What do you expect from this Devils team....

New system, new coach, 4 rookies, a defense with plenty of questions, Jamie and White out for at least a few months. I am going to give this team the benefit of the doubt. I will give the players a chance to mesh and become more familiar with the new system. I want to give these guys a chance. And just has long as they play hard, aggressive and smart hockey, I will be more than satisfied. I'm under no illusions; I don't believe we have the personal to win a cup, especially with our defense, I hope they prove me wrong. I can see them making the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed. However, if we do make the playoffs, I believe we might be a tough and dangerous team to play against. I wish them the best of luck in a new era for this franchise with a new arena & new style of play.

Barely make the playoffs, then surprise. Maybe 2nd round 7 games or something like that. Or just bomb in the standings. Not yet, but I believe Marty has one more left.

I agree, I expect a .500 team for the first couple of months while they get used to the new style, teammates and get healthy. I just want to see good effort and good physical play from everyone and see that they are building towards something.

I agree, I expect a .500 team for the first couple of months while they get used to the new style, teammates and get healthy. I just want to see good effort and good physical play from everyone and see that they are building towards something.

Exactly.

I think they have a pretty good team, honestly. Until the Langenbrunner and White injuries. Before that, you were looking at a team that competed for the conference lead (and presidents trophy) until about two or three weeks left in the season last year. And that was with the stifling style of Claude Julien's coaching. So you take that team and subtract Gomez and Rafalski and add a new big forward (Zubrus), a hard-hitting young defenseman (Vishnevski), a new solidly #3 or #4 defenseman (Rachunek), the addition of some good young players from Lowell, and a new coach that seems to be running the ship in the right way and you think they're going to drop down in the standings that much? I'd have said no, but with Langenbrunner out in the beginning and White out indefinitely - and a nine-game road trip to start the season - and it's looking a little more difficult. If they can get through this nine-games with a decent record (at least .500) and last until Langenbrunner gets back, then I think they can still challenge for the divisional championship and a top-three seeding.

I agree, with Langenbrunner out, we may be in trouble for a while. I don't see us leading the pack, but we're not too badly off with Sutter behind the wheel. I think we'll get that .500 road trip start at least.

But the devils have always been a good road team, so I expect winning more than half the road games.

Besides, theres 9 road games, you're gonna get either 4/9 or 5/9 so thats .444 or .556. ;)

I expect this team to either win the division or finish in the top 6 in the East. I think they'll go at worst 5-4 to open the season and get better as the year progresses.

I expect this team to either win the division or finish in the top 6 in the East. I think they'll go at worst 5-4 to open the season and get better as the year progresses.

Finally someone with a positive outlook on the season. I don't think we'll win the division, but 2nd place I can see. As long as we bring the pain this year and TAKE some respect, I'm fine with that.

The same damned thing I expect every year. A STANLEY CUP :stanley:

i expect a team that will work hard every game, will make the post season, and will make it past the 2nd round in the playoffs.

i predict that dim witted hockey pundits will have a difficult time unlearning their knee-jerk association of "trapping style" and "devils hockey"... this team will be fast, aggressive, disciplined, well-coached and successful.

I cant wait for the game tonight, I feel like a kid on Christmas! I think we are going to suprise some ppl. To be honest the Rangers do look good on paper, but alot of teams got better and who knows what will happen. It will come down to who is willing to work hard for wins.We all know what Sutter is about. Sutter + Devils= ( you do the math).

I cant wait for the game tonight, I feel like a kid on Christmas! I think we are going to suprise some ppl. To be honest the Rangers do look good on paper, but alot of teams got better and who knows what will happen. It will come down to who is willing to work hard for wins.We all know what Sutter is about. Sutter + Devils= ( you do the math).

Oh I still think the Devils can take the division from the Rangers and I am very excited tonight but I'm not expecting them to come flying out of the gate given the changes and injuries. If they can though more power to them!

Flyers circa last year, but unlike them, we'll get the first overall pick......and Tavares will be granted eligibility as an exceptional player and Devils will pick him 1st overall and win 10 Stanley Cups in a row.

I expect them to be competetive as always. The changes can only by used as an excuse, I don't want a part of that. I expect a Stanley Cup championship as always.

I expect them to be the team that outplays their opponent. I will never get down on the Devils if they play 100% even if they lose.

I understand reality, but I refuse to think anything negative about the Devils until they give me a reason to. Lou had his best offseason and brought in a coach that will preach accountability and emphasize aggressive style of play.

I think this team is bigger and deeper then last season with a good mix of vets and rookies.

I expect to compete for the Stanley Cup when April arrives.

I expect them to be the team that outplays their opponent. I will never get down on the Devils if they play 100% even if they lose.

I understand reality, but I refuse to think anything negative about the Devils until they give me a reason to. Lou had his best offseason and brought in a coach that will preach accountability and emphasize aggressive style of play.

I think this team is bigger and deeper then last season with a good mix of vets and rookies.

I expect to compete for the Stanley Cup when April arrives.

That's how I want to look at it. They give a 100% effort night in and night out, I will be very pleased. And I'm not down on this team, I just feel we have so many un-asnwered questions, which we will start getting answers tonight.

Finally someone with a positive outlook on the season. I don't think we'll win the division, but 2nd place I can see. As long as we bring the pain this year and TAKE some respect, I'm fine with that.

I am SO happy that we're finally going to start POUNDING teams again. Other teams used to be afraid of the Devils, but they haven't been since Stevens left and we got away from that physical style of play.

Devils fans should be optomistic, we survived the loss of Stevens and Traitormayer, we'll be fine as long as Marty's in net.

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!

