Sergei Brylin

This topic comes up every year, and i am a brylin supporter but............

Is the devils undevoted loyalty to this guy effecting the team? I can honostly say that if the team is fully healthy, i would scratch brylin.

Love Sarge, but maybe it's time for him to hang it up. We can make better use of his $1.5 million salary next season suring up our defense.

Love Sarge, but maybe it's time for him to hang it up. We can make better use of his $1.5 million salary next season suring up our defense.

yeah i agree pelley etc. is his replacement

I'm on the pelley bandwagon as well. While I'm still not sure if Pelley will peak at the same level as Brylin in his prime, right now they're equatable as far as I'm concerned.

What is the deal with his contract? If its up, I would consider resigning him for much less... maybe 3/4 a million. That also might light a fire under him. In fairness, though, he isn't getting the same ice time he did in seasons past.

I wouldn't be surprised if another team picked him up, or traded a high pick for him. Some GMs, IMO, still hold him in high enough regard to sign him... for the right price at least.

But 9 points?!?! -3.... thats bush league. Laughable man

yeah i agree pelley etc. is his replacement

I think Vrana is being groomed as his replacement.

I love Sarge, and everything he does for the team. A healthy Brylin wins a roster spot IMO.

Three words: It's over Johnny.

Brylin this year is a waste of $1 million. What does he have, 9 points? We could get his production from someone making the league minimum.

I know he has a mutual option for next year. If he wants to come back for the league minimum, fine, but we can no longer afford to throw cap space away, especially with our highest paid players not earning their money.

Thanks for the memories.

I think Vrana is being groomed as his replacement.

I love Sarge, and everything he does for the team. A healthy Brylin wins a roster spot IMO.
I agree. And if nothing else, Brylin has experience over Pelley. The Devils have a good amount of veteran leadership, but I don't think there should be any question that Brylin is a big part of this team. And I think that if you just look at point production, you're selling Sarge short (reminds me again why he's always called underappreciated, underrated and one of the Devils' unsung heroes). Brylin maybe quiet, but he never gives up and he's a hard worker. He's our current ironman. He can fill in pretty much anywhere. He never complains and always does what's asked of him. I'd be upset if Brylin sat over Cam or Asham.

Sarge can still stick handle better the most of our third and fourth line.

Sarge can still stick handle better the most of our third and fourth line.

Exactly. Like our lineup can't get any worse. Getting rid of Brylin is not going to make things better, especially not to make room for Janssen.
Pelley looked alright in the beginning of the season but like everyone else he's slumping too. Theres really nobody that does what Brylin can do on our team.

Also Rupp has a nice face off percentage, I like to see him center a bit more.

yea i think after this season its time for sarge to move on and let the younger guys come in, but as for right now this season, id scratch pelley at this point.

sarge is fine for what he is. hes a 3rd/4th liner that can fill in at any forward spot when needed, and can kill penalties. i have no problem with him

Hey back off Sarge, he won the Conn Smythe in one of my seasons in NHL08.

Im too loyal, I dont even want to even think about this.
It would be like losing a pet

Hey back off Sarge, he won the Conn Smythe in one of my seasons in NHL08.

:biglaugh: what did you do? Edit his ratings to 90+?

:biglaugh: what did you do? Edit his ratings to 90+?

That's the weird thing, I didn't touch his ratings at all.

That's the weird thing, I didn't touch his ratings at all.

The game will put him up on the top 2 lines if you have an injury - so he probably got auto-d up there if you simmed a bunch of games.

He's got great ratings already in the game. He's a shoot out machine!

That's the weird thing, I didn't touch his ratings at all.

I guess he is an 84 in the game already....who the hell knows how. NHL 2K8's ratings are much more realistic.

The game will put him up on the top 2 lines if you have an injury - so he probably got auto-d up there if you simmed a bunch of games.

He's got great ratings already in the game. He's a shoot out machine!

