What The !@?* Is Lou Doing!?!?!?!

As stated in The Star Ledger today:

Left winger Tuomas Pihlman will return to Europe for the upcoming season, but the Devils will retain his rights (Must be for a possible trade - I hope!)

Minor-league defensemen Dan McGillis and Scott Lachance will not be re-signed, (Understandable)

and neither will center Chris Minard, Lowell's (AHL) leading scorer last season. (Are you kidding me!?! He is one of the best players we had on that entire team & should be placed ahead of Pelley & Bergfors)

But this is the best...

Lamoriello is in Minnesota in an effort to sign restricted free agents Paul Martin and Zach Parise. (You bet your sweet ass he better get them signed) He also will likely talk with unrestricted winger Erik Rasmussen. (Why Oh God why would he want to do that!?!?! We have Clarkson who is w-a-y more capable then Rass ever was or will be)

Notes: Lamoriello hasn't made up his mind about re-signing Jim Dowd, who is hopeful of coming back. (Come one already, we need to get younger & bigger, not old & slow!)

If he does these signings, we're going to be in a huge pile of crap this season. It's almost the same exact team that failed to get past the 2nd round twice already!!!

I think Lou is the best GM out there today, but to me...this seems senile!!!

I don't know, but things are looking good to me.

Having Rass & Dowd back are not real good in my opinion!

I totally agree. I love Jersey Jim, but unless its a two-way contract forget him already. As far as Rasmussen, I wish Lou would just drop him already. He has been useless his entire time as a devil. Rupp and Cam hit better than him and even Cam can score a goal every once in a while.

Dowd is another player that will playin any situation to help the team. I wouldn't mind if we resigned him. He knows he will not suit up for every game anyhow and think he understands that. I have to agree that I don't think Rass' Service is needed anymore. We have a bunch of young guys ready to step up, and need a place for them to show what they can do.

That said the Fourth line will have to play more than the 2:12 min/gm they did last season.

Jim Dowd is like the perfect cheap backup man. He can fill in when our team gets injured and he's real cheap. He also help win a cup for us back in 1995 if you guys haven't forgotten. He scored the game winning goal in game 2 against the Red wings.

I for one would love to see Dowd back. If only as a mascot he's still be worth it.

Rass on the other hand, is perfectly worthless. Lets dump him.

Jim Dowd is like the perfect cheap backup man. He can fill in when our team gets injured and he's real cheap. He also help win a cup for us back in 1995 if you guys haven't forgotten. He scored the game winning goal in game 2 against the Red wings.

I for one would love to see Dowd back. If only as a mascot he's still be worth it.

Rass on the other hand, is perfectly worthless. Lets dump him.

Seriously, people need to get over the sentimental value of a Jim Dowd. If he wants to stay, let it be as a mentor/coach.

Not just the sentimental value. Like I said, he's a great backup person. Somebody you can rely on for 1 or 2 games filling in for an injured player.

Dowd is better when he plays every day. I think it's time to move on from Rasmussen and Dowd.

Rasmussen looked good on the line with Madden and Pandolfo, but I'd prefer to give Clarkson a spot there.

I think the Rasmussen and Dowd things are, at this stage, just being politic. He's not going to trash them in the paper nor coldly disconnect them.

The Pihlman thing.. I don't think he's going to get another look at the NHL level.

Minard is a head-scratcher.. the only thing I can think of - (1) is he too small; (2) is this a get-back at scott gomez thing (didn't we sign him b/c gomez played with him in AK?)

Guys:

1. Rasmussen isn't useless. He's probably not the best option, but does anyone else remember those couple games where we put him with Madden and Pandolfo in place of Brylin and the checking unit was suddenly... effective? Depending on what kind of contract he wants, I wouldn't be 100% opposed to bringing him back, but we better use him properly this time around if we do.

2. Jim Dowd will probably retire. That said, unlike Rasmussen who I'd be willing to take back, I actively want Dowd back with us. Not as a fourth line center, but as a backup forward.

Guys, if you're concerned because Lou might sign fourth-liners to one year, league-minimum contracts, then you worry too much. There's always Lowell.

I wouldn´t mind seeing Dowd to fill in for in case of injuries or fatique. Why not sign him for league minimum and assign him to Lowell to help out younsters´ development there. It would certainly be valuable to have a guy who´s been around to point the direction.

