Elias, Zubrus, and Gionta get A's

http://devils.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=338903

argh, i hate the idea of so many A's. just choose a bloody captain and give out 2 A's. the whole thing minnesota did woulda drove me nuts if i was a fan of theirs.

I split this off and made it its own thread (thought it was worthy of that), hope that's okay with you.

Very interesting choices, if we're going the 3 A route I would have thought that at least one of Madden or Pandolfo would have an A. Zubrus is also a big surprise, since he's new (though I guess to Sutter, everyone is new).

I split this off and made it its own thread (thought it was worthy of that), hope that's okay with you.

Very interesting choices, if we're going the 3 A route I would have thought that at least one of Madden or Pandolfo would have an A. Zubrus is also a big surprise, since he's new (though I guess to Sutter, everyone is new).

Call me crazy, but I just have a feeling that Madden won't make it through the year has a Devil. Madden loses his spot, he and Pando are broken up and doesn't even get an "A".

man, im really upset Patty still doesnt have the C

Call me crazy, but I just have a feeling that Madden won't make it through the year has a Devil. Madden loses his spot, he and Pando are broken up and doesn't even get an "A".

I think thats probably gonna depend on how hard Madden tries this season. If he tries hard enough he'll probably get recognition from Sutter. If not, I'm guessing he's out the door.

I split this off and made it its own thread (thought it was worthy of that), hope that's okay with you.

Very interesting choices, if we're going the 3 A route I would have thought that at least one of Madden or Pandolfo would have an A. Zubrus is also a big surprise, since he's new (though I guess to Sutter, everyone is new).

yeah - i'm surprised Madden and/or Pando weren't in the mix for alternates. i like the picks though... coach Sutter is evaluating these guys from a perspective that we fans never get to enjoy, so maybe Zubrus was an obvious choice?

i just hope that we don't have a rotating cast of alternates. i'd rather have Sutter stick with these guys, and see if a captain emerges. if not, head into camp next season with the same process.

Why not give Gionta the 'C'?

anyone else find it strange that all 3 alternates could be on a line together at some point this year? Has that ever happened before?

yeah - i'm surprised Madden and/or Pando weren't in the mix for alternates. i like the picks though... coach Sutter is evaluating these guys from a perspective that we fans never get to enjoy, so maybe Zubrus was an obvious choice?

i just hope that we don't have a rotating cast of alternates. i'd rather have Sutter stick with these guys, and see if a captain emerges. if not, head into camp next season with the same process.

I noticed some things with Zubie at the preseason game I went to. He talked to a lot of the teammates while warming up... but he also was the last guy on the ice during warmups.

Which was good to see.

I hope he really works out for us.

man, im really upset Patty still doesnt have the C

I figured that Sutter would start the season with 3 A’s and name a captain at some point in the season (maybe prior to the home opener). I still wouldn’t rule out Elias getting the C.

Still, these are surprising choices. Anyone know if Zubrus wore a letter with the Caps? Either way, that’s great to see he’s taken a leadership position on this team. Guess if we’ve learned one thing about Sutter its that whatever was done here in the past has very little to do with how he’s going to coach the team.

Call me crazy, but I just have a feeling that Madden won't make it through the year has a Devil. Madden loses his spot, he and Pando are broken up and doesn't even get an "A".

I agree. Sutter also emphasized in his own words "way overrated" that the Checking Line will no longer be.

man, im really upset Patty still doesnt have the C

YOU'RE upset? I have a C on his jersey. That makes me even more mad.

anyone else find it strange that all 3 alternates could be on a line together at some point this year? Has that ever happened before?


incredibly strange... the point of the A from a game standpoint is your designated person(s) to talk to the referees on behalf of the coach and not get tossed. Having them all on one line, and all offense is just nuts IMO...

Stripping Madden of the A is almost as nuts as having all the A's on one line.

Bad News: We win cups when our Captain is a Defenseman - which appears won't happen this year now.

Good News: HEY WE GOT A NEW A-LINE!

YOU'RE upset? I have a C on his jersey. That makes me even more mad.

It's still legit. He was a Captain at some point. (I have his jersey with a 'C' as well)

It's still legit. He was a Captain at some point. (I have his jersey with a 'C' as well)

One season captain, yeah good for him. Bum.

One season captain, yeah good for him. Bum.

Elias can go from an assistant to the capt. at any time this season as can anyone else. But maybe Sutter is testing patty out to see how is performance is not being the team leader and I guess things will go from there

anyone else find it strange that all 3 alternates could be on a line together at some point this year? Has that ever happened before?

Well, it would be very stupid because they wouldn't be able to have "discussions"
during the course of the game with the officials, unless that line was out on the ice.

http://devils.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=338903

Sutter is so totally Lou's proxy, it's not funny.

