Rafalski out remainder of RS

Devils: Rafalski likely to miss rest of regular season (http://www.nj.com/sportsflash/devils/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?j0136_BC_HKN--Devils-Rafalski&&sports&njodevils)

Looks like the leg is broken after all. Not good at all. :mad:

What a huge loss for the Devils.

that's not good news. :cry:

Wow, that sucks for the Devils.

Wow, that just might be the icing on the cake for us. To go into the playoffs without maybe or top defensive pairing is not a good thing at all.

The only thing that is even a bright side is that Rafi could be good to go for the playoffs. It's going to suck to play down the stretch without him, but as long as he can come back for the playoffs, I can deal with it.

Just great. That means we'll see more of ...

T. Albelin
S. Brown
R. Giroux
P. Martin
D. Hale
S. Niedermayer

Martin #2 d-man. :handclap:

I don't think the loss of Rafalski will hurt us all that much, I actually think Rafalski's worth to the team is extreamly overated. He isn't anything great in his own end....you can survive without those players.

I actually think Rafalski's worth to the team is extreamly overated. He isn't anything great in his own end....you can survive without those players.I think that you're insane. Rafi is a great skater and is very close to Nieder in terms of adding skill on the blue-line. As for his defensive abilities, I disagree with you in saying that he's not anything great. He is a very solid defenseman.

I think that you're insane. Rafi is a great skater and is very close to Nieder in terms of adding skill on the blue-line. As for his defensive abilities, I disagree with you in saying that he's not anything great. He is a very solid defenseman.

Agreed. Rafalski is very underrated defensively. Some people look at his size and immediately come to the conclusion he's nothing special in his own end. Ah well, just another (NJ) player who is a product of something. In this case, Rafalski is a product of Stevens. :p

Rafalski is an amazing player in the offensive zone, and a damn good one in the defensive zone. Lets hope he's back for the playoffs at 100%

Agreed. Rafalski is very underrated defensively. :pNot by Burns who puts Rafi him out there 22+ mins a game. That's what counts.

UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH.

I didn't need to wake up to this news.

Paul Martin, you better be ready to play the best hockey of your life.

UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH.

I didn't need to wake up to this news.

Paul Martin, you better be ready to play the best hockey of your life.

The only player who has been better than Martin on the entire team has been Niedermayer in the past month. Martin's progress has been lightning fast! I'm more than happy with the job he's doing and I'm comfortable with him getting more ice time.

This is very bad news for the devils, I hope the rookies are up to the task. Brian is very good at the back end for the devils and he helps the pp and is good on the Pk but i am sure (hoping) things will turn out good.

jesus ... holy **** man ... :s

I don't think the loss of Rafalski will hurt us all that much, I actually think Rafalski's worth to the team is extreamly overated. He isn't anything great in his own end....you can survive without those players.

Whacked. Raf is the second best defenseman this team has right now. How do you replace a guy that's known and played the system for three Cup runs? You don't.

I don't think the loss of Rafalski will hurt us all that much, I actually think Rafalski's worth to the team is extreamly overated. He isn't anything great in his own end....you can survive without those players.

I have to agree with you. Without Stevens, his game has slid. It hasn't been his best season. However, we will surely miss his offense, but the key for us is to go deep into the playoffs, is Stevens!

I have to agree with you. Without Stevens, his game has slid. It hasn't been his best season. However, we will surely miss his offense, but the key for us is to go deep into the playoffs, is Stevens!I think in January that was true but c'mon - losing a partner like SS is going to hurt anyone's game. Lately I thought Rafi has been very solid. Rafi has been brilliant more often than not at both ends and in his last 13 games has been a minus exactly 1 time. Not bad at all considering the way the team has been playing.

Considering the depleted defense corps, the timing on this was awful.

Anyone who thinks Rafalski is not all that valuable to this team doesn;t watch the games or know much about the Devils. Scott Niedermayer and Brian rafalski start nearly every offensive rush that the Devils create (with the exception of Gomez)...They are also fantastic point men on the Power play..We are one of the few teams that does not have to use a forward back on the point because those two are SO talented...

The good news is that he will be ready when the playoffs start.

I don't see why Martin would buckle under pressure, if he can survive in Minnesota under their program and win two national titles, he'll be fine, he can handle the pressure of the playoffs. Paul Martin owns! David Hale however....yuck, go away loser :joker:

Anyone who thinks Rafalski is not all that valuable to this team doesn;t watch the games or know much about the Devils. Scott Niedermayer and Brian rafalski start nearly every offensive rush that the Devils create (with the exception of Gomez)...They are also fantastic point men on the Power play..We are one of the few teams that does not have to use a forward back on the point because those two are SO talented...

