Elias-Parise-Zubrus

I know most people don't want to break up Zajac and Parise, but IMO a line of Elias-Parise-Zubrus has as much potential as any line NJ has ever had. They have all the ingrediants of the old A-line with a little more grit in Parise. Think about it, Elias and Parise are the two most talented offensive forwards. Lots of potential there if they gain any chemistry, plus Zubrus will be clearing room for the two of them, not to mention he's supposively much more comfortable on RW. Then we can slide Gionta to his offwing on the 2nd line. Zajac isn't such a bad playmaker himself, and Gionta has a better chance putting up good numbers with Zajac as his C than Zubrus IMO. I can see points for these lines being something like:

Elias-40g50a=90
Parise-40g40a=80
Zubrus-25g35a=60
Gionta-40g30a=70
Zajac-20g-35a=55
Langenbrunner-25g30a=55

I think all of our players have potential to hit those numbers, if they are anywhere near close then the offense for next season is set.

Zajac had better step up his playmaking skills if Gionta is to hit 40 ever again.

you just want that line for the nickname possibilities. EZ-Pass anyone?

on a serious note, if you did that line, is Parise able to handle the role of #1 center, and would Gionta or Langenbrunner be able to play on the off-wing? Parise was drafted as a center, but has developed quite nicely as a LW. He has taken faceoffs last year as on the 2nd PP unit, but is he reliable enough to go against the opponents best faceoff men?

Biggest problem I see is Gio has never played LW in his life.

I think that putting Parise as our #1 center would kill us on the faceoff departement. He's too small and would get manhandle out there.

Other then that, I like the idea.

I'd rather keep the Parise-Zajac-Langs line together. I'd start with Zubrus centering Gio and Elias.

3 guys who can play center but are much better at the wing

3 guys who can play center but are much better at the wing

It's funny because Zach has only played two years at wing. The rest of his hockey life he has played center. So, I'm not sure we know exactly what he can do as a center at this level. He did play an entire season at center with Albany, and played quite well. :dunno:

3 left landed and 3 right handed on different lines won't work.

I never did understand the fascination with Parise's "small stature."

Joe Sakic - 5'11", 195 lbs
Zach Parise - 5'11", 185 lbs

People never talk about Joe getting knocked off the puck... is 10 pounds really that big of a difference?

That one inch from 5'11 and 6'0 really determines if you're short and soft to a power forward haha.

I know everyone wants to keep trying to figure out the top 2 lines, but in reality, that will work itself out. They will mix and match and see who has chemistry together and so on.

The real key to next season is the 3rd line. For the Devils to contend for the stanley cup, they need a 3rd line that can not only check, but also keep pressure and eat up clock in the offensive zone, as we saw with anaheim's pahlson-moen-nieds line. We all assume the Madden-Pando combination is set in stone. So does simply changing the RW from Brylin to Clarkson or Langenbrunner really do anything? Who knows? That is the line that needs the most work.

I never did understand the fascination with Parise's "small stature."

Joe Sakic - 5'11", 195 lbs
Zach Parise - 5'11", 185 lbs

People never talk about Joe getting knocked off the puck... is 10 pounds really that big of a difference?

Crosby is around that size too and is one of the hardest forwards in the entire league to knock off the puck. I think a lot just has to do with lower body strength and stability, which at this point I think Super Joe has more of than Parise.

Crosby is around that size too and is one of the hardest forwards in the entire league to knock off the puck. I think a lot just has to do with lower body strength and stability, which at this point I think Super Joe has more of than Parise.

I think Parise has also proven this year that he has become stronger on the puck, especially along the boards.