Bob McKenzie: Devils will win division

McKenzie is on NHL Live right now. Says Brian Rolston was the best UFA acquisition, and that they'll fight it out with Philly for the division. Heeeyyooooo.

Ok, he's done talking about the Devils. Don asked him why he think they'll win the division when they did nothing to upgrade their defense. He said some people may not be impressed by Martin, White Sal, and Oduya, but the Devils had one of the lowest GAA last season, Oduya was a +27, and they have Marty. He said out top 6 is solid, and that Zubrus and Holik on the 4th line gives us great depth up front.

Pretty much my prediction, just with more certainty. i think our Devils will be battling the flyers all year long for the division title, and it will probably come down to the last few games of the season to decide...

Good to finally hear a prediciton from someone with hockey knowledge. Those division rankings of the Devs in 4th and 5th in ESPN and THN really irked me(even though I knew they were underestimating the Devils)

Kind words for the Devils by someone...... anyone in the media? Global financial markets are selling off today, pehaps this is another sign of the apocalypse.

I think THe Devils will cruise this season very very high hopes WE WILL WIN THe division with EaZZ

More like with a cheaop on our shoulders with our heads high

Good to hear condsidering Bob McKenzie is probably the smartest hockey analyst out there.

Bob McKenzie is the shizznizzz. Legendary status for shooting down some fool on here too.

http://www.thingamababy.com/photos/uncategorized/bobmckenzie.jpg

"Those hosers in New Jersey are like good eh?"

http://www.thingamababy.com/photos/uncategorized/bobmckenzie.jpg

"Those hosers in New Jersey are like good eh?"

You should link your signature picture to the Devils board.

Kind words for the Devils by someone...... anyone in the media? Global financial markets are selling off today, pehaps this is another sign of the apocalypse.

The esteemed James Mirtle has you guys taking the entire conference, (he also predicted an NYR-DET final last season) but hey I generally respect his predictions.

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/10/nhl-season-preview-2008-09-predictions.html

The esteemed James Mirtle has you guys taking the entire conference, (he also predicted an NYR-DET final last season) but hey I generally respect his predictions.

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/10/nhl-season-preview-2008-09-predictions.html

and i agree with him. ;)

http://www.thingamababy.com/photos/uncategorized/bobmckenzie.jpg

"Those hosers in New Jersey are like good eh?"

How's it goin' eh?

I don't see why not. This team almost won the conference last year after having to start the season on a 9 game road trip, losing White and Langenbrunner for a good portion of the early season. A new coach trying to implement a new style and then going back to a version of the old one. An out of shape goaltender to start the season.

I really could go on and on. I'll be very disappointed if this team does not win the division. It has alot going for itself this season.

I don't see why not. This team almost won the conference last year after having to start the season on a 9 game road trip, losing White and Langenbrunner for a good portion of the early season. A new coach trying to implement a new style and then going back to a version of the old one. An out of shape goaltender to start the season.

I really could go on and on. I'll be very disappointed if this team does not win the division. It has alot going for itself this season.

I keep going back to this exact same point. Look at how well we did last year under those circumstances, and look at our offseason acquisitions. It really makes no sense how some people can say that we will do worse than we did last year. Not only that, we lost no one, this team had a rigorous training camp, and some players, such as Marty, are starting the season in phenomenal shape. Logically, we can only do better.

President's Trophy?

President's Trophy?

Hahahahaha, in our dreams.

President's Trophy?

ESPN 2?

President's Trophy?

Hahahahaha, in our dreams.

Could you imagine? Devils win the Predient's Trophy with one of the lowest GA in the NHL and an average GF. HFBoards would explode with the number of times the word "trap" would be uttered in a two week span.

ESPN 2?

Hockey Falls?

ESPN 2?

Maybe next year?

Maybe next year?
Is this the year Chelios retires?

:scared::scared:

Spot 1 http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21240

Spot 2 http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21239

Spot 1 http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21240

Spot 2 http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21239
That second spot... was it a jab at the Devils, a nod to Brodeur, or both?

That second spot... was it a jab at the Devils, a nod to Brodeur, or both?