I did have an injury (Gio) so he was on the top line, but I played all the games. I never sim. He was just money for some reason. When I saw him get the Conn Smythe, I was like "Wow, this game is just as realistic as they say it is!" :sarcasm:

I would call up Vrana ASAP and see what he can do. If he can play, Lou may include Sarge in a deal.

I feel that Sarge should retire a Devil, but if he still feels that he can play, I would trade him to a good team--a team with a chance of winning the Cup. We owe him that IMO.

If Sarge is not traded, I feel he definitely should sit some nights. I would try him on a few different lines to see if he can provide any offense at all. If he can't, I would like to see someone like Noah Clarke in the lineup. BTW, I have not seen Clarke in a Lowell boxscore in a while. Is he injured???????????????????

Reminds me of Dano in 03. He'll sit some games as a healthy scratch. Burns wasn't afraid to do it to Dano and Sutter won't be afraid to do it to Sarge. Tradition be damned.

I would call up Vrana ASAP and see what he can do. If he can play, Lou may include Sarge in a deal.

I feel that Sarge should retire a Devil, but if he still feels that he can play, I would trade him to a good team--a team with a chance of winning the Cup. We owe him that IMO.

If Sarge is not traded, I feel he definitely should sit some nights. I would try him on a few different lines to see if he can provide any offense at all. If he can't, I would like to see someone like Noah Clarke in the lineup. BTW, I have not seen Clarke in a Lowell boxscore in a while. Is he injured???????????????????

No one is going to trade for Brylin.

I would call up Vrana ASAP and see what he can do. If he can play, Lou may include Sarge in a deal.

I feel that Sarge should retire a Devil, but if he still feels that he can play, I would trade him to a good team--a team with a chance of winning the Cup. We owe him that IMO.

If Sarge is not traded, I feel he definitely should sit some nights. I would try him on a few different lines to see if he can provide any offense at all. If he can't, I would like to see someone like Noah Clarke in the lineup. BTW, I have not seen Clarke in a Lowell boxscore in a while. Is he injured???????????????????

1. No one's going to trade for Brylin.
2. We don't owe him jack, he's won 3 Cups with us right?

He plays EVERY position, and would don goalie equipment if we asked him to. He's playing 4th line when we're healthy, and can fill in adequately elsewhere when we're not. He's an awesome dude and I'd sit Rupp, Pelley, and Asham before I scratch Brylin once. He's proved that he's a good two-way forward who doesn't screw up often if at all and can handle the puck, among other things. I shamelessly love that man.

Sarge is cooked, we love him, but it's time for him to be a spare forward.
He's lost quite a few steps this season.

You guys don't understand Sarge's role on this team. If any of you noticed, he plays on the PK a lot, he also helps the guys on the 4th line. Taking him off the team is a bad idea, he is old but is better then Rod Pelley, Mike Rupp, Jansenn, etc.

When players were injured Sarge would step it up and play on different lines.

Sarge is going no where, we know he isn't going to achieve 50 points anymore but there is no way someone is going to replace him.

Brylin's best days are far behind him now. He's just not the same player that he was 5 years ago. I know he plays on the PK, but if you've noticed, many guys could take his place-Elias for one, he's been getting alot of PK time. Gionta has too. I'd love to have a 4th line that's a ***** to play against when Pandolfo comes back. And frankly, I think I could check Sarge off the puck.

1 goal on 5 shots, -3 this months. He's gone off the cliff, the only question would be "Is he healthy?". Really, even defensively he's not chipping in a whole lot other than hooking his way out of problems (I guess he has enough rep that it doesn't get noticed, it did the other night, though.)

Brylin's best days are far behind him now. He's just not the same player that he was 5 years ago. I know he plays on the PK, but if you've noticed, many guys could take his place-Elias for one, he's been getting alot of PK time. Gionta has too. I'd love to have a 4th line that's a ***** to play against when Pandolfo comes back. And frankly, I think I could check Sarge off the puck.