It's almost as if he's *purposely* being a dick towards certain players.
"Hey Madden, want to call the last coach a 'fat ****'? Well, you see that
Zubrus guy over there, the guy that just showed up that's floated through
half his career? Well, he's more valuable to us to you are!"

I guess Gio's back to killing penalties, otherwise they have no one to talk
to the refs during the PK, which I think is a bad thing.

incredibly strange... the point of the A from a game standpoint is your designated person(s) to talk to the referees on behalf of the coach and not get tossed. Having them all on one line, and all offense is just nuts IMO...

Stripping Madden of the A is almost as nuts as having all the A's on one line.

Bad News: We win cups when our Captain is a Defenseman - which appears won't happen this year now.

Good News: HEY WE GOT A NEW A-LINE!

Gionta isn't on the same line as Zubrus and Elias.

Have to say I'm really surprised at this. I can see not giving an A to White because his status is so uncertain, but I think at least one of the As should go to a defenseman. I'd have gone with Martin, our ATOI leader, instead of Zubrus or Gio. But I'm not Sutter and I'm not on the ice with these guys every day, obviously. So it's weird, but it's also encouraging, in that you know Pando is Pando, Madden may be slipping a bit but I don't see him being the kind of guy who would let something like this go to his head, and it says very positive things about Gio and especially Zubrus that Sutter sees leadership ability in them. Strike another blow against the Devils being boring!

Was Madden the one that shot the puck at Juliens?

Gionta isn't on the same line as Zubrus and Elias.

pre- or post- langenbrunner?

Elias - Zubrus - Gionta was the lineup I saw when Langenbrunner is in the lineup - which was the quote I was replying to when they stated "at some point this year"

Was Madden the one that shot the puck at Juliens?

It was Gomez

I would like to see anyone try hitting Sutter with a puck. They are all good players and I have no problem with the selection he made.

It was Gomez

Ahh I thought so, I didn't think Madden could be that disrespectful. But Madden has always been one of Lou's favorites, wonder what happened?

I have a feeling langs will be captain. why else would sutter say a captain won't be named until langenbrunner gets back.

I still consider Elias the captain. I've seen that way he is on the ice. He looks like a leader.

Does this mean Elias didn't "earn" it?

I can't believe how much Sutter completely turned everything upside down with this team, Gionta an Alternate? This is going to be a very interesting season.

I have a feeling langs will be captain. why else would sutter say a captain won't be named until langenbrunner gets back.

I kinda doubt it. Sutter hasn't even seen Langenbrunner on the ice yet.

I'm glad Zubrus got an 'A' though, I guess he deserves it, which is great.

I have a feeling langs will be captain. why else would sutter say a captain won't be named until langenbrunner gets back.

Sounds like he'll be in the running and surely get a letter either way. Patty's still got time to get the C back though.

ok i can definitley see gio getting an A, he is definitley deserving and patty i think will play better with less pressure, but why does zubrus have one? and i think this means that gio elias and zubrus wont be on a line together

Sounds like he'll be in the running and surely get a letter either way. Patty's still got time to get the C back though.

I'm hoping patty gets it back.

I'm glad Zubrus got an 'A' though, I guess he deserves it, which is great.

why does he derserve it? has he ever been a captain of the other teams? how often does a devils offseason ufa signing get a letter before he even plays a game?

sutter obvously sees something in him that we dont

Anyone know if Zubrus wore a letter with the Caps?

I'm pretty sure he wore an A.

incredibly strange... the point of the A from a game standpoint is your designated person(s) to talk to the referees on behalf of the coach and not get tossed. Having them all on one line, and all offense is just nuts IMO...

Stripping Madden of the A is almost as nuts as having all the A's on one line.

Bad News: We win cups when our Captain is a Defenseman - which appears won't happen this year now.

Good News: HEY WE GOT A NEW A-LINE!

You mean we win cups when our Captain is Scott Stevens...too bad that is no longer an option...

I kinda doubt it. Sutter hasn't even seen Langenbrunner on the ice yet.

No team with a European Captain has ever won a Stanley Cup maybe that factored into three A's...I'm under the impression that Langenbrunner would have gotten the C if he were healthy. Langenbrunner is a Sutter type guy. Honest, hard-worker, who leaves everything on the ice.

Maybe Madden didn't get the A because he'll get the C. A lot of you thought he was more deserving than Elias....
How many players are allowed to have an A? Last season it was Madden, White, with Langs and Pando alternating, right?

I think Zubrus wore a C when he was with Washington. Not 100% sure though. At least Elias doesn't have it.

I think Zubrus wore a C when he was with Washington. Not 100% sure though. At least Elias doesn't have it.
No. Halpern was the Caps captain, then when he left Clark got the C. I don't know if he ever wore an A with Washington.

Maybe Madden didn't get the A because he'll get the C. A lot of you thought he was more deserving than Elias....
How many players are allowed to have an A? Last season it was Madden, White, with Langs and Pando alternating, right?

yeah and i think raffi had it in the begining for a very few games as well....the year before was even more names thrown into the hat...

No. Halpern was the Caps captain, then when he left Clark got the C. I don't know if he ever wore an A with Washington.

http://hfboards.com/imagehosting/534944702b3a7702c4.jpg (http://hfboards.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=9001)

Does it really matter who wears the "C" or the "A" for the Devils? There are plenty of guys who are capable of "leading by example" on the roster, so I don't really see the big deal in who Sutter names as alternates. He's been shaking things up all offseason with some of the line combinations, taking the "C" away from Elias (at least for now), and now giving one of the new guys an "A" over some players who have been around longer. I think this is all just a part of Sutter making sure the players realize that this is his team and that things aren't going to be the same as they used to be. Complacency has been an issue with this team in the past, I don't think it will be under Sutter.

sutter obvously sees something in him that we dont

Because we have clearly seen him in the locker room/on the ice for a prolonged period of time ...

I have an Elias jersey w/ a "C" but honestly I hoped he'd get back because all those endless Captaincy debates last season were interminable and grating.

Madden not wearing the A is a head-scratcher because he and White seemed to be the guys who talk one-on-one with refs the majority of the time. I remember one reporter mentioning that while Elias is a leader on the offense, Madden is the player most well-versed in the rules and regulations, which is why he should be the one pleading the team's case w/ officials. Good for Zubrus and Gio, but not giving Madden an "A" is a mistake IMHO.

why does he derserve it? has he ever been a captain of the other teams? how often does a devils offseason ufa signing get a letter before he even plays a game?

sutter obvously sees something in him that we dont

I'm not saying he deserves it, I'm saying he must have worked his ass off, because I didn't even consider him for an alternate.

Ummm, hello... why can't Brian Gionta get the 'C'?

Zubie wore an 'A' for his last 2 1/2 seasons in Washington. He was a mentor to the young players on that team, especially Ovechkin. It's nice to see his leadership abilities being recognized by Sutter.

i think that elias should get the C and parise and madden get the A:handclap:
parise did good last year and was a great offensive touch so why not??

why does he deserve it? has he ever been a captain of the other teams? how often does a devils offseason ufa signing get a letter before he even plays a game?

sutter obviously sees something in him that we dont

Because we have clearly seen him in the locker room/on the ice for a prolonged period of time ...

i was just bringing up the point that an offseason ufa signing doesnt usually get a letter, especially for us and alot of people were ripping on him in his preseason games

Ummm, hello... why can't Brian Gionta get the 'C'?

haha i like how youy cahanged ur avatar

and yea i agree about gionta

At this point, nothing should surprise us when you consider the fact that Brent Sutter is our coach.

He has constantly repeated that he doesn't care what has transpired in this organization before he arrived. He respects it, but he doesn't care much for it.

This is HIS team. HE is the boss and the decisions are made because HE feels it should be that way. He doesn't care how long a guy has been a Devil or for how long certain guys have been linemates. When he sees something that fits his plan he'll make it happen.

Zubrus has been on the team as long as Sutter. All the players are new to Sutter, including Zubrus. If Sutter feels that Zubrus deserves an 'A' then we shouldn't question it. We can't really question the guy. Every decision he's made so far has been absolutely brilliant. After all, Sutter knows a lot more about hockey and the Devils than we do, whether we like it or not.

I won't question the guy. That's for sure.

In Sutter We Trust?:D

Haha I'll pass on a 5'7" captain.

Haha I'll pass on a 5'7" captain.

that doesnt matter, he will still stick up for his teammates and will always give 110 %

Haha I'll pass on a 5'7" captain.

Obviously you've never seen him go toe to toe with Chara?

Wait, why is Elias no longer captain?

Wait, why is Elias no longer captain?

Sutter put all the captaincies up for grabs when he came in as coach.

Madden was known to be one of Julien's thorns in his side during his brief tenurship here, I wonder if Sutter in his own way is sending him a message not to even think of trying this with him.

Haha I'll pass on a 5'7" captain.

What on earth does height have to do with wearing the C?

What on earth does height have to do with wearing the C?

Maybe because Gionta has to look up at everybody on the team he can't get the same respect of a taller player? Or some such other ridiculous kind of logic...

It's the same kind of logic those who say European players aren't good captains use.

Haha I'll pass on a 5'7" captain.

elaborate

I think its only a matter of time before Elias gets the C back, Sutter i think wants to make him earn it back.......And i honestly believe he will.....

C-Elias
A-Gionta
A-Zubrus

Gionta backs down from no one my friends

Maybe I should familiarize myself with this face: :sarcasm:

Haha I'll pass on a 5'7" captain.

A 5'7" captain with a 6'7" heart.