gionta? Him over Madden? Him over Rafalski? I never thought he would be moved because you just don't trade a guy you signed off the UFA market. That just doesn't make sense.

Seriously, give me a break. He's been great so far this year but you must remember he's always been a streaky player. If he can keep up this pace over the whole season and playoffs, then we'll have a big steal. But I'm not counting any chickens before they hatch.

Not to mention the fact that the contract still has 4 years to go. Still not out of the woods yet, boys.

dunno why

but I always think of lang as a playoff performer

dunno why

but I always think of lang as a playoff performer

Perhaps because of his consistantly clutch play in the playoffs.

Seriously though, Langer has shortened his backswing on his shot and as a result is getting it off sooner and hitting the top shelf instead of the high glass. He has never looked better, and it is not even close. Forget "streaky", he is going to obliterate his single season career marks this season. And that contract is going to make Lou look like more of a genius than ever.