The good news is that he will be ready when the playoffs start.

I know he's valuable, but still think that Stevens is the key for us to go deep. I hope Ralphy is back. But, what makes you think he will?

Well...if there was ever a time for Ray Giroux to make a statement and have his skills/talent shine...he won't get a better opportunity than this one!

This may his last chance to show he's a NHL'er and not an AHL'er.

LET'S GO RAY!!!

I know he's valuable, but still think that Stevens is the key for us to go deep. I hope Ralphy is back. But, what makes you think he will?


It says in the AP release that "rest" should have rafalski ready for the playoffs.....

I think that you're insane. Rafi is a great skater and is very close to Nieder in terms of adding skill on the blue-line. As for his defensive abilities, I disagree with you in saying that he's not anything great. He is a very solid defenseman.
Rafalski has allways been sheltered by Stevens, on his own with an average defemsmen Rafalski is not good defensivly at all. A defensmen is suppost to play defense not fancy around looking like Bure.

Whacked. Raf is the second best defenseman this team has right now. How do you replace a guy that's known and played the system for three Cup runs? You don't.
He played for two cup winning teams and both times with Stevens. When Stevens gets injured rafalski falters....there is a reason for that. If you play Martin with a healthy stevens for a season his stats and play would be exceptionally better then they are now.

You think Rafalski looks like Bure? I'm sorry, but I couldn't agree less. I would say that Rafalski is the most important of our second tier players

First tier: Brodeur, Stevens, Niedermayer, Elias

Second tier: Rafalski, Gomez, Langenbrunner, White, Madden

Third tier: Gionta, Martin, Friesen, Brylin, Pandolfo, Stevenson

There is no way that The Devils would put a defensive question mark next to Scott Stevens on the top pairing. Rafalski is extremely solid positionally, and I've only seen him get beaten 1 on 1 once (by Jamie Lundmark oddly enough) he's one of the best skaters in the league, and despite his stats, he a defense first dman. He gets most of his point on the powerplay, and off of rushes.

Rafalski has allways been sheltered by Stevens, on his own with an average defemsmen Rafalski is not good defensivly at all. A defensmen is suppost to play defense not fancy around looking like Bure.

Jason, you are just wrong about this one. Brian Rafalski is very solid defensively and offensively...Playing with a partner like Scott stevens is great..but they don't get around rafalski's side either....I know you have a tendency to overstate things..but to say " he is not good defensively at all" really proves that you haven't watched his game closely. You are wrong...not a personal opinion..you're just wrong.

He played for two cup winning teams and both times with Stevens. When Stevens gets injured rafalski falters....there is a reason for that. If you play Martin with a healthy stevens for a season his stats and play would be exceptionally better then they are now.

I actually think that Martin should get a chance next to Stevens, he's an excellent defenseman, and if he's better, we should play Rafalski next to Hale, but until that time, Rafalski is an extremely important part of our defense corps.

Rafalski has allways been sheltered by Stevens, on his own with an average defemsmen Rafalski is not good defensivly at all. A defensmen is suppost to play defense not fancy around looking like Bure.

Jason, you were wrong about Martin earlier in the year, and you are wrong about Rafalski. You may have a strong knowledge about the devils' prospects, but offensive defenseman seem to elude you. Rafalski didn't have the advantage of Stevens on the USA's Silver medal team. He was outstanding, and that was two seasons ago when he was still relatively unknown. We will miss him. Too bad we don't play the Rangers ten more times. Ray and Sean seem to do quite well against other AHL teams.

Who cares??? the last 10 games of the regular season mean NOTHING. The devils will be on the road for the first round against a really good team regardless. weather it be the 6the seed vs. Phili, the 7th Seed vs. Toronto, or the 8th vs. Tampa.

Rafalski and Stevens will be back for the playoffs.

so who cares

Who cares??? the last 10 games of the regular season mean NOTHING. The devils will be on the road for the first round against a really good team regardless. weather it be the 6the seed vs. Phili, the 7th Seed vs. Toronto, or the 8th vs. Tampa.

Rafalski and Stevens will be back for the playoffs.

so who cares

-People wouldn't be discussing if if they didn't care.
-Injuries often have a tendency to take longer than forecast to heal
-Players don't always return at 100% when they are able to play again
-They're prone to get hurt again in the same place
-This team didn't acquire 'insurance' at the deadline against slow recovery or re-injury.

So, in short, I care.

