Inspired by Tao Jones' point made in the last game day thread

As Tao Jones recently wondered aloud, if you are Lou Lamoriello and Pat Burns, are you confident heading towards and into the postseason with Paul Martin and David Hale as regulars? Mark Everson seems to think no with his piece in the NY Post today and feels this team will go and get another veteran on D before the trade deadline ends realizing full well the two rookies still need some seasoning. I think Tao's point warrants a thread of its own on this topic.

I'd like to see Ray Giroux get a callup while Paul Martin and David Hale get some ice time in Albany. Pair him up with Albelin or Brown and see how he responds with another stint with the Devils. He seems to be providing decent offense for the Rats right now. Why not reward him like the team is doing with Suglobov?

Mark Everson seems to think no with his piece in the NY Post today and feels this team will go and get another veteran on D before the trade deadline ends realizing full well the two rookies still need some seasoning.

I'd like to see Ray Giroux get a callup while Paul Martin and David Hale get some ice time in Albany. Pair him up with Albelin or Brown and see how he responds with another stint with the Devils. He seems to be providing decent offense for the Rats right now. Why not reward him like the team is doing with Suglobov?

Anything Everson believes to be true is more often than not false.

I kinda like the idea that Hale and Martin have never played in the minors. They've never had to 'lower their game' because they were NHL-ready right out of college. I'd send Albelin to minors sooner than either of those two.

While I'd like to see Giroux get another shot, I'd be happy to never see Brown on the big boys' team ever again. Giroux's reward will be to be the first injury replacement on defense. The Devils have been very healthy on the blueline this season, but it can't hold forever.

Anything Everson believes to be true is more often than not false.

I kinda like the idea that Hale and Martin have never played in the minors. They've never had to 'lower their game' because they were NHL-ready right out of college. I'd send Albelin to minors sooner than either of those two.

While I'd like to see Giroux get another shot, I'd be happy to never see Brown on the big boys' team ever again. Giroux's reward will be to be the first injury replacement on defense. The Devils have been very healthy on the blueline this season, but it can't hold forever.

Regardless of what Everson thinks, I believe Lou will go for another #5-8 vet on the blueline before the deadline a la Smehlik, O'Donnell, Malakhov, Housley, Chambers, etc. Replacing Daneyko, Tverdovsky and Smehlik with some comination of Hale, Martin, Giroux, and Brown will simply not cut it come playoffs. Hale and Martin are still finding their way so far in the regular season(I think Hale is struggling at his role more than Martin). Their partners are covering up for them. Unless they both have an excellent second half, they will be targeted by the opposition in the post-season. Asking them to raise their level of play for the playoffs is quite different in the NHL than it is in the NCAA and the WJCs. Although Albelin would probably retire before playing for another team that might claim him off the waiver wire, I don't think it is worth the risk to expose him. A short stint(just 1-2 weeks) in Albany could help Hale and Martin by taking some pressure off of them long enough to build some confidence(and some humbleness to respect how good they have it, even Pitkanen has been scratched several games in a row recently), while at the same time knowing they are competing for a spot with Giroux. A fresh second start in the NHL mid-season could do them a world of good. Waiting for an injury to bring up Giroux may be too late to get him used to playing at NHL speed come playoff time. Brown may be better off left in Albany this season. Give him another shot to make the team in camp next year. I would like to see both Hale and Martin come playoffs if they earn it, but one at a time as #6-8 rather than #5-7. I would like to see Stevens-Rafalski and Nieds-White for the playoffs with Albelin/vet acquisition-Hale/Martin/Giroux.

Some possible and improbable Group III rentals in alphabetical order by teams not currently in the playoffs(not including NYR or teams that could slip out Bos, Cal, Nash, etc.):

Defense:

Carney-Ana(Ducks asking price would be high, if they let him go at all, plus their usual strong second half might get them in)
Patrick-Buf(probably be his last year, would pair well with a youngster, but may be too soft and old for the post-season)
Zhitnik-Buf(probably outbid by another contender)
Boughner-Car(if he can stay out of the PB)
Hill-Car(may not be content with #5-8 IT)
Wesley-Car(may be his last year, could be had for a second or third ala Tor, would also pair well with a rookie)
Poapst-Chi(stay-at-home to alternate with Hale)
Klemm-Dal(Dallas will be on the bubble if not in the playoffs come deadline)
Matvichuk-(see Klemm and Carney)
Sweeney-Dal(see Klemm and on the small side)
Bombardir-Min(Lemaire favorite)
Cullimore-TB(see Dallas)
Laukkanen-unsigned(could be a cheap utility reserve)

Undesirables- T.Simpson, Odelein, Berehowsky, Bergevin
Undesirable unsigneds- Housley, Svoboda, Lumme, Pilon, Gill

Not much available among the Group IIIs and unsigneds. Lou might have to get more than a rental and go for a cheap contract like a Vanaanen, i.e.

Some Group III Forwards:

Centers for faceoffs:

Francis-Car
Oates-Edm(struggling so far, but could be in game shape by POs)
Perrault-Mon(likely available, even though currently in the POs)
Sillinger-Pho
Eastwood-Pit
Dubinsky-unsigned(AHL material, 4th-line utility replacement for Rasmusssen if injured, although Darby is more likely)
Ronning-unsigned(if Larionov ends his career early)

Enforcer:

R.Simpson-Pit(although I'd give Skrlac another look first)

If this team goes into the playoffs with Brown as the 6th d-man, I will :cry:. It's like O'Donnell all over again...

I saw the perfect unsigned free agent defenseman play tonight. Unfortunately, this means he was just signed.

Igor Ulanov signed with Edmonton today and played a *great* game for them tonight. Made solid defensive play after solid defensive play; singlehandedly prevented a goal by clearing a puck Salo had let through into the crease; 1 assist and +2; took on some extra minutes and shifts as the Oilers reduced their six-man rotation to a 4-man rotation in lategame.

Ulanov signing today is proof positive that there are worthwhile defensemen that can still be had for 'nothing'. Unless he was the last one.

I'm not so much concerned with our dmen and winger as I am of our center position, unless Larinov gets a attitude adjustment and scores at least one goal this season I really feel that this could be our achilles heel come playoff time. I really wish we could have keep Nieuwendyk, who by the way is been outstanding for the Leafs this year, then this wouldn't be a issue and we could then look to shore up other areas but since we didn't resign him center is were we need to look first IMO.

I'm not so much concerned with our dmen and winger as I am of our center position, unless Larinov gets a attitude adjustment and scores at least one goal this season I really feel that this could be our achilles heel come playoff time. I really wish we could have keep Nieuwendyk, who by the way is been outstanding for the Leafs this year, then this wouldn't be a issue and we could then look to shore up other areas but since we didn't resign him center is were we need to look first IMO.

I agree - I've been saying this from July 1. When Lario was signed I posted "Why not Oates?!". In trade threads I've brought up Perrault repeatedly. The Devils need a go-to guy for those game-critical draws. Brind'Amour, maybe?

I was hoping that Rupp and Rasmussen could raise their faceoff and scoring games... the ideal center for this team's powerplay is the Arnott mold - big in front and not a liability on the draw. Alas, neither Rupp nor Ras are doing what I hoped (though Ras has been looking better lately, before injury).

I dunno...

Was at the game last nite (sat behind the Devil's net 1st and 3rd periods) and one word describes David Hale's play. Lost. I know it's just one game that I've payed close attention to the guy but I definitely did not like what I saw. And yes, he's a rookie so we should cut him some slack.

But I don't know how good I feel about the possibility of him looking 'lost' during the third period of a game 7....

Though if help is needed, I'm sure Lou will get it.