I think Pihlman´s rights were held "just in case". If he performs well in Finland, I guess he could get an invitation to the camp. But he has to perform first before any of this is happening...

I´m only worried about us getting a decent puck mover to the blueline. Otherwise Lou has performed well this offseason. Imho.

Guys:

1. Rasmussen isn't useless. He's probably not the best option, but does anyone else remember those couple games where we put him with Madden and Pandolfo in place of Brylin and the checking unit was suddenly... effective? Depending on what kind of contract he wants, I wouldn't be 100% opposed to bringing him back, but we better use him properly this time around if we do.

2. Jim Dowd will probably retire. That said, unlike Rasmussen who I'd be willing to take back, I actively want Dowd back with us. Not as a fourth line center, but as a backup forward.

Guys, if you're concerned because Lou might sign fourth-liners to one year, league-minimum contracts, then you worry too much. There's always Lowell.

The only thing that concerns me is having younger players not getting the chance to play at the NHL level because Lou feels some sort of loyality to senior guys like Rass & Dowd. I do remember those handful of moments they gave us last year. But that was last year, this is now.

To let go of Gomez, Raffy & Luko means (to me) the start of a new beginning. Therefore, let's keep focused on that thought & let's see what some of our propsects show us in camp.

Guys:

1. Rasmussen isn't useless. He's probably not the best option, but does anyone else remember those couple games where we put him with Madden and Pandolfo in place of Brylin and the checking unit was suddenly... effective? Depending on what kind of contract he wants, I wouldn't be 100% opposed to bringing him back, but we better use him properly this time around if we do.

2. Jim Dowd will probably retire. That said, unlike Rasmussen who I'd be willing to take back, I actively want Dowd back with us. Not as a fourth line center, but as a backup forward.

Guys, if you're concerned because Lou might sign fourth-liners to one year, league-minimum contracts, then you worry too much. There's always Lowell.


You're right we need Rass to wash the floors, clean the windows, and wash the cars but for hockey he's a useless bum. Brings nothing to the table that a minor leaguer can't do.

You're right we can't have enough 4th line pieces of crap lying around taking up space. This was the missing piece to getting passed Ottawa. Lets just collect all the crap everyone else is throwing out.

You're right we need Rass to wash the floors, clean the windows, and wash the cars but for hockey he's a useless bum. Brings nothing to the table that a minor leaguer can't do.

"Uh... now Biff, I want make sure that we get two coats of wax this time. Not just one!"

Seriously, people need to get over the sentimental value of a Jim Dowd. If he wants to stay, let it be as a mentor/coach.

+1

I am also befuddled by the decisions.
Why let Minard go? He can actually score goals.
Let Rasuseless go already!
Jersey Jim should be an assistant coach in Lowell or Trenton, not a Devil any longer.
Pihlman is not that good, no loss.
October 27 is a bad day for the home opener, too many big things going on in NJ on that date, Rutgers vs WVU football and the huge horse racing shin dig down in Monmouth Park.

Please no jim dowd. his time has passed, he is too old, slow, and lacked the physical presence the team needed on that line. The Devils have Pelley and Clarkson who showed that they are ready for the NHL. Pelley is a good for the fourth line, pk, and can step in when when madden is hurt. He was awsome in that game against the lightning when he said in the pregame that Lecavalier would not score his 50th goal when he was on the ice.

Rass should be brought back..no question. He gives 100% every night and can fill in on almost any line as he did last year with all the injuries. He throws the body and can chip in the "very" occassional goal..He should be a part of this team..

To let go of Gomez, Raffy & Luko means (to me) the start of a new beginning. Therefore, let's keep focused on that thought & let's see what some of our propsects show us in camp.

I don't think it's a new beginning in the sense of completely rebuilding the team. I do think it's an opportunity to get bigger and faster and tougher and bring a couple of young guys in. That, however, doesn't mean that we want the team to be made up of mostly youngsters. Years ago Lou stated his philosophy in building the team: 1/3 veterans, 1/3 journeymen, 1/3 youngsters. That way you always have consistency while still rejuvinating the team on a regular basis.

I'm all for letting Rassmussen go. I think it'd be worth signing Dowd for a 1-year league-minimum contract. I don't want the 4th line to be all 1st, 2nd and 3rd year players. Dowd has some value in a role as a veteran and a team-guy.

