Defensive pairings

When Stevens and Rafakski get back this is how I think they should look like;

Neidermeyer - Martin - Why switch a good thing, espicially after last night's performance.

Stevens - Rafalski - This is a no-brainer.

White - Giroux - Not White's biggest fan but he has been on two cup teams so I figure that has to count for something. The 6th spot I figure is up in the air and if we are to keep Neider and Martin together we need a offensive dman to carry the puck because truth to be told White scares the **** out of me when he ever has it, and Giroux has impressed with his short stint so far

Hale would be seventh dman, really don't know if he's ready for playoff hockey and with Stevens back he's not needed as much as before even so he's had a fine rookie year. Alblien might be the odd man out.

When Stevens and Rafakski get back this is how I think they should look like;

Neidermeyer - Martin - Why switch a good thing, espicially after last night's performance.

Stevens - Rafalski - This is a no-brainer.

White - Giroux - Not White's biggest fan but he has been on two cup teams so I figure that has to count for something. The 6th spot I figure is up in the air and if we are to keep Neider and Martin together we need a offensive dman to carry the puck because truth to be told White scares the **** out of me when he ever has it, and Giroux has impressed with his short stint so far

Hale would be seventh dman, really don't know if he's ready for playoff hockey and with Stevens back he's not needed as much as before even so he's had a fine rookie year. Alblien might be the odd man out.
May not be smart to pair the 2 injured guys up right away...

I just hope Raf gets back: I've got my doubts.

I don't pretend to know how Pock is going to be in the NHL, an Andy Delmore or a Brian Rafalski. But I wish for once we could sign an UFA. I've heard good things for 2 years about this kid,like the following.

NEW YORK — Hobey Baker Award finalist defenseman Thomas Pöck has signed a free agent contract with the New York Rangers. Pöck was in the lineup tonight for his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden, and scored a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pöck's four-year playing career at Massachusetts recently ended with the Minutemen's 2-1 triple overtime loss to Maine in last Saturday's Hockey East championship game. He led UMass in goals, assists and points this season with 16-25—41, tops in the nation for defensemen. His seven power-play goals in league games was tied for first in Hockey East with fellow Hobey finalist Tony Voce of Boston College, and fellow defenseman Brian Yandle of New Hampshire.

"He's got an absolute bomb," said UMass coach Don Cahoon in a recent USCHO article. "There are guys that shoot the puck hard and then there are guys that shoot the puck real hard. He's one of those guys that shoots it real hard. Any of the goaltenders and any of the defenders out there that have had the misfortune of trying to block his shots will tell you that. He's got an absolute rocket."

"They are at a unique advantage is that they are both 22-years old, where as most college free agents are 24. It is a big advantage for them in terms of the learning curve and the teams signed them with every intention of them playing in the NHL. We had a team meeting today and the players were excited for them to see the opportunities that can present themselves."

Pöck's college career blossomed after he was converted to defense from forward. He scored 17 goals and 37 points in 37 games last season and was named Second Team all-Hockey East. The 6-foot-1 inch native of Austria finished his career with 44 goals and 102 points.

This season, Pöck was the first-ever First Team all-Hockey East player in UMass history, and was named to the Hockey East all-Tournament team for the second straight season.

"He's such a difference-maker," said Massachusetts-Lowell coach Blaise MacDonald. "It's hard to cast a definition of how do you cover this guy. He's a rover. He has such incredible instincts. You get perplexed because you really can become unbalanced defensively by [focusing on] covering him. It can expose some weaknesses."

Pock already signed with the rangers and got a goal in his first game. Besides, he would have been ineligable for the playoffs anyway, so it really didnt matter.

I think we should put Stevens with Martin, and Rafalski with Niedermayer. White and Giroux on the third pairing like Lou said.

May not be smart to pair the 2 injured guys up right away...
The way I figure it Rafalski is till in decent game shape and the only alternative is breaking up Neider and Martin to put one of them with Stevens and i'd be hate to do that right now. I'm hoping the chemistry they have had might override any rustiness they might have but that's a very point.

I think we should put Stevens with Martin, and Rafalski with Niedermayer. White and Giroux on the third pairing like Lou said.
That would work also, it's nice to have this luxary of two many quality dmen.

Well the idea would be that if they are too rusty maybe Nieds or Martin could pick up after them a bit, now that I think of it, it might be better to play Niedermayer with Stevens.

Stevens-Martin
White-Niedermayer
Hale-Rafalski

Hale will be out thank god. He needs more time down in the AHL with Albany... Martin has progressed this season but not Hale. Too many mistakes by Hale this season...

Parings for the playoffs goes like this...

Stevens-Rafalski
Niedermayer-White (Need to be put back together!)
Martin-Brown/Giroux

Extras-Hale, Albelin,

Hale will be out thank god. He needs more time down in the AHL with Albany... Martin has progressed this season but not Hale. Too many mistakes by Hale this season...

Parings for the playoffs goes like this...

Stevens-Rafalski
Niedermayer-White (Need to be put back together!)
Martin-Brown/Giroux

Extras-Hale, Albelin,
Martin right now is one of our best players and might be our wildcard in the playoffs, I'd hate to push him back to 5th-6th. I think we should keep him in the top four. White really hasn't done anything this year to get pushed up back up where he use to be, but it would make me fill better that Neider would have his back, since that's so ironic because it should be the other way around.

Damn how good is our #27? :bow:

White and Giroux are a nice compliment. Martin-Niedermayer is kicking ass right now, they should keep them together.

Martin right now is one of our best players and might be our wildcard in the playoffs, I'd hate to push him back to 5th-6th. I think we should keep him in the top four. White really hasn't done anything this year to get pushed up back up where he use to be, but it would make me fill better that Neider would have his back, since that's so ironic because it should be the other way around.

Damn how good is our #27? :bow:

I agree. With the season White is having, he should get as littlie ice time as possible. I get nervous just watching him. He didn't pick-up any slack from Stevens as our second most physical Defensemen.

Giroux is a nice fill in player but thats about it, like another devil fan said on another site he is much like a Ken Sutton. They do well in the short period of time they play. I think Burns has more confidence in Hale, he has stuck the whole year and will stay in the playoffs.

I dunno Giroux is getting a lot of ice time for a Minor League callup. And he's playing on the powerplay, something Hale doesn't do.

Giroux is a nice fill in player but thats about it, like another devil fan said on another site he is much like a Ken Sutton. They do well in the short period of time they play. I think Burns has more confidence in Hale, he has stuck the whole year and will stay in the playoffs.

I think tonight is a big test for Giroux, if he plays like he did against Florida he might very well push some people (Hale, Brown, Albelin) out of the rotation. Also I think Stevens health will play a big part into wether Hale plays alot in the playoffs. If Stevens is out I think he will be a regular, if Stevens is in I think he'll see playing time but only on a rotation with other dmen. His inexpierence hurts him.

Our biggest problem is White, if will play because of his expierence but at the same time of all the Devils he has not gotten better in fact somethimes I think he has regressed some and is still vulnerable to bad penalties. And oh those stupid stupid no look passes he continues to do, he did another one of those Tuesday night and it hit the side of the net and Marty was good enough to pounce on it before a Panther could.

I dunno Giroux is getting a lot of ice time for a Minor League callup. And he's playing on the powerplay, something Hale doesn't do.
And you think he is going to be playing on the PP once Niedermayer, Martin, Stevens and Rafalski are all healthy? You need toughness in the playoffs, you play Giroux instead of Hale and we will be physically dominated.

And you think he is going to be playing on the PP once Niedermayer, Martin, Stevens and Rafalski are all healthy? You need toughness in the playoffs, you play Giroux instead of Hale and we will be physically dominated.
Because we all know how much phsyiciality Hale is bringing to the Devils this year :joker:

Because we all know how much phsyiciality Hale is bringing to the Devils this year :joker:
Hale is much much much physical then Giroux, that doesn't say much for Giroux. I would rather an inconsistant Hale in the lineup. If you pair him with someone who can actually skate I feel he will do well.

I dunno Giroux is getting a lot of ice time for a Minor League callup. And he's playing on the powerplay, something Hale doesn't do.It is hard to figure the brass' take on Giroux. When he is up, everyone says he plays well (Lou said he was impressed this week) and he plays PP and PK and gets 3-4th most minutes. Same as last year. But when everyone here figures he has earned a spot, mamagement make a trade for a Smehlik :dunno: or keeps a raw guy like Hale (albeit with a ton of upside) over Giroux.

Jason is probably right. Giroux probably won't see much playoff time. Too bad. I think he can help this team.

Hale is much much much physical then Giroux, that doesn't say much for Giroux. I would rather an inconsistant Hale in the lineup. If you pair him with someone who can actually skate I feel he will do well.If you take out about 2 1/2 of those 'much'es, I would agree. But Giroux does bring alot more puck possession time with his skating and outlet passes.

The answer is to keep Giroux until he starts to hurt the team. Right now he's definitely an asset. If our physicality comes into question, bring back Hale. For now, Giroux is simply playing too well to deny him his spot in the roster.