our defensive corp.

I must say after watching this road trip, i am extremely impressed with this group of defensman.

Yes it would be nice to get a top four for the playoff run, but the way these guys are playing right now, i just don't see the urgency especially if we have to give up a roster player.

every single one of our top six are excelling right now. and quite frankly i think losing oduya in a trade for a defensman that is not top two is a bad move. oduya will be one of the more sought after defensman in the off-season. i dont think they should pay him a crazy amount but if is willing to stay in NJ for a slight discount i would think lou would be crazy to let him walk.

mottau has been excellent as well

Bergfors and a 2nd was proposed for Filip Kuba on the trade board.

I still like the Boynton and Morris ideas too. Zidlicky would be a nice upgrade.

I've said it before, this group of defenseman has been getting it done in the regular season. However, the playoffs are a totally different story, and besides Colin White, none of our defenseman have any significant playoff experience. Which is why stuff like this happens:

Edit: The link to the actual goal doesn't work, but I'm referring to the game tying goal in this game.

http://hurricanes.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlg=20052006,3,222

When you're in the playoffs, you play a team for up to 7 games, which means all of their focus is on you. That gives them the opportunity to seek and exploit your weaknesses. Our defense is our weakness right now, and if teams find a way to beat it, our coaching staff will have to scramble for a solution. That solution could possibly be to revert back to the trap, which could weaken our offense.

My belief is that if you're a balanced team, it's easier to adapt to changing conditions in the playoffs. It allows you to be the team that's dictating the play, and would force the opposing coaches to scramble for a solution to stop you.

In the past few years, Lou has become too complacent with the team and it's defensemen (as far as we know). Obviously, a top pairing defenseman would be fantastic but we still need at least a legitimate #3 defenseman. The deeper we go in the playoffs, the more a guy like Martin could wear down because he will be targeted by the opposing team. We NEED another defenseman to go along with him if they're going to go far.

You guys said it.

Playoffs will be a whole different story with this group of blueliners.

It doesn't matter how sick the top 6 up front play if they don't have the puck.

I'm starting to become rather split on the issue of our defense. While I would no doubt love to add another top 3 defenseman from the pool of Boynton, Morris, Schneider[disregarding his age], Bouwmeester, Kubina, Kaberle or Kuba, I'm starting to get the feeling what we have is all we're gonna get. I recently looked at Carolina's cup winning roster, and it seems rather similar to our roster this year:

12 Eric Staal 1984-10-29 20 C 82 45 55 100 81 -8 25 9 19 28 8
11 Justin Williams 1981-10-04 23 R 82 31 45 76 60 1 25 7 11 18 34
61 Cory Stillman 1973-12-20 31 C 72 21 55 76 32 -9 25 9 17 26 14
17 Rod Brind'Amour 1970-08-09 35 L 78 31 39 70 68 8 25 12 6 18 16
26 Erik Cole 1978-11-06 26 L 60 30 29 59 54 19 2 0 0 0 0
13 Ray Whitney 1972-05-08 33 L 63 17 38 55 42 0 24 9 6 15 14
8 Matt Cullen 1976-11-02 28 C 78 25 24 49 40 4 25 4 14 18 12
5 Frantisek Kaberle 1973-11-08 31 D 77 6 38 44 46 8 25 4 9 13 8
6 Bret Hedican 1970-08-10 35 D 74 5 22 27 58 11 25 2 9 11 42
4 Aaron Ward 1973-01-17 32 D 71 6 19 25 62 2 25 2 3 5 18
14 Kevyn Adams 1974-10-08 30 C 82 15 8 23 36 0 25 0 0 0 14
70 Oleg Tverdovsky 1976-05-18 29 D 72 3 20 23 37 -1 5 0 0 0 0
27 Craig Adams 1977-04-26 28 R 67 10 11 21 51 1 25 0 0 0 10
39 Doug Weight From St. Louis 1971-01-21 34 C 23 4 9 13 25 -6 23 3 13 16 20
22 Mike Commodore 1979-11-07 25 D 72 3 10 13 138 12 25 2 2 4 33
59 Chad Larose 1982-03-27 23 R 49 1 12 13 35 7 21 0 1 1 10
16 Andrew Ladd 1985-12-12 19 L 29 6 5 11 4 0 17 2 3 5 4
24 Andrew Hutchinson 1980-03-24 25 D 36 3 8 11 18 -2 -- -- -- -- --
2 Glen Wesley 1968-10-02 36 D 64 2 8 10 46 10 25 0 2 2 16
63 Josef Vasicek 1980-09-12 24 C 23 4 5 9 8 3 8 0 0 0 2
7 Niclas Wallin 1975-02-20 30 D 50 4 4 8 42 2 25 1 4 5 14
18 Mark Recchi From Pittsburgh 1968-02-01 37 R 20 4 3 7 12 -8 25 7 9 16 18
44 Niklas Nordgren To Pittsburgh 1979-06-28 26 L 43 4 2 6 30 -4 -- -- -- -- --
9
48 Anton Babchuk From Chicago 1984-05-06 21 D 22 3 2 5 6 -2 -- -- -- -- --
19 Radim Vrbata To Chicago 1981-06-13 24 R 16 2 3 5 6 0 -- -- -- -- --
30 Cam Ward 1984-02-29 21 G 28 0 2 2 0 0 23 0 1 1 0
29 Martin Gerber