I hate that phrase, "who cares". It implies that the people you're talking to (who wouldn't be talking about something if they didn't care) shouldn't be having the discussion they're having. It's arrogant and obnoxious.

He played for two cup winning teams and both times with Stevens. When Stevens gets injured rafalski falters....there is a reason for that. If you play Martin with a healthy stevens for a season his stats and play would be exceptionally better then they are now.

Your logic is flawed here. The entire defense is made better by Scott Stevens. That doesn't mean that Rafalski isn't important to the team. You're discrediting the entire blueline by saying they won Cups because they played with Stevens.

I don't know where you're coming from here. It doesn't make any sense. Rafalski's job is to provide offense. Nobody expects the guy to be a stalwart. Just a solid defender. And that's what he is. Considering he's the second most experienced playoff dman on the team, losing him for any amount of time hurts. Whether he played with Stevens or not.

Well said. :)

Maybe I am wrong, I am not a strong fan of offensive defensmen, I feel defense should be the main priority or you shouldn't play. Rafalski has been playing with Stevens for some time now and it seems his worst season defensivly is when Stevens goes gown.

Maybe I am wrong, I am not a strong fan of offensive defensmen, I feel defense should be the main priority or you shouldn't play. Rafalski has been playing with Stevens for some time now and it seems his worst season defensivly is when Stevens goes gown.

I think having good offensive defensemen makes your team exponentially stronger. In a tight playoff game your opponent can shut down your top scoring line by unleashing it's checking line on it. That's how the Devils beat Boston and Tampa Bay with realitive ease. Shuting down offensive defensemen however is tougher as you have to set wingers to check them and by trait wingers tend to be the weakest defensive players on the team. That's how the team got enough offense to win the cup last year; despite having relatively weak forwards, the team had great offensive defensemen that supplied much of the offense. How dominant was Niedermayer last year? He basically won us the cup. If you look at all the great teams ever, they all had great offensive defensemen.

This is a HUGE loss for the Devils not having rafalski down the stretch run... I hope he will be back for the playoffs. I have not seen this Devils team so banged up in recent years. Speedy recovery for rafalski and Stevens to come back real soon.

I think having good offensive defensemen makes your team exponentially stronger. In a tight playoff game your opponent can shut down your top scoring line by unleashing it's checking line on it. That's how the Devils beat Boston and Tampa Bay with realitive ease. Shuting down offensive defensemen however is tougher as you have to set wingers to check them and by trait wingers tend to be the weakest defensive players on the team. That's how the team got enough offense to win the cup last year; despite having relatively weak forwards, the team had great offensive defensemen that supplied much of the offense. How dominant was Niedermayer last year? He basically won us the cup. If you look at all the great teams ever, they all had great offensive defensemen.
If you have a good group of physical stay at home dmen that can make a break out pass then you will win. They are much better then any offensive defensmen. A pass will allways get the puck from point A to point B faster then a skater.

Devils need Rafalski and it will be hard to replace him... Ray Giroux has to stay in the line up now. He played very well last night and will help the Devils on the defense...

Maybe I am wrong, I am not a strong fan of offensive defensmen, I feel defense should be the main priority or you shouldn't play. Rafalski has been playing with Stevens for some time now and it seems his worst season defensivly is when Stevens goes gown.

While I would normally agree with you here, the loss of Rafalski hurts more than we think. Rafalski is a top three guy here for a reason. He plays well enough to deserve it. Very few liabilities last here. In fact, none last. Rafalski isn't a bad defensive player. He's just not very great at it.

I think if a defenseman can play offensively but still get back and play solid defense (ie: Nieds and Raf), there's room in the NHL for them.

If you have a good group of physical stay at home dmen that can make a break out pass then you will win. They are much better then any offensive defensmen. A pass will allways get the puck from point A to point B faster then a skater.

That doesn't account for the offensive threat a defensemen provides with his play in the offensive zone. You want to have a versatile system of attack; not a one dimensional offense. Again, all the great teams had great offensive defensemen. Of course, they also had great stay at home defensemen, which brings me to my point: you want a balanced blueline. You can't have only stay at home guys or only offensive d-men, you need a balance of the two and the Devils have had that for years, which is a big part of their success.

That doesn't account for the offensive threat a defensemen provides with his play in the offensive zone. You want to have a versatile system of attack; not a one dimensional offense. Again, all the great teams had great offensive defensemen. Of course, they also had great stay at home defensemen, which brings me to my point: you want a balanced blueline. You can't have only stay at home guys or only offensive d-men, you need a balance of the two and the Devils have had that for years, which is a big part of their success.
So Martin and Niedermayer arn't good enough?

