Zajac to play Rightwing - Zub at Center....

I said the kid has been passing and not shooting enough and with his size and skill, which he has, should be driving to net more with the puck. When he shoots, he has some mustard on his shot; he's also not very accurate with it and sometimes takes to long to get it off, although he does have a nice release. He should also use his backhand more, because he has a good one. I wonder if Sutter reads our posts.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03072008/sports/devils/devs_trying_new_look_100781.htm

If anything, it may give him some confidence since the pressure of being a center is off of him. I just hope Zubrus doesn't flub it and cost us some goals.

Switching from Center to Wing worked wonders for Parise, so hopefully it gets Zajac going. If we're going to do anything in the playoffs, Zubrus & Zajac need to start getting goals.

I love the way Sutter thinks outside the box!

The only problem with the moves is that Mike Rupp will play left wing on the line with Zubrus at center and Zajac at right wing. I would have preferred to see Sarge on the left side.

Also, in the future, I would not mind seeing Zajac on the right side of Madden and Pandolfo. Potentially great offensive and defensive line. Okay, not great, but very good. :thumbu:

Now, when do they call up Petr Vrana?

Hopefully it gets them going. I'll admit Zubrus has been a huge let down so far this year and Zajac will be lucky to equal his point total from last season when our offense REALLY sucked.

What the hell , moving Elias worked out great right?

Can't hurt.

I love the way Sutter thinks outside the box!

The only problem with the moves is that Mike Rupp will play left wing on the line with Zubrus at center and Zajac at right wing. I would have preferred to see Sarge on the left side.

Forget about Sarge. I know the guy is loyal to the Devils and he's been a huge part of our previous SC winning teams but he isn't the player of old. He's a 4th liner or at best a 3rd liner for us and we're gonna have to live with it. I'd rather see a guy like Clarkson along Zubrus and Zajac. He'd crash the net, work in the corners and would bring more energy to that line. Sarge wouldn't do any of those things I.M.O.

I'm not bashing Sarge... just being realistic ;)

I bet sarge is hiding some kind of injury. You don't all of a sudden become a bad player overnight. He's either overweight or injured.

I bet sarge is hiding some kind of injury. You don't all of a sudden become a bad player overnight. He's either overweight or injured.

Brylin isn't a bad player, he's just not a 1st or 2nd line player. He's a reliable defensive player that will never put his team in a corner by turning the puck over. The guy is 34 years old... that might be another reason why he isn't playing like he did when he was 22 :sarcasm:

Forget about Sarge. I know the guy is loyal to the Devils and he's been a huge part of our previous SC winning teams but he isn't the player of old. He's a 4th liner or at best a 3rd liner for us and we're gonna have to live with it. I'd rather see a guy like Clarkson along Zubrus and Zajac. He'd crash the net, work in the corners and would bring more energy to that line. Sarge wouldn't do any of those things I.M.O.

I'm not bashing Sarge... just being realistic ;)
i'm for it too, too bad clarkson is a RW

Yes but just last season he was playing much better. Being 34 is still relatively young, unless you've really been banged up there really isn't that much of a difference. Especially for a professional athlete that regularly exercises.

Its really not til you hit 40 that everything really goes downhill.

I've got no problems with Sutter shuffling the lines to stir up some goal scoring and get some of our guys out of a rut.

Idle lines are the Devils playground... errr... wait.

:sarcasm:

nobody is commenting on this line tonight? - this was a move of genius by Sutter.

Keep them together! They were rock solid tonight. :yo:

nobody is commenting on this line tonight? - this was a move of genius by Sutter.

Keep them together! They were rock solid tonight. :yo:
I agree.

I'm not sure how he thinks of these things, but he's a smart guy, our Sutter. :handclap:

They really lit up the scoreboard too.

They really lit up the scoreboard too.

5 shots on goal, 5 more that missed the net, 6 hits, no giveaways, and a 66% faceoff win between Zajac and Zubrus in a 2-1 game. What is so bad about that? That's not a scoring line by design - it's a grinder line with the odd goal.

5 shots on goal, 5 more that missed the net, 6 hits, no giveaways, and a 66% faceoff win between Zajac and Zubrus in a 2-1 game. What is so bad about that? That's not a scoring line by design - it's a grinder line with the odd goal.

I disagree. With Zubrus and Gionta, this line needs to score. Still, it's rediculous to say that they had a bad game because they didn't score today. They generated turnovers and quality chances.

I disagree. With Zubrus and Gionta, this line needs to score. Still, it's rediculous to say that they had a bad game because they didn't score today. They generated turnovers and quality chances.
Gionta is playing with Mad Dog and Pando. Rupp is the left wing with Zubrus and Zajac.

Like I posted in todays GDT, I really think that line was one of our best yesterday versus the Bolts. The combination of speed, skill and hard work is exactly what this team needs and that's why I'd love to see Clarkson on the 1st line with Patty and Parise and then drop Langenbrunner on the 3rd line and we have ourselfs 3 verry good lines.

Parise - Elias - Clarkson
Rupp - Zubrus - Zajac
Pandolfo - Madden - Langenbrunner
Asham - Brylin - Gionta

* We would have to roll ALL 4 lines like we did before with Jacques

Give Clarkson at shot at left wing. I agree that we need this line to chip in with goals. Rupp plays hard but has hardly any skill or hands.

Gionta is playing with Mad Dog and Pando. Rupp is the left wing with Zubrus and Zajac.

Oops. Meant Zajac.

i was just thinking that obviously this is a move to shake up the team to get any offense going, but imagine if all 3 lines started going, with the balance of def/off on each line we could have 3 lines that could realisitcally check and score?

Zajac looks nervous with the puck. Three times I counted he had the puck behind the net where he could have drove in front for a scoring chance. Once he gets over the blueline he seems to pull an Elias and slows down, except he doesn't have the playmaking abilities to do that. He needs to be a bull and go to the net.

Zajac looks nervous with the puck. Three times I counted he had the puck behind the net where he could have drove in front for a scoring chance. Once he gets over the blueline he seems to pull an Elias and slows down, except he doesn't have the playmaking abilities to do that. He needs to be a bull and go to the net.

He made 2 stellar moves in the 2nd period - one on a outside-in move to drive the lane alone, then another to deke the D and take the shot which was a tough one to stop. I was watching the CBC feed after coach's corner and both commentators noted they were nice moves too.

i have missed the last 2 games due to hockey and work, so has this line looked good together, and would you say they should be kept together?

i have missed the last 2 games due to hockey and work, so has this line looked good together, and would you say they should be kept together?


IMO, Zajac should be put back at center. He hasnt played bad but you can tell he doesnt feel right at wing.


Gionta Zajac Zubrus
Brylin Madden Pandolfo
Asham Rupp Clarkson