Nod to Marty - saying you best just hope you can score let alone win.

Each team's spots have a different ending - some are just the arena attendance as the "assist" number, but many are alternative versions with little 1-liners.

Almost makes me wish my speakers were working

Weeonta Warning:

The Dion's - http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21292 and http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21598

"Some say the season ends...


... just so his opponents can heal." :laugh:

These are some of the coolest hockey commercials I'd ever seen. And its almost like waiting to watch a new one, compared to collecting trading cards as a kid.

Weeonta Warning:

The Dion's - http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21292 and http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21598

"Some say the season ends...


... just so his opponents can heal." :laugh:

I saw that during NHL Live this afternoon...and promptly made a mess.

Spot 1 http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21240

Spot 2 http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=21239

Hahahahaha, not to bash Isles attendance, but why did they leave out their number and do it for most other teams.

"For every goal, there are thousands of assists"... - Islanders

I dunno why I found it funny. But it is.

And winning the President's trophy isn't as far fetched as one may think. If some people are confident in us either winning the division or conference, then having the best overall record isn't unbelievable. All it will take is a Red Wings collapse and for us to play as well as we should.

Bob McKenzie is the only big name analyst that isn't a complete tool.

Those commercials are sweeet. Nice job by the NHL marketeers.

Those commercials are ill.

If the Devils defense plays a better sound positional game and does a better of job of crease clearing, I see no reason why this team can't win the division. I believe the defense will score more, but what is important is cutting down on turnovers in our own end. I like our forwards and I don't see Marty slipping this season, he just may need some rest near the end of the season.

What about the Rangers?

What about the Rangers?

what about them...:help:

http://cekirdek.pardus.org.tr/~caglar/DontFeedTheTroll.jpg

Getting an early start on the most reported posts contest?

Could you imagine? Devils win the Predient's Trophy with one of the lowest GA in the NHL and an average GF. HFBoards would explode with the number of times the word "trap" would be uttered in a two week span.
I was on HF back in 99/00/01, they said we scored the goals due to playing the trap..we just countered well.

I was on HF back in 99/00/01, they said we scored the goals due to playing the trap..we just countered well.
Goals are boring.

Is this the year Chelios retires?

stupid question....about your signature....when does Lou say "welcome to the family" ?

at the draft ??

stupid question....about your signature....when does Lou say "welcome to the family" ?

at the draft ??
Oh, damn, the link doesn't work anymore. He said it to Brandon Burlon after we selected him at the draft.

Lots of talk about the Flyers and Devils, I think McKenzie and some of you are underestimating the Rangers that's all. I remember some poster last year kept talking about all the doom and gloom that would happen to us in the off-season and we seemed to come away with a pretty good team this year regardless.

Lots of talk about the Flyers and Devils, I think McKenzie and some of you are underestimating the Rangers that's all. I remember some poster last year kept talking about all the doom and gloom that would happen to us in the off-season and we seemed to come away with a pretty good team this year regardless.
You did exactly what the Rangers did every year up until Don Maloney stopped letting Glen Sather get away with it - you got rid of key character players and replaced them with others who rely on "skill" and skill alone to get by. Zherdev is exactly the kind of player the Rangers spent the last few years avoiding and now his kind is back.

You played the offseason perfectly the year before last - you took your team's style of play and brought in two players, Gomez and Drury, who fit into the system. Instead of continuing to build around your team's strengths from within - and contrary to popular belief, the Rangers greatest strength was not speed, it was a commitment to team defense - Sather decided to bring in some more big name talent players. Zherdev, Naslund, Redden... this was not the way to go.

It would not surprise me in the slightest if the Rangers missed the playoffs.

Hockey season is upon us, Salz is back.

Lots of talk about the Flyers and Devils, I think McKenzie and some of you are underestimating the Rangers that's all. I remember some poster last year kept talking about all the doom and gloom that would happen to us in the off-season and we seemed to come away with a pretty good team this year regardless.
Well you did sweep the Lightning, you should start the parade down the Canyon of Heroes. :naughty:

haha yea. I was like "why can't i see this guy" then remembered he was on the ignore list. Welcome back Salz... here's to not seeing your posts again

Well you did sweep the Lightning, you should start the parade down the Canyon of Heroes. :naughty:
Watch the Lightning end up drafting Hedman. I'll hate every second of it.

Watch every team except the Devils end up drafting Hedman. I'll hate every second of it.

Fixed.

Fixed.
Well, true.

I agree that Redden was an example of the old type of Rangers signings, but with Zherdev, he's a really young kid with a lot of upside. He could have just been really unhappy playing for Ken Hitchcock; he would not have been the first. He was worth taking a shot on because of his ridiculously high ceiling. I saw him blocking a slap shot in the game against Tampa so that's a good sign he might be changing. I think Sather realized the team wasn't quick enough to keep up with the more elite teams in the league so they wanted to go for a more north-south look. If I know Renney, team defense will still be stressed greatly. Regarding Naslund, I've never heard his character questioned and he was someone they needed because they lost a lot of firepower with the departures of Jagr and Straka. He filled a hole for them, like Rolston filled a hole for the Devils. Redden really seemed like a move from the past, though. However, if he behaves himself and reverts back to the way he was maybe 3 seasons ago, it would be a good signing cause they needed a good puck carrying defenseman.

You did exactly what the Rangers did every year up until Don Maloney stopped letting Glen Sather get away with it - you got rid of key character players and replaced them with others who rely on "skill" and skill alone to get by. Zherdev is exactly the kind of player the Rangers spent the last few years avoiding and now his kind is back.

You played the offseason perfectly the year before last - you took your team's style of play and brought in two players, Gomez and Drury, who fit into the system. Instead of continuing to build around your team's strengths from within - and contrary to popular belief, the Rangers greatest strength was not speed, it was a commitment to team defense - Sather decided to bring in some more big name talent players. Zherdev, Naslund, Redden... this was not the way to go.

It would not surprise me in the slightest if the Rangers missed the playoffs.

I agree that Redden was an example of the old type of Rangers signings, but with Zherdev, he's a really young kid with a lot of upside. He could have just been really unhappy playing for Ken Hitchcock; he would not have been the first. He was worth taking a shot on because of his ridiculously high ceiling. I saw him blocking a slap shot in the game against Tampa so that's a good sign he might be changing. I think Sather realized the team wasn't quick enough to keep up with the more elite teams in the league so they wanted to go for a more north-south look. If I know Renney, team defense will still be stressed greatly. Regarding Naslund, I've never heard his character questioned and he was someone they needed because they lost a lot of firepower with the departures of Jagr and Straka. He filled a hole for them, like Rolston filled a hole for the Devils. Redden really seemed like a move from the past, though. However, if he behaves himself and reverts back to the way he was maybe 3 seasons ago, it would be a good signing cause they needed a good puck carrying defenseman.
Neither Markus Naslund nor Nikolai Zherdev are players known for their devotion to the team defense concept. Naslund has played for Vancouver so he at least understands what is asked of him, but he's not a defensive maestro, and Zherdev is one of those players who to me seems like one who scorns the team defense concept. He's not going to fit into the team defense system.

The bigger issue for me is not even the change in personnel, but the Rangers' seeming change in overall team philosophy from team defense to team speed. They can be done together, but every team that has won the cup the last few seasons has first and foremost been dedicated to playing solid team defense, even Tampa Bay. The more I see and hear from the Rangers, the more I feel that they've abandoned team defense in favor of team talent. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and I actually hope that I am because despite getting beaten up last season, watching the Devils play the Rangers was always an adrenaline rush.

Glen Sather learned in Edmonton that you can win on talent alone. But, to paraphrase good ol' Herb Brooks, you cannot win on talent alone anymore. Nobody can, not even Pittsburgh.

Oh, damn, the link doesn't work anymore. He said it to Brandon Burlon after we selected him at the draft.

ahhh thanks....

The Devils can do this....for this one reason.

They surprise everyone year in and year out. We are the Jason Voorhees of the NHL.

The Last Few Years, people like mckenzie have been really under rating us saying we wil barely make the playoffs, but the Devils just make them look like idiots. Now that hes picking us to win the Division, does that mean we win the Presidents Trophy.