So Martin and Niedermayer aren't good enough?

I was speaking more in general terms and not about the current state of the Devils. To answer your question however, I don't think it's enough as Martin isn't quite as good as Rafalski. Maybe someday he will be and that day Rafalski will become expendable, but right now no.

This is pretty simple no?

Ice times without Rafalski (against Philly):
Brown - 6:57
Martin - 26:25
Hale - 17:42

Ice times with Rafalski (against Tampa):
Brown - 0
Martin - 16:21
Hale - 13:59

Which would you rather?
Bottom line - we are a MUCH better team with Rafalski than without

I was speaking more in general terms and not about the current state of the Devils. To answer your question however, I don't think it's enough as Martin isn't quite as good as Rafalski. Maybe someday he will be and that day Rafalski will become expendable, but right now no.
Martin is very close to Rafalski allready....I would rather Martin handle the puck in the defensive zone then Rafalski...that means alot to me.

Honestly, I don't think positioning is huge right now. It would be nice to finish 4th and have the extra home game, but I would rather get the line-up totally healthy because the first round match-up whomever it is against is going to be a war, and we want our best possible line-up out there. If Rafalski needs the rest of the regular season, so be it. As long as he is ready for the playoffs, it's all good. Gives Martin and Hale more added responsibilities, which should bode well come playoff time.

Honestly, I don't think positioning is huge right now. It would be nice to finish 4th and have the extra home game, but I would rather get the line-up totally healthy because the first round match-up whomever it is against is going to be a war, and we want our best possible line-up out there. If Rafalski needs the rest of the regular season, so be it. As long as he is ready for the playoffs, it's all good. Gives Martin and Hale more added responsibilities, which should bode well come playoff time.
I was thinking the same thing

If you have a good group of physical stay at home dmen that can make a break out pass then you will win. They are much better then any offensive defensmen. A pass will allways get the puck from point A to point B faster then a skater.So Hale's best game is better than Niedermayer's best game?!?

I seem to disagree with Jason about 72.89% of the time :D

But I think he is right-on here. Not really the points he is making but the overall concept. Rafalski is a very good player, but in his own zone in my opinion he is average. His saving grace is he is a very smart player defensively.

But really, with loosing Daneyko and Stevens injured this team is missing a lot of ruggedness. Rafalski is not a player that other players do not want to play against. Right now that style is being provided by White-Hale-Brown ( :cry: who is not an NHL Defensemen) Loosing a Rafalski type is not all that critical when you can put on the ice Niedermayer-Martin-Giroux. There is a down-grade with putting out Niedermayer-Martin-Giroux as opposed to Niedermayer-Martin-Rafalski but the down-grade defensively is not that large.

The missing elements in the Devils Defense is toughness and physical-ness. There was a time When either Stevens, Daneyko or White where on the ice 100% of the game. There were areas of the ice opposing players didn't really want to go or went with caution while these guys were out there. Now with White-Hale-Brown this is actually an area of the Devils game that can be exploted. Going from a dominating aspect of the Devils game to one that can be exploted is the very problem.

Right now the Devils Defense is not difficult to play against and adding or loosing Rafalski really doesn't change that fact.

The missing elements in the Devils Defense is toughness and physical-ness. There was a time When either Stevens, Daneyko or White where on the ice 100% of the game. There were areas of the ice opposing players didn't really want to go or went with caution while these guys were out there. Now with White-Hale-Brown this is actually an area of the Devils game that can be exploted. Going from a dominating aspect of the Devils game to one that can be exploted is the very problem.


That is exactly what this team is lacking and the big difference from this year's team with last years team.

The Leadership is no longer here on the Devils with Stevens being out and losing daneyko to retirement. Niedermayer may be the Ca[tain right now but could he be a good leader? I think he can and he has already proved he could be a good captain when Stevens retires. Devils need more leadership from the players like Elias, Brylin, Madden and Pandolfo... These guys have been around and need to take some leadership NOW...

At the risk of being called lazy (and I've been called much worse) for not checking the other threads, why has White missed the past few games? Or was it just the last one?

Stiff neck. All we need now is for Niedermayer to go down and we'll be icing an NCAA/AHL defense

Hale-Martin
Albelin-Giroux
Brown-DeMarchi?

Stiff neck.

Serious? Hopefully not, or I'd probably have heard about it earlier.

Yes it is true that White is out with a sore/stiff neck. He missed the NYR game and will be missing tonight's game vs. the Penguins... :cry: