Time for Madden to go

Madden is not worth the money he makes. Need to bring in younger player, maybe Pelley to take over and use Madden as trade bait to rid that salary. I'm sure there will be a few interested teams. Madden has gone downhill the past few seasons, in my opinion and he's horrible on faceoffs consistantly losing draws in the defensive zone. Your take?

Madden is not worth the money he makes. Need to bring in younger player, maybe Pelley to take over and use Madden as trade bait to rid that salary. I'm sure there will be a few interested teams. Madden has gone downhill the past few seasons, in my opinion and he's horrible on faceoffs consistantly losing draws in the defensive zone. Your take?


I wouldn't mind a line of Pando-Pelley-SIM. But with Gomez probably leaving, I don't see Lou moving Maddog.

I dont' think Johnny boy ever recovered from his surgery in the off season. I think he needed to sit for more time. He just never looked comfortable.

Madden is not worth the money he makes. Need to bring in younger player, maybe Pelley to take over and use Madden as trade bait to rid that salary. I'm sure there will be a few interested teams. Madden has gone downhill the past few seasons, in my opinion and he's horrible on faceoffs consistantly losing draws in the defensive zone. Your take?
I don't think a 49.8 face off percentage is all that bad, since half the league is below him.

Pelley isn't good enough to be a shutdown defensmen yet, I don't know if he ever will be. The shutdown line needs a physical presence on its line though, Madden Pandolfo and Brylin certainly aren't physical.

Pelley isn't good enough to be a shutdown defensmen yet, I don't know if he ever will be. The shutdown line needs a physical presence on its line though, Madden Pandolfo and Brylin certainly aren't physical.

Agreed.

The people who support replacing Madden with Pelley this season are just going on the hyp. Anyone who watched Pelley in his call-up should know that he isn't close to Madden.

Clarkson should be added to the line.

Agreed.

The people who support replacing Madden with Pelley this season are just going on the hyp. Anyone who watched Pelley in his call-up should know that he isn't close to Madden.

Clarkson should be added to the line.
I agree 100%. That gives them a great physical presence and maybe he'll help contribute a few more goals.

I think the Devils have gotten all they are going to get out of Madden. It was probably more than they ever should have got, since the guy isn't very talented. I don't think Rod Pelley is necessarily a replacement but with the Devils cap problems Madden contract is a disaster.

Madden is not worth the money he makes. Need to bring in younger player, maybe Pelley to take over and use Madden as trade bait to rid that salary. I'm sure there will be a few interested teams. Madden has gone downhill the past few seasons, in my opinion and he's horrible on faceoffs consistantly losing draws in the defensive zone. Your take?

90% of the league isn't worth the money they make. Madden is making his salary not only based on the market value, but also his years of quiet role-playing on the team without recognition at below market values... you don't build loyalty in a system like Lou has without rewarding players after years of them buying into the system and taking unique deals to help the team (see Brodeur).

Someone get this guy a cup of kool-aid STAT!

90% of the league isn't worth the money they make. Madden is making his salary not only based on the market value, but also his years of quiet role-playing on the team without recognition at below market values... you don't build loyalty in a system like Lou has without rewarding players after years of them buying into the system and taking unique deals to help the team (see Brodeur).

Someone get this guy a cup of kool-aid STAT!

Agreed.

Also, fully healed groin injury = Madden not going anywhere. N.J. Devil to the core.

totally agree..lets bring up rod and ditch madden..also, lets bring up parise and get rid of marty:sarcasm:

Pelley isn't good enough to be a shutdown defensmen yet, I don't know if he ever will be. The shutdown line needs a physical presence on its line though, Madden Pandolfo and Brylin certainly aren't physical.

I'm not against bringing Pelley up for te checking line, but I agree that he isn't good enough to be a shut-down center in the NHL. If he comes close to being as good as Madden, it won't be any time soon. Pelley, Clarkson, or even Langenbrunner would be a better right winger for that line than Brylin is, though.

totally agree..lets bring up rod and ditch madden..also, lets bring up parise and get rid of marty:sarcasm:

Can we have Davis replace Elias too?

I don't know how you guys can count on a guy like Pelley replacing Madden. Pelley is basically an unknown. He played 5 minutes or less a game while he played for the Devils this year. He was impressive on faceoffs but it was tough to get a read on him. Play him on the 4th line full time next year to see if he can cut it. If he can, Madden will be gone at the end of next year.

Personally, I'd like to see Pandolfo move down to the 4th line as well. He's a great defensive forward, but hes offensively retarded, and you need to be a 2 way player in today's NHL. He's just a one way player. He can serve as a great guy on the PK and a late game shut down man.

Put Clarkson on the Second line, he'll add much needed size to that line. Move Langs to the 3rd where he has worked well with Madden in the past. He's a great 2way player.

Elias-Gomez/FA-Gio
Parise-Zajac-Clarkson
FA-Madden-Langs
Pando-Pelley-Brylin

Heck lets get lindros to replace gomez...

I'm still pretty sure madden is still injured. Once he recovers he's gonna be the man again. I have my faith in him. Some loyal fans you are.

Heck lets get lindros to replace gomez...

I'm still pretty sure madden is still injured. Once he recovers he's gonna be the man again. I have my faith in him. Some loyal fans you are.

Exactly. After the groin injury, he hasn't been the same, but no one thinks he might not have let it fully heal- they think it's his time to go.

He is not worth the money he makes, but as of now we still need him.

I agree it is time for Madden to go, but I'm afraid he probably has no trade value right now, as his offensive skills have diminished, he doesn't skate as fast as he used to, he was unable to stop tampa's or ottawa's top lines in this year's playoffs, and his salary is too high.

I don't think Madden needs to go. Hell, I'd like for him to be captain. But what that line needs is someone who can score.

There's a lot of talk against line-matching lately (and I've been turning against it pretty solidly myself), but look at the Duck success this year. They matched the Pahlsson line against the Heatly-Spezza-Alfredsson line and were pretty darn effective. Why? Because, not only could they shut down the opposing forward line, but they could chip a few in themselves, making it much more worthwhile to have them on the ice for a lot of minutes. If the Madden line could put the puck in the net with any of the regularity they used to have (with, say, Langenbrunner on the wing), they'd be feared and we wouldn't be complaining about them.

I think his best years are well over. He can't skate or score anymore and his line that is supposed to shutdown the other teams big guys got absolutely owned in the playoffs...move him ASAP
That said I love mad dog, he is the atypical Devil...but his contract is a little big for the lack of production

I don't think Madden needs to go. Hell, I'd like for him to be captain. But what that line needs is someone who can score.

There's a lot of talk against line-matching lately (and I've been turning against it pretty solidly myself), but look at the Duck success this year. They matched the Pahlsson line against the Heatly-Spezza-Alfredsson line and were pretty darn effective. Why? Because, not only could they shut down the opposing forward line, but they could chip a few in themselves, making it much more worthwhile to have them on the ice for a lot of minutes. If the Madden line could put the puck in the net with any of the regularity they used to have (with, say, Langenbrunner on the wing), they'd be feared and we wouldn't be complaining about them.

That is the whole point. Madden can't score! Now we need to rely on someone like Langenbrunner joining the line to provide offense? Take some responsibility MadDOG! Too many times i've seen Madden on the PK with a clear path to net, just to dump it in and change. Dude, I know you are trying to play it safe and not get out of position, but come on, show some passion and desire to score when the opportunity presents itself!

I don't think Madden needs to go. Hell, I'd like for him to be captain. But what that line needs is someone who can score.

Which is why Clarkson or Langenbrunner would be a good right winger for Madden and Pandolfo. They both hit harder than Brylin, and can score.

I don't think a 49.8 face off percentage is all that bad, since half the league is below him.

It's pretty bad for a checking center. Winning faceoffs is one of the most important jobs of the checking line center. Sad thing is that Madden is the best one on the team at faceoffs.

I'm ambivalent about keeping Madden. I don't think any of us know how much his injuries affected him this year and how well he can come back from them next year. If he comes back strong and with something to prove next year, great. However, another year like last one and he'll lose any value that he has.

He'd be my choice for a salary dump if the team was to do one, but I don't see Lou getting rid of him.

At the start of the season everybody wanted Rafalski and Madden to stay with the club even if we would have lost Gomez via Free Agency... Nobody wanted to trade Madden... Before the puck hit the ice, he was one of the best penalty killers and shutdown centers in the league and now, one "bad" season, one onproductive play-off run from him, and a lot of you guys have turned against him.

I think Lou has to put a high scoring, grinding rw on that line with Madden and Pandolfo. A think Guerin would be a fantastic fit... If Lou wants to solve the problem within doors, he has to put Clarkson there.

I don't think a 49.8 face off percentage is all that bad, since half the league is below him.

It's not good for a guy who needs to win faceoffs, though. Just curious, what was Gomez's last season?

Exactly. After the groin injury, he hasn't been the same, but no one thinks he might not have let it fully heal- they think it's his time to go.

He's not a kid. Hope for the best. Expect it and you might be disappointed.

It's not good for a guy who needs to win faceoffs, though. Just curious, what was Gomez's last season?52.2 in the regular season and 52.8 (tied with Madden) in the playoffs.