All in all, I never EVER presume to know as much about building a hockey team or maintaining the Devils as does Lou. Time and time again he has made moves that baffled me at the time and not made moves that I thought were necessary, and yet he has built a consistent winner (in that every season gives them the opportunity to win the Cup).

Rass should be brought back..no question. He gives 100% every night and can fill in on almost any line as he did last year with all the injuries. He throws the body and can chip in the "very" occassional goal..He should be a part of this team..

And I think we could start to call Rasmussen´s occasional goals as collector´s items...

I am also befuddled by the decisions.
Why let Minard go? He can actually score goals.
Let Rasuseless go already!
Jersey Jim should be an assistant coach in Lowell or Trenton, not a Devil any longer.
Pihlman is not that good, no loss.
October 27 is a bad day for the home opener, too many big things going on in NJ on that date, Rutgers vs WVU football and the huge horse racing shin dig down in Monmouth Park.

Oct 27th is fine..watch the other ***** on tv in one of the new lounges at the Prudential center..

Oct 27th is fine..watch the other ***** on tv in one of the new lounges at the Prudential center..

I will be there no question, but we won't be the main story on the Ledger and other NJ sports pages. We would have made a bigger splash if the game was mid-week.
However, I can't wait for the 27th!
NO RASMUSSEN/DOWD LOU!

Wasn't Dowd was nasty in the playoffs?

I'm biased, he and I graduated from the same high school.

Wasn't Dowd was nasty in the playoffs?

I'm biased, he and I graduated from the same high school.

He made some good attempts at the goal for the few seconds he was out on the ice. I thought he played great.

Dowd's heart and hustle overpower his on-ice skills. Keeping him on the roster for cheap is not the worst thing we can do.

Keeping our best forechecker (Rasmussen) isn't the worst thing we could do.

Pihlman has 0 trade value and wouldn't make the roster.

Minard is like 25 already.

Keeping our best forechecker (Rasmussen) isn't the worst thing we could do.

Pihlman has 0 trade value and wouldn't make the roster.

Minard is like 25 already.

That old fart.:sarcasm:
I agree, keeping Rasmussen wouldn't be too bad, if he's cheap and plays the right role -on the checking line.

Having Rass & Dowd back are not real good in my opinion!

dowd ws great on the pk

I want Asham instead of Rassmussen.

Dowd is a hell of a character guy. Does anyone notice that he skates sort of like a ballerina though? Seriously, if we ever get to see him skate again, watch how he crosses over when turning...it's like he's almost on his tippy toes.

With that...no Dowd Lou!

That old fart.:sarcasm:


His age is important. If he's 25 years old (26 in November) and still in the AHL, it doesn't bode well for his future.

I want Asham instead of Rassmussen.

I do too, but he'll probably command over $1M, which might be a bit steep for another guy who'll play on the fourth line.

His age is important. If he's 25 years old (26 in November) and still in the AHL, it doesn't bode well for his future.

Agreed, but you have to wonder why he's never been given a shot in the NHL before? He plays very well in the AHL.

I agree that not resigning a promising center (considering our lack of depth at that position) seems odd, but resigning Ras isn't too bad, as long as we don't put him in situations where we expect those stone hands of his to produce offense.

I like Dowd alot, but he's a heck of alot better in NHL 07 than he is in real life.. I was sure he would have retired after playing 1 last year for the Devils.

Isn't Minard like 27 anyway? So it wasn't like he was a prospect anyway.

His D.O.B. is listed as 11/18/81...so he'll be 26 on his next birthday.

Ahren Nittel, Pierre Dagenais and Aleksander Suglobov all had pretty good scoring years at the "A" for the Devils too. A lot of guys score at that level and do nothing at the NHL level...or for whatever the reason, don't even get the chance. With all of the scouting that's out there looking for scoring talent, if someone really thought Minard had a chance to make an impact in the NHL, he'd get the opportunity to show it. Keep in mind he didn't even get to the AHL until last season...if he actually manages to do anything at all in the NHL, it will be a "Rudy" type story. There's a reason why those stories are so celebrated...because they're so rare.

Rupp and Cam hit better than him and even Cam can score a goal every once in a while.are you sure about that?! one career nhl goal and two career ahl goals suggest otherwise.

are you sure about that?! one career nhl goal and two career ahl goals suggest otherwise.