And what hurts Sarge the most is his valuable cap space. Pelley, Vrana or whoever is about $700k to a million cheaper. It may not seem like much, but every bit counts in a cap world. And Lou will have to add a UFA this July, to make this team better.

Two words: PENALTY. KILL.

One of our best...

And Mr. Super-Sub with injuries. A little expensive, but we benefit from having the flexibility...

Although with every one healthy, I don't mind the bangers getting a game or two on 4th line, with Sarge in the press box. Depends on the match-ups.

Blasphemy. Look, Sarge isn't here to be our goal scorer, he can fill any position short of goal and do a good job. All he needs to do is not screw up. And he rarely does.

Two words: PENALTY. KILL.

One of our best...

And Mr. Super-Sub with injuries. A little expensive, but we benefit from having the flexibility...

Although with every one healthy, I don't mind the bangers getting a game or two on 4th line, with Sarge in the press box. Depends on the match-ups.

Elias can easily replace him on the PK. He's done a good job there.

Elias can easily replace him on the PK. He's done a good job there.

As could Gionta, who is a legitmately dangerous guy on the PK. Well, he was before he stopped getting PK shifts.

Elias can easily replace him on the PK. He's done a good job there.

Elias would get too tired playing on the PK+PP and 1st line. Elias is also starting to age too.

Elias would get too tired playing on the PK+PP and 1st line. Elias is also starting to age too.

He's already doing both. And his play has been better.

He's already doing both. And his play has been better.

it has been better, no question. But at this stage, wouldn't you just rather him focus on scoring like he should be instead of trying to play offense AND defense?

He has been quite good on the PK, but at the same time, if we come off a long PK and the other team scores and goes up, I'd rather have a rested Patty ready to go out and pick up a goal than have to rest him for a shift or two and lose that time to score.

It's all subjective, but that's how I see it. Sarge is a guy you know can play a very good PK and we don't need him for much more beyond that.

As could Gionta, who is a legitmately dangerous guy on the PK. Well, he was before he stopped getting PK shifts.

and when either Elias or Gionta was in the PK we got scored on. Sarge is still essential to our PK, along with Madden, missing one of them hurt our PK and we need to have both still on this team. Having a guy like Brylin around means not having to worry about getting a replacement when our guys are injured. You think Pelley can fill in every spot just as well? I think not.

it has been better, no question. But at this stage, wouldn't you just rather him focus on scoring like he should be instead of trying to play offense AND defense?

He has been quite good on the PK, but at the same time, if we come off a long PK and the other team scores and goes up, I'd rather have a rested Patty ready to go out and pick up a goal than have to rest him for a shift or two and lose that time to score.

It's all subjective, but that's how I see it. Sarge is a guy you know can play a very good PK and we don't need him for much more beyond that.

See that's where I disagree with you a bit there. I like an all around versatile guy. And if Sarge's only role is to be out there for a minute on the PK 4 or 5 times a game, we can easily find another guy on the team to do that. The Devils need to get rid of the one-dimensional player and get guys who play an excellent two way game. That's why I don't mind Elias on the PK, at least until Pando is still out. And then when Pando comes back we only need to fill one forward spot on the PK because we'd have Madden, Pelley, and Pandolfo. And personally, I always like a guy out there on the second unit who brings the possibility of a SHG.

And another thing, it's perplexed me that Zajac hasn't gotten more of a shot on the PK.

and when either Elias or Gionta was in the PK we got scored on. Sarge is still essential to our PK, along with Madden, missing one of them hurt our PK and we need to have both still on this team. Having a guy like Brylin around means not having to worry about getting a replacement when our guys are injured. You think Pelley can fill in every spot just as well? I think not.

Elias was with Madden last game and while they did give up a goal our PK has been tremendous lately WITH Elias and Gio getting major time so I'm not sure where your getting your facts from. I think that you're just pulling them out of midair.

