Haven't been able to see any pre-season games, just curious as to who everyone thinks has the edge for those last two spots on defense between Greene, Brookbank, Salmela and Corrente thus far....

Right now Greene and Salemela are far ahead of Corrente whos farther ahead than Brookbank.

Greene is going to make the team. as for the last spot, id say Salmela right now. Chico even said yesterday he'd be very surprised if Salmela doesnt make the team

Corrente just isnt ready yet and while i like Brookbank and always have, he hasnt shown anything great really

Right now Greene and Salemela are far ahead of Corrente whos farther ahead than Brookbank.

I hope that's the way the staff sees it. I have a bad feeling we'll see Brookbank before Salmela, even though the latter has looked much better than the former.

i think greene will probably end up getting it but salmela has been good

Sutter seems to be set with Martin, White, Salvador, Mottau (ugh) and Oduya.

I would say it's Greene and Salmela at this point who are pushing the most for spots. Corrente might turn it around and shake the nerves though.

Greene and Salmela.

Corrente needs a year or two in Lowell.

It's hard to say how Greene has been so far, since he's only played one game (he looked okay), but I don't really seen him ending up in Lowell. I'd say Greene, Salmela, Corrente, Brookbank (in that order).

It's hard to say how Greene has been so far, since he's only played one game (he looked okay), but I don't really seen him ending up in Lowell. I'd say Greene, Salmela, Corrente, Brookbank (in that order).
Agreed. I'm guessing Corrente gets sent down because dressing him in a suit and tie isn't going to make him any better. Brookbank isn't needed for toughness anymore with our 4th line. Greene will probably have the 6th or 7th position with Salmela -- but I hope Salmela gets the 6 and Greene the 7.

I'm afraid that Brookbank will stay in NJ just because he's signed to a multi-year 1 way contract. They wouldn't want to risk losing a player of his calibur now would they.

I'm afraid that Brookbank will stay in NJ just because he's signed to a multi-year 1 way contract. They wouldn't want to risk losing a player of his calibur now would they.
True. I wish I could get paid $550,000 to wear a suit and tie and NOT play. If Brookbank could work on his slap shot, he'd make one hell of a golfer.
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/images/happygilmore2.jpg

True. I wish I could get paid $550,000 to wear a suit and tie and NOT play. If Brookbank could work on his slap shot, he'd make one hell of a golfer.

Suits are expensive these days.

I'll go with:

Salvador-Martin
Oduya-Salmela
White-Mottau/Greene

I'm afraid that Brookbank will stay in NJ just because he's signed to a multi-year 1 way contract.

Brookbank might not be very good, but Corrente has been 100% AWFUL. There is a contingent of Devils homer-Corrente fans that lust for this kids success, but at the end of the day he's a 20 year old defenseman that looks very much like a 20 year old defenseman. He should go to Lowell, pay his dues, and learn.

Brookbank might not be very good, but Corrente has been 100% AWFUL. There is a contingent of Devils homer-Corrente fans that lust for this kids success, but at the end of the day he's a 20 year old defenseman that looks very much like a 20 year old defenseman. He should go to Lowell, pay his dues, and learn.
I'll be the first to say I love Corrente's potential, but there is no way he will play with the Devils out of camp. He needs at least one season with Lowell, and I'm pretty sure most Devils fans would agree to that after the camp he had.

Brookbank might not be very good, but Corrente has been 100% AWFUL. There is a contingent of Devils homer-Corrente fans that lust for this kids success, but at the end of the day he's a 20 year old defenseman that looks very much like a 20 year old defenseman. He should go to Lowell, pay his dues, and learn.

Oh, I agree. I've been saying Corrente should spend a year in Lowell since last season. I'm more concerned for Salmela. I'm afraid he'll be sent down on a technicality. Brookbank's on a one-way, Salmela's on a two-way, they don't risk losing him if he gets sent down.

Oh, I agree. I've been saying Corrente should spend a year in Lowell since last season. I'm more concerned for Salmela. I'm afraid he'll be sent down on a technicality. Brookbank's on a one-way, Salmela's on a two-way, they don't risk losing him if he gets sent down.

This is the kind of **** that pisses me off. Brookbank has in no way earned himself a spot.