Neither Frantisek Kaberle nor Hedican were/are top pairing defensemen, yet their insane depth at forward allowed them to play a fast-paced game that not only eliminated our juggernaut team in 06, but eventually win the cup. I feel like Shanahan and Holik are our answers to a Recchi and Weight.

I do, however, feel that Salmela must be called up for the stretch run if no defense trades are made. While Martin, Greene, and Oduya have all been solid, none of them can truly quarterback the PP the way Salmela could.

The Devils definately need someone to take the pressure of Pauly. I dont want it to cost to much but to get you have to give. I mean with the horrible trade Lou did last year Cam for Salvador who knows what we might get.:sarcasm:

I've said it before, this group of defenseman has been getting it done in the regular season. However, the playoffs are a totally different story, and besides Colin White, none of our defenseman have any significant playoff experience. Which is why stuff like this happens:

Edit: The link to the actual goal doesn't work, but I'm referring to the game tying goal in this game.

http://hurricanes.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?hlg=20052006,3,222

When you're in the playoffs, you play a team for up to 7 games, which means all of their focus is on you. That gives them the opportunity to seek and exploit your weaknesses. Our defense is our weakness right now, and if teams find a way to beat it, our coaching staff will have to scramble for a solution. That solution could possibly be to revert back to the trap, which could weaken our offense.

My belief is that if you're a balanced team, it's easier to adapt to changing conditions in the playoffs. It allows you to be the team that's dictating the play, and would force the opposing coaches to scramble for a solution to stop you.

Nailed it.

We need a solid veteran presence on the blueline. Considering the heist that Lou pulled for Salvador, I trust the guy to make the right deal.

I'm starting to become rather split on the issue of our defense. While I would no doubt love to add another top 3 defenseman from the pool of Boynton, Morris, Schneider[disregarding his age], Bouwmeester, Kubina, Kaberle or Kuba, I'm starting to get the feeling what we have is all we're gonna get. I recently looked at Carolina's cup winning roster, and it seems rather similar to our roster this year:

12 Eric Staal 1984-10-29 20 C 82 45 55 100 81 -8 25 9 19 28 8
11 Justin Williams 1981-10-04 23 R 82 31 45 76 60 1 25 7 11 18 34
61 Cory Stillman 1973-12-20 31 C 72 21 55 76 32 -9 25 9 17 26 14
17 Rod Brind'Amour 1970-08-09 35 L 78 31 39 70 68 8 25 12 6 18 16
26 Erik Cole 1978-11-06 26 L 60 30 29 59 54 19 2 0 0 0 0
13 Ray Whitney 1972-05-08 33 L 63 17 38 55 42 0 24 9 6 15 14
8 Matt Cullen 1976-11-02 28 C 78 25 24 49 40 4 25 4 14 18 12
5 Frantisek Kaberle 1973-11-08 31 D 77 6 38 44 46 8 25 4 9 13 8
6 Bret Hedican 1970-08-10 35 D 74 5 22 27 58 11 25 2 9 11 42
4 Aaron Ward 1973-01-17 32 D 71 6 19 25 62 2 25 2 3 5 18
14 Kevyn Adams 1974-10-08 30 C 82 15 8 23 36 0 25 0 0 0 14
70 Oleg Tverdovsky 1976-05-18 29 D 72 3 20 23 37 -1 5 0 0 0 0
27 Craig Adams 1977-04-26 28 R 67 10 11 21 51 1 25 0 0 0 10
39 Doug Weight From St. Louis 1971-01-21 34 C 23 4 9 13 25 -6 23 3 13 16 20
22 Mike Commodore 1979-11-07 25 D 72 3 10 13 138 12 25 2 2 4 33
59 Chad Larose 1982-03-27 23 R 49 1 12 13 35 7 21 0 1 1 10
16 Andrew Ladd 1985-12-12 19 L 29 6 5 11 4 0 17 2 3 5 4
24 Andrew Hutchinson 1980-03-24 25 D 36 3 8 11 18 -2 -- -- -- -- --
2 Glen Wesley 1968-10-02 36 D 64 2 8 10 46 10 25 0 2 2 16
63 Josef Vasicek 1980-09-12 24 C 23 4 5 9 8 3 8 0 0 0 2
7 Niclas Wallin 1975-02-20 30 D 50 4 4 8 42 2 25 1 4 5 14
18 Mark Recchi From Pittsburgh 1968-02-01 37 R 20 4 3 7 12 -8 25 7 9 16 18
44 Niklas Nordgren To Pittsburgh 1979-06-28 26 L 43 4 2 6 30 -4 -- -- -- -- --
9
48 Anton Babchuk From Chicago 1984-05-06 21 D 22 3 2 5 6 -2 -- -- -- -- --
19 Radim Vrbata To Chicago 1981-06-13 24 R 16 2 3 5 6 0 -- -- -- -- --
30 Cam Ward 1984-02-29 21 G 28 0 2 2 0 0 23 0 1 1 0
29 Martin Gerber

Neither Frantisek Kaberle nor Hedican were/are top pairing defensemen, yet their insane depth at forward allowed them to play a fast-paced game that not only eliminated our juggernaut team in 06, but eventually win the cup. I feel like Shanahan and Holik are our answers to a Recchi and Weight.

I do, however, feel that Salmela must be called up for the stretch run if no defense trades are made. While Martin, Greene, and Oduya have all been solid, none of them can truly quarterback the PP the way Salmela could.

You're right Carolina didn't have an impressive group of defenseman and they were stacked up front, which seems to be the same situation we're in. So you could say that our forwards can pick up the slack, but that's a risk I don't want to take. You never know who you could end up facing in the playoffs. Our team could have made it to the Eastern Conf. Finals last year if we didn't face the Rangers in the first round.

I thought about this after the Columbus game. Even if we blew through the entire Eastern conference, if we had to face the Blue Jackets in the SCF, I think we'd be in for a tough series. Sure we won that game, but we did get lucky. They had our offense locked down for the most part.

Joe Corvo wouldn't be a bad opition if he was made available. I just know we need to upgrade the White - Mottau pair.

Nailed it.

We need a solid veteran presence on the blueline. Considering the heist that Lou pulled for Salvador, I trust the guy to make the right deal.

Same here. i feel like he will get a solid defenseman no one is thinking of getting right now. I had no idea who Salvador was last year to be honest, but man did that work out great. I have no idea what Lou will do, but i think he is serious about making a cup run, and will acquire the right defenseman accordingly. He has already done all he can with the offense, now the defense is his next project.

I think that we also forget that we do have a really decent set of 2 way fowards too. Some of the best in the league when they are on their game.

#1 Madden - when John is doing what he does best he is almost a 3rd Dman out there
#2 Parise - he never quits and his back checking has been awesome as of late.
#3 Rolston - Not only is he starting to come alive with the shots and scoring, he is quick and knows how to play 2 way hockey

I think you could add Pandolfo but he hasn't done much of anything for us this season either way haha.