Agreed. I'm a big Cam fan. but a goalscorer he is not. His lone goal was deflection that would have otherwise been stopped.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlfAfSo97DY

Lou seems in love with Rass and Rupp. Both these guys should have been let go and Asham brought in. In addition, I doubt you will see Jersey Jim back, unless it's in Lowell.

He also will likely talk with unrestricted winger Erik Rasmussen.

Lamoriello hasn't made up his mind about re-signing Jim Dowd, who is hopeful of coming back.

You're freaking out even though Lou hasn't talked to, much less signed, either of these minimum salary forthliners?

Signing either of these guys will have no effect on Clarkson, who would have made the big club last season if they had the cap space for his 800k cap hit.

With Rupp, Janssen and Viuhkola all vying for a spot on the forth line, the odds of Lou signing both Rass and Dowd are slim. Not that these decisions will exactly make or break the Devils playoff aspirations.

Rass should be brought back..no question. He gives 100% every night and can fill in on almost any line as he did last year with all the injuries. He throws the body and can chip in the "very" occassional goal..He should be a part of this team..

He was used to fill in on every line.... that doesn't mean he was capable of it. Whenever he was put on a scoring line, he brought the whole line down.

He did look good with Madden and Pando for a few games in the playoffs, though.

I'm not entirely against re-signing him, but I would prefer to give his spot to a rookie who actually has potential to develop into more than a borderline player.

Agreed. I'm a big Cam fan. but a goalscorer he is not. His lone goal was deflection that would have otherwise been stopped.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlfAfSo97DY

Off-topic, but Doc and Chico's reactions to that are so priceless.

"WOOOOOOOOOO, alright Cam!"

i did like rassy on the line with madden and pando. i wouldnt really dont see the need to resign him, but if they did resign him however, i would try to make another scoring line for more balance. how about this if rassy is resigned:

elias-zubrus-gionta
parise-zajac-clarkson
brylin-viuhkola/rupp-langenbrunner
pandolfo-madden-rasmussen

especially if viuhkola turns out to be good, i think he could work well with sarge and langs to form another good scoring line and the madden line could be considered the "fourth line" but then the team could just roll all 4 lines.

No more Rasmussen...I'm sick of seeing him put in the top six whenever someone gets injured. A quadriplegic could produce more than he does with players like Elias and Gionta.

Lou has sentimental favorites that he cant seem to look past, i think Lou lets his feelings get involved way too often. Dowd and Rassmusen are no longer needed...Lou move on.

Dowd is a good PK and every goal he scored last year was clutch, I'd keep him around. Rass if hes in the right role can do very well, but when hes curtain jerking on the 1st line he looks out of place.

Guys who are supposedly good penalty killers are overrated. Throw any player out there with long reach, good positionally, quickness and knows how to block shots. How many short handed goals did we score last year? Yeah, throw in a little offensive ability to my list of qualities. With that said, if lou signs jim dowd and ras we are back to where we were last year. It's time to move on. Just like we have moved on from Gomez and Rafalski. Bring in some new blood. I don't want Dowd as a backup forward. I don't want him taking away playing time from a young player who needs NHL experience.

Friends don't let friends have Rasmussen (again). It's time to let this train leave the station. Face it, he was only here because he signed for the minimum. There are far better options (Asham, Gelinas, etc.) that won't cost much more than he would. I do not want him around at all. Not even in Lowell. Good riddance.

If Dowd wants to mentor people in Lowell that is OK with me, but it is time to move on there as well.

rassmussen is an excellent 4th line energy guy who knows how to hit. He also can play on the checking line.

dowd should be sent to lowell to work with development, other than that his time has passed.

You're right we need Rass to wash the floors, clean the windows, and wash the cars but for hockey he's a useless bum. Brings nothing to the table that a minor leaguer can't do.

You're right we can't have enough 4th line pieces of crap lying around taking up space. This was the missing piece to getting passed Ottawa. Lets just collect all the crap everyone else is throwing out.


Amen, Omen!

if the devils want to win the cup again it will come from having a strong 4th line without ras or dowd

No more Rasmussen...I'm sick of seeing him put in the top six whenever someone gets injured. A quadriplegic could produce more than he does with players like Elias and Gionta.


That's hilarious but so true!!! Rass is totally inept in the offensive zone.

No more Rasmussen...I'm sick of seeing him put in the top six whenever someone gets injured. A quadriplegic could produce more than he does with players like Elias and Gionta.

:D:D

Lets not go after Asham, he could actually help the team out.