Since the New Year our PK has been 36/41, or 88%. And up until the last 3 games we were 24/25. So with Elias getting alot of PK time, our PK hasn't skipped a beat. In fact Langenbrunner has been out for more goals on the PK than Elias has been.

I agree with the initial post. I think Brylin would be useful for a young team trying to make the playoffs for the first time in awhile, but I don't really see him as fitting in on the Devils.

When healthy, I would like the lines to be something like this:

Parise-Elias-Gionta
Zubrus-Zajac-Langs
Pando-Madden-Clarkson
Rupp-Pelley-Asham

Brylin isn't good enough for a scoring line. Madden and Pando are at their best when playing with a banger, and Brylin is too soft for that. So his only remaining spot is on the 4th line, and I like the Rupp-Pelley-Asham combo as a 4th line because they can bang some bodies around. Again, Brylin is too soft.

And this is before bringing in help at the deadline, which I assume will happen.

Honestly, right now if Rupp keeps playing like he deserves to be in the lineup, I would scratch Brylin when Pando comes back.

Elias was with Madden last game and while they did give up a goal our PK has been tremendous lately WITH Elias and Gio getting major time so I'm not sure where your getting your facts from. I think that you're just pulling them out of midair.

Considering we haven't given up a goal in our PK until lately I was referring to that.

Considering we haven't given up a goal in our PK until lately I was referring to that.

Yeah, but Elias has been getting regular PK time since the New Year anyway. So you can't link our recent PK stuggles with Elias getting time on the PK because he's been getting it when the PK was on fire. The group as a whole has been the reason why our defensive coverage, not just on the PK, has been a sore spot lately. And actually Langenbrunner has been out for more goals on the PK than Elias has been.

Elias is great on the PK except when he passes the puck without looking. He does that alot and has often led to turnovers. It cost us the game in Montreal if you remember correctly, but during our own PP.

Elias is great on the PK except when he passes the puck without looking. He does that alot and has often led to turnovers. It cost us the game in Montreal if you remember correctly, but during our own PP.

Yeah your right about that, but ALOT of things besides that cost us the game against Montreal. I could make a huge list of what went wrong in that game. I can't put a finger on just one play or player.

I'm stuck on this issue. Lou is loyal to his forwards which makes it hard to see him trade anyone. When do Pandolfo, Madden and Brylin actually leave the team or will he do what he has done to Marshall or Matvichuk. I find it hard to believe Brylin got 40 points last year.

Yeah your right about that, but ALOT of things besides that cost us the game against Montreal. I could make a huge list of what went wrong in that game. I can't put a finger on just one play or player.

I'm just saying Brylin is more consistent on the PK because he's done it for years now. When you do something for that long you're better at it than someone else who's just starting out.

Brylin is our backup guy, we need the flexibility he brings as well as the consistency. Sure he hasn't scored alot this season, but thats cause of the defensive problems we've had and I think all of our forwards are affected by the need to bail out the defensemen and the fact that they don't get the passes/rebounds they need from the defensemen in order to score.

Elias is great on the PK except when he passes the puck without looking. He does that alot and has often led to turnovers. It cost us the game in Montreal if you remember correctly, but during our own PP.

well not for nothing, but PK aside, it was that exact move that basically won us a Stanley Cup so...I think maybe he thinks if he does it magic will happen. :biglaugh:

I don't play Rupp over Brylin ever, even with Rupper's recent offensive upswing :sarcasm:

Sarge scored a sweet goal tonight. Top shelf.

Can't hate on Sergei...

Sarge made his critics like me shut up for right now. Good for him...I hope he shuts me up the rest of the season.

I just think we should respect what Brylin brought to this team. I know he's not going to put 40 points anymore like last year but he still will contribute to the PK and other things. He only has a year or two left before he retires, and I think we should respect him for that and keep him on the team since he's been so loyal to the organization.