Oh, I agree. I've been saying Corrente should spend a year in Lowell since last season. I'm more concerned for Salmela. I'm afraid he'll be sent down on a technicality. Brookbank's on a one-way, Salmela's on a two-way, they don't risk losing him if he gets sent down.

I read somewhere that the main reason why Salmela chose to join the Devils is that the team had less one-way d-men than the other alternatives. Would be ironic if he would lose the spot because of this particular reason. But I hope he won't.

I read somewhere that the main reason why Salmela chose to join the Devils is that the team had less one-way d-men than the other alternatives. Would be ironic if he would lose the spot because of this particular reason. But I hope he won't.
Ace? Is that you?
http://www.lespaulguide.com/images/AceFrehley.jpg

By the sound of it, it looks like Sutter is gonna let Greene play and I also think that Brookbank stays, just because he was here last year.

I think he'll let both Salmela and Corrente play down in Lowell first, and then I think he'll recall Salmela at times when and if he's needed.

Sutter also paired Oduya and Brookbank the last game, which IMO was an indication that he wanted to see what that pair could look like.

Greene will be the 6:th guy, and Brookbank the 7:th. Having Salmela as the 7:th guy will not help his development and that's why I think he'll be down in Lowell. That's the reasoning I think Sutter will use.

I hope that Salmela makes it, but knowing Sutter and Lou he probably won't.

Corrente has pretty much fallen out of the picture right now, he hasn't shown much at all during preseason. A year in Lowell will be good for him.

By the sound of it, it looks like Sutter is gonna let Greene play and I also think that Brookbank stays, just because he was here last year.

I think he'll let both Salmela and Corrente play down in Lowell first, and then I think he'll recall Salmela at times when and if he's needed.

Sutter also paired Oduya and Brookbank the last game, which IMO was an indication that he wanted to see what that pair could look like.

Greene will be the 6:th guy, and Brookbank the 7:th. Having Salmela as the 7:th guy will not help his development and that's why I think he'll be down in Lowell. That's the reasoning I think Sutter will use.

I hope that Salmela makes it, but knowing Sutter and Lou he probably won't.

Corrente has pretty much fallen out of the picture right now, he hasn't shown much at all during preseason. A year in Lowell will be good for him.

That's the problem. I hope the coaching staff doesn't feel like they owe Brookbank a spot just because he was here last year. The same goes for Pelley and (although I love him) Rupp.

Whatever. In Sutter and Lou I trust. We'll have a solid forward lineup either way, but defense is touchy.

But at the same time if we think about it, I think most of would hate to have Salmela as the 7:th guy. I know I would. I'd rather see the guy get quality minutes in Lowell so he can get used to the NA ice and rinks and the Devils system a bit better. Call him up later in the year when we've made a trade or two to get better.

But at the same time if we think about it, I think most of would hate to have Salmela as the 7:th guy. I know I would. I'd rather see the guy get quality minutes in Lowell so he can get used to the NA ice and rinks and the Devils system a bit better. Call him up later in the year when we've made a trade or two to get better.

That's a good point. If things really are set in stone regarding the top five, then I say we put Greene in with Oduya, have Brookbank as #7, and call it a day.

Salvador-Martin
Oduya-Greene
White-Mottau(:facepalm:)

An Oduya - Greene pairing could either be awesome, or downright disgusting.

Our defence really defines unspectacular.

I can still see us carrying 8.

It's hard to say how Greene has been so far, since he's only played one game (he looked okay), but I don't really seen him ending up in Lowell. I'd say Greene, Salmela, Corrente, Brookbank (in that order).

that what it seems to me as well,although i think the team overall would be better if they could inject corrente's right handed shot into lineup but there is no way he will make the team and be 7th man. so corrente will start in lowell which is fine with me and then call him up in case of injury etc. we know what we are getting with brookbank and that is a reliable 7th defensman that can step in for injuries. i have a feeling the 5 and 6 will be mottau and salmela or mattau and brookbank. i think greene and corrente start in lowell.

But at the same time if we think about it, I think most of would hate to have Salmela as the 7:th guy. I know I would. I'd rather see the guy get quality minutes in Lowell so he can get used to the NA ice and rinks and the Devils system a bit better. Call him up later in the year when we've made a trade or two to get better.
I don't want to see Salmela as the 7th guy either, but I think he could start in the top 6.