In recent years, I've been given no reason to believe that roster changes and "star" players leaving the devils will have any kind of negative effect on their ultimate regular season success. Therefore, I'm not about to start. I understand we've lost White and Langs to injury now, and I'm not saying that the devils won't be effected, but as I remember last year we went stretches without many a key player due to injury (elias, gionta, gomez, white, madden, matvichuk, etc.) and managed to capture a division title in the end. The season is a long one; it won't end by thanksgiving, there will be many more games to play after that.

This team is built to go deeper in the playoffs. They have added size, grit, depth, some hungry fresh players.....and Sutter. In the end the devils will go as far as Marty takes them, and with the addition of Weekes, if Marty can enter the playoffs more well rested and sharp, I like our chances.

The same damned thing I expect every year. A STANLEY CUP :stanley:

Isnt this our goal afterall?I think we all should expect this:)

secondly i really hope devils will be really physical.Get those philly,rags(and so on..) players remember what team they are playing against :madfire:

We'll do fine this year. I'm looking at this year as a transition year from the old to the new, but that doesn't mean we won't be competitive. It'll come down to the play of several guys, though: Zajac, Greene, Martin, Madden, and Elias. If these guys play up to their ability, we'll be really dangerous.

Competitive as usual and in the middle of the Cup race.. I'm so excited for this season with new system, new coach, and young players... Liek some said i wouldn't be surprised with a slow start..

A bunch of previews hate on NJ's scoring ability....I think they'll surpise a lot of people this year

A bunch of previews hate on NJ's scoring ability....I think they'll surpise a lot of people this year

Me, too. I'm feeling like they'll score about 245 or 250 goals this season.

I am expecting an incredibly mediocre year.

Competitive as usual and in the middle of the Cup race.. I'm so excited for this season with new system, new coach, and young players... Liek some said i wouldn't be surprised with a slow start..

A bunch of previews hate on NJ's scoring ability....I think they'll surpise a lot of people this year

I can see them starting off slow too, but they will be in the playoffs and be competitve. I think onces Langenbrunner comes back they will really step it up.

I think their scoring will surprise people too.

Anything less than ECF is disappointing. Weve been embarassed in the 2nd round two years in a row. There is absolutely no excuse why we can't do any better this year.

The same damned thing I expect every year. A STANLEY CUP :stanley:

that was precisely my response. thank you.

Toooo Many Question Marks for me.


The Defense is one GIANT question mark
Can Vishnevski and Rachunek fit in? Can Greene become a top 4 immediately? Can Martin handle an expanded role? Is White going to be ok? Can this group gell? Can Matvichuk stay health?......My god, this defense is scary looking (and not in a good way)

Offense
Will Zubrus and Elias Work? Will Zajac improve on his rookie season? Is our 3rd line going to become a waste? Will our 4th line produce anything thing this season? Is Langenbrunner going to be ok? Can Bergfors become a player? Can we get some production from multiple lines???


I don't know how in the World anyone could predict ANYTHING from this Devil team. There is more uncertainty with this team than there has been with any Devil team in the last 15 or so years.

Maybe it'll work out....Maybe it wont........I'm not a blind believer in Sutter. And to be honest...I don't like a lot of things already even before a single puck has been dropped. (No Captain, splitting Madden and Pandolfo....Ultra aggressive forecheck with defensemen as weak as our is down-right STUPID in my opinion.) But well see....

Winning Winning Winning

I always expecting a Winning Devils team.... :)

Atlantic Division champions.

A trade deadline move because of our cap space.

A new arena and a new coach bringing a new energy to a team loaded with veteran leadership and young players on the cusp of being special players.

Brodeur, Brodeur, Brodeur.

This team is better balanced than last years. I think NJ will surprise alot of teams with their play and in turn surprise alot of us fans. I got a good feeling about this team.

6th place in the East

Beat Carolina in the first round in 5 or 6 games

Take either Pittsburgh or Buffalo to 7 games in the second round. Winner is a toss up.

Anything beyond that is gravy.

Competitive as usual and in the middle of the Cup race.. I'm so excited for this season with new system, new coach, and young players... Liek some said i wouldn't be surprised with a slow start..

A bunch of previews hate on NJ's scoring ability....I think they'll surpise a lot of people this year Read one preview earlier saying the heat would need to be turned down at the Meadowlands this season so fans wouldn't fall asleep. Oops.

Read one preview earlier saying the heat would need to be turned down at the Meadowlands this season so fans wouldn't fall asleep.

So they didn't even know the team moved buildings?

So they didn't even know the team moved buildings? You got it. So much for responsible journalism.

Figure the Devils won't miss a beat this season despite the losses and change of style. Can see this team finishing fourth in the East primed to do some damage in the postseason.

Honestly, I expect them to finish better than most "experts" have them finishing (barely in or just missing the playoffs), but not taking the division. I figure anywhere from 4-6 in the conference.

Just like the old days, they may actually thrive by being able to fly under the radar for a change. The media will be all over the major moves the NYR and PHI did. This lets NJ just go out and play hockey without the pressure of heavy expectations.

I expect 2 things that always happen and 1 that is not expected;

1) Devils win the Atlantic despite being picked to finish at the bottom

2) Devils go deep into the playoffs despite key injuries plaguing the team throughout the season (sounds like one of our cup runs eh) and along the way none of our players gets any nomination for the hardware except maybe a token Lady Byng nomination as it is a true team effort that got us there again, not solo performances.

3) Devils stand tradition on its head and suddenly lead the league in short handed goals. :amazed: Ok - just kidding... that will never happen. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

3) Devils stand tradition on its head and suddenly lead the league in short handed goals. :amazed: Ok - just kidding... that will never happen. Just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

Devils managed to get Jordan Staal from the Pens?! Outstanding!