So when you think about having good defensive forwards it really minimizes how good your defensive pairings need to be. I am not saying that ours are bad, in fact Oduya has really grown on me and so has Mike M. I still think Colin W is making a lot of mistakes out there and he is way overpaid for what he is. Plus he can no longer fight due to his eye injury. I say dump White and Pando for a Top D man or Gio and Pando for a playmaking center.

this years defense is better than last year

mottau is better
greene is better
white is playing better
oduya has become a very good 3rd or 4th guy

and we have huge centers that can all play defense
i guess my point is unless their is another salvador heist than i would be content.

of course every team wants a prized stud at the deadline

this years defense is better than last year

mottau is better
greene is better
white is playing better
oduya has become a very good 3rd or 4th guy

and we have huge centers that can all play defense
i guess my point is unless their is another salvador heist than i would be content.

of course every team wants a prized stud at the deadline

Mottau's been about the same.
Greene was much better until he got hurt, and now he's just average again.
White and Oduya have improved.

At the end of the day, this team still needs help on the back end.

devils could really use filip kuba and/or volchenkov. Joe Corvo isn't a bad option either.

Mottau's been about the same.
Greene was much better until he got hurt, and now he's just average again.
White and Oduya have improved.

At the end of the day, this team still needs help on the back end.

I agree with your conclusion, but I think Mottau is greatly improved and I think Greene is in danger of losing his starting slot.

If it means trading Bergfors for a rental player...I don't want one.

If it means trading Bergfors for a rental player...I don't want one.

If it meant winning a cup this year.... Yeah I'd be more than fine with it.

If it meant winning a cup this year.... Yeah I'd be more than fine with it.

For real. We've traded plenty of players that went on to become great players on other NHL teams...but if we kept them we wouldn't have 3 Cups.

For real. We've traded plenty of players that went on to become great players on other NHL teams...but if we kept them we wouldn't have 3 Cups.
Possible exception: Willie Mitchell.

If it means trading Bergfors for a rental player...I don't want one.

Thank god you're not GM. Bergfors isn't the second coming.

Thank god you're not GM. Bergfors isn't the second coming.

Bergfors is only 21.

He could be anything from a total bust to a future all-star to anything in between, it's just way too early to tell.

Bergfors might end up being good, but I think it's pretty clear, it's not going to be in New Jersey.

Bergfors might end up being good, but I think it's pretty clear, it's not going to be in New Jersey.
I've been one of Bergfors' biggest detractors since we drafted him, but I think he deserves one more (final) shot.

I've been one of Bergfors' biggest detractors since we drafted him, but I think he deserves one more (final) shot.

.21.

I hope salmela gets another shot this year, he looked great the last game he played

I hope salmela gets another shot this year, he looked great the last game he played


Less Greene, More Salmela

.21.
Believe me, I know. One more shot.

Believe me, I know. One more shot.

I dont understand this logic so many people have giving up on 21 year old Bergfors.

Travis Zajac didnt play until he was 21
Zach Parise didnt play until he was 22


Would everyone have been happy if they were just given up on?

I dont understand this logic so many people have giving up on 21 year old Bergfors.

Travis Zajac didnt play until he was 21
Zach Parise didnt play until he was 22


Would everyone have been happy if they were just given up on?
As soon as they were given a chance, they earned the right to stay. If Bergfors doesn't earn his spot at 22, which is what he'd be next season, he should be traded before his value plummets.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Halischuk earn a spot over Bergfors next season.

You know Lou's going to bring Vishnevski back, and our D is just to hurt teams, one player at a time.

I hope salmela gets another shot this year, he looked great the last game he played

THIS yes.

You know Lou's going to bring Vishnevski back, and our D is just to hurt teams, one player at a time.

THIS no. (But I would enjoy the comics...:sarcasm:)

THIS yes.



THIS no. (But I would enjoy the comics...:sarcasm:)

Salmela deserves a comic after his "cheeekun weengs" comment.

Salmela deserves a comic after his "cheeekun weengs" comment.

What? Where? How?

Why wasn´t I informed about this?