I'm really bad at remembering which guys are right/left defensemen, but if these pairings could go together I'd like to see them try this.

Martin - Salvador
White - Oduya
Greene - Salmela
Mottau

Though I still haven't given up hope on Corrente continuing to look better in the next few games and making the team.

An Oduya - Greene pairing could either be awesome, or downright disgusting.

Our defence really defines unspectacular.
Absolutely. And unfortunately, I think it's more likely to be disgusting.

Thanks guys....from the reports I was reading on Guluti's blog, I got the impression that Greene was looking good, and figured he'd be the #6 to start....I like the idea of carrying Brookbank as the 7th, because like some of you said, Salmela wouldn't benefit by being an extra up here instead of getting quality ice time in the AHL. However, I wouldn't be surprised that by the end of the season, Salmela is taking a regular shift in the top 6....I thought Corrente had a good shot to make the team out of camp, but if he has to start in Lowell, that's not a huge concern in my opinion anyways. Probably be better for him in the long run anyways...

I'll go with:

Salvador-Martin
Oduya-Salmela
White-Mottau/Greene

This would be my preference, as well. I think Greene's off-season conditioning and offensive upside win him the #7 over Brookbank. And Corrente needs to mature, and has played himself out of the conversation entirely (one hopes.) Only Salmela is left to intrigue, and I, for one, want to pay to see it.

Salvador - Martin Martin is going to have a monster year, and Sal is the prototypical stay-at-home counterpart to let him do his thing (and no longer have to cover for his partner's mistakes...cough*Oduya*cough.) They are ideal together, and bring our defense to a much higher level than the last few seasons right from the outset. Anyone still griping about the D has missed this important storyline altogether.

White - Mottau Everyone can hate on my boy Motts all they like, but both myself and Brent Sutter know better. Best outlet pass on the team, and no one holds the point better. Boring fundamentals, I know, but the kind of things you need to win. And he and Whitey are a very well balanced pair, who compensate well for each others shortcomings, which is why they have stuck so long as a unit, despite a coach who changes his mind more than his underwear.

Those two pairing are locked. Quite possibly for an entire season (and then some). And from what remains, the pair that would have the most "sizzle", in my opinion, and would be a whole lot of fun to watch...

Oduya - Salmela Oduya would be an ideal choice to help with the transition to the North American game for Salmela, having had to make the very same adjustments over the last two seasons himself. And like the Martin - Oduya pairing last season, which really shined at times, both these guys have gaudy skill sets and offensive upside, with Salmela being more of a finisher, and Johnny Orr-duya being more of a neutral zone dipsy-doodler. So this really could work, and might well put up some numbers (albeit with some added risk in our own end, to put it mildly...)

Greene, with added muscle and renewed intensity gained in the off-season, could ably fill in for anyone in the above pairings with very little drop off.

But somehow, reading the political tea leaves, and from the sound of TG in his blog, and based on their contract status, Brookbank may instead get the nod for our top 7 (despite not earning it on the ice), thereby sending Salmela to Lowell (or home, depending on his state of mind...) Which I think is both a "conservative" and expedient choice, and a somewhat huge mistake.

But in the end, seems most likely. (As Brent Sutter hates Euros...;))

This would be my preference, as well. I think Greene's off-season conditioning and offensive upside win him the #7 over Brookbank. And Corrente needs to mature, and has played himself out of the conversation entirely (one hopes.) Only Salmela is left to intrigue, and I, for one, want to pay to see it.

Salvador - Martin Martin is going to have a monster year, and Sal is the prototypical stay-at-home counterpart to let him do his thing (and no longer have to cover for his partner's mistakes...cough*Oduya*cough.) They are ideal together, and bring our defense to a much higher level than the last few seasons right from the outset. Anyone still griping about the D has missed this important storyline altogether.

White - Mottau Everyone can hate on my boy Motts all they like, but both myself and Brent Sutter know better. Best outlet pass on the team, and no one holds the point better. Boring fundamentals, I know, but the kind of things you need to win. And he and Whitey are a very well balanced pair, who compensate well for each others shortcomings, which is why they have stuck so long as a unit, despite a coach who changes his mind more than his underwear.

Those two pairing are locked. Quite possibly for an entire season (and then some). And from what remains, the pair that would have the most "sizzle", in my opinion, and would be a whole lot of fun to watch...

Oduya - Salmela Oduya would be an ideal choice to help with the transition to the North American game for Salmela, having had to make the very same adjustments over the last two seasons himself. And like the Martin - Oduya pairing last season, which really shined at times, both these guys have gaudy skill sets and offensive upside, with Salmela being more of a finisher, and Johnny Orr-duya being more of a neutral zone dipsy-doodler. So this really could work, and might well put up some numbers (albeit with some added risk in our own end, to put it mildly...)

Greene, with added muscle and renewed intensity gained in the off-season, could ably fill in for anyone in the above pairings with very little drop off.

But somehow, reading the political tea leaves, and from the sound of TG in his blog, and based on their contract status, Brookbank may instead get the nod for our top 7 (despite not earning it on the ice), thereby sending Salmela to Lowell (or home, depending on his state of mind...) Which I think is both a "conservative" and expedient choice, and a somewhat huge mistake.

But in the end, seems most likely. (As Brent Sutter hates Euros...;))

Sutter might want Brookbank mainly because he has a right handed shot and would be the only defensemen in the line up like that.

An Oduya-Greene pairing sounds AWFUL!!

Just my 2 cents..

An Oduya-Greene pairing sounds AWFUL!!

Just my 2 cents..

:nod:

Both need solid defensive partners. I still want to see Andy with Whitey (Andy can play the right side can't he?) and I'm hoping Oduya can anchor a pairing on his own. He did play 26+ minutes the other night too...

No more Mr -11 with Colin!

So far Greene has played best with Salmela. I think the lineup is going to be like what Jerry Gigantic said, except I think Greene will probably fill in for Oduya whenever he's playing awful.

If Salmela doesn't make it because he's the only one with the 2 way contract, then it will be Brookbank and Oduya. Thats probably why Oduya is paired with Brookbank since the beginning of training camp.

So far Greene has played best with Salmela. I think the lineup is going to be like what Jerry Gigantic said, except I think Greene will probably fill in for Oduya whenever he's playing awful.

If Salmela doesn't make it because he's the only one with the 2 way contract, then it will be Brookbank and Oduya. Thats probably why Oduya is paired with Brookbank since the beginning of training camp.

I really dont want that to happen, why cut Johnny's minutes and give him such a crappy partner after a pretty good season?

It's sad that we're likely to have two 7th defenseman at best playing in the top 6. Greene is a far superior defenceman to Mottau, and Salmela (with some AHL seasoning) will be far and away better than Turdbank.

Corrente either makes the team and plays a regular shift or plays in Lowell. No in betweens for him.

Corrente either makes the team and plays a regular shift or plays in Lowell. No in betweens for him.

It will be the latter.

An Oduya-Greene pairing sounds AWFUL!!

Just my 2 cents..

Make it 4 cents.

I hope that Salmela makes it, but knowing Sutter and Lou he probably won't.


I just dont see how Salmela isnt a top-6 on this team. I think he may or may not go to Lowell for 5-10 games to learn the North American rink, but I'm confident he is with the big club permanently.

I just dont see how Salmela isnt a top-6 on this team. I think he may or may not go to Lowell for 5-10 games to learn the North American rink, but I'm confident he is with the big club permanently.

So tell me swami - what's the final score of tonight's football game while we're performing arboricultural gymnastics... :sarcasm:

I just dont see how Salmela isnt a top-6 on this team. I think he may or may not go to Lowell for 5-10 games to learn the North American rink, but I'm confident he is with the big club permanently.

Although I am sticking with the Mike Mottau Manclub, which has been taking some serious flak these days, I do respect the Church, and hope the same.

Although I am sticking with the Mike Mottau Manclub, which has been taking some serious flak these days, I do respect the Church, and hope the same.

If you'd ever re-open the Manclub for business and treat your VIP's to some drinks, maybe some of this abuse would stop... :nod:

So tell me swami - what's the final score of tonight's football game while we're performing arboricultural gymnastics... :sarcasm:

You dont want that since I predicted a banged up Eagles team would still beat the Bears last night! Oops. Although, watching the game, the Eagles still should have won (massive full head turning facemask on the Bears goaline stand).

If you'd ever re-open the Manclub for business and treat your VIP's to some drinks, maybe some of this abuse would stop... :nod:

Done. :yo: