Lou indicates he will sign a free agent who is playing in Europe

"I'm not disappointed by any means. It means opportunities for some young players. And some of our veterans will take on more responsibility and more ice time. The priority for me was signing Johnny Oduya and Andy Greene. We'll do a couple of things in the next few days to round out the team, but I'm really happy with this hockey team."

[/B]Lamoriello indicated that the Devils in the next few days would be signing a free agent who has been playing in Europe.[B]

So what happens with the Devils now?

"I don't think this is a change in direction," Lamoriello said. "It's a change of people pushing other people. The core is still there. But you can't keep everybody. The cap is going down next year."


http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2009/07/new_jersey_devils_gm_lou_lamor_6.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------

I would love to speculate on who this FA could be. I wonder if it is a previous NHLer.

As for today, I am not panicing as a fan right now.

I think the players we let go are easily replaceable by developing youth in the organization.

I'd say Jonsson, but he just retired.

Josefson? :sarcasm:

Jonas Gustavsson as Marty's back-up :)

Just sign someone good. We're the only team in the Atlantic who didn't improve today/in the past few days, IMHO.

ZOMFG it's Jagr!!!!!

Jagr :sarcasm:

jaromir jagr

If it's Jagr, Lou just owned the NHL. Hah.

Brylin?

Salomonssson!!!!!!!!!!!! Too Many Ssss's!

Jagr please

Alexie Yashin :sarcasm:

Alexie Yashin :sarcasm:

Holy Jesus if we sign Yashin :shakehead

it's not Jagr. don't get your hopes up on that and then get all emo when it's a fringe guy or someone even Devilswede hasn't heard of.

it's not Jagr. don't get your hopes up on that and then get all emo when it's a fringe guy or someone even Devilswede hasn't heard of.
Yeah. It'll be another Oduya/Salmela.

Jonas Gustavsson as Marty's back-up :)

I would love it if we got him. Absolutely love it.

It'll probably be another left-field signing like Salmela.

Jagr fo sho

we're bringing back Jari Viuhkola!:yo::yo:

Roman Cechmanek

I'm intrigued...

Parise - Zajac* - Langenbrunner
Rolston - Elias - Jagr
Clarkson - Zubrus - Bergfors (his softness would be negated on this line)
Pandolfo - Pelley - Leblond



Watch it be this guy:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=45127

it's not Jagr. don't get your hopes up on that and then get all emo when it's a fringe guy or someone even Devilswede hasn't heard of.

for sure its not going to be jagr, but let us dream on the day we lost gionta, madden and didnt sign anyone to replace them:cry:

All though its probably going to be a guy who will need a little time to develop in the AHL, i hope its Palffy

Christian Berglund! Make it happen Lou!

Its either Jagr or Rasmussen

It's Anton Kuryanov!!!

Alexander Korolyuk

Its either Jagr or Rasmussen

i would cry if it was him

I'd say Jonsson, but he just retired.

Retired because Lou sent two guys last week.;)

Ari Ahonen?

Vitaly Vishnevski?

Now Lou has everyone excited. I bet it's the guy who led the SEL in some stat.

Per-Åge Skröder is 31 and led the SEL in scoring last season with 30 goals and 29 assists.

I'm not saying, just saying.

Parise - Zajac* - Langenbrunner
Rolston - Elias - Jagr
Clarkson - Zubrus - Bergfors (his softness would be negated on this line)
Pandolfo - Pelley - Leblond



Watch it be this guy:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=45127

that would be a pleasant surprise. I doubt it.

for sure its not going to be jagr, but let us dream on the day we lost gionta, madden and didnt sign anyone to replace them:cry:

Maybe this is why the Devils had the full court press to resign all the STH? :sarcasm: Seriously though, I'm not worried, there's plenty of time to make the team better. And a lot of these other teams are putting themselves into salary cap hell.

it's not Jagr. don't get your hopes up on that and then get all emo when it's a fringe guy or someone even Devilswede hasn't heard of.

That would be funny just to see how fast people jump back on the bandwagon after they're running off a la the Titanic movie in droves :sarcasm:

Its either Jagr or Rasmussen

:laugh:

Vadim Sharifijanov?

Alexander Korolyuk

I believe we still own his rights after the Malahkov trade. If he comes back he owes us a year on his entry level deal/

There's a decent chance that it could be dimitri dimitrionov

Maybe this is why the Devils had the full court press to resign all the STH? :sarcasm: Seriously though, I'm not worried, there's plenty of time to make the team better. And a lot of these other teams are putting themselves into salary cap hell.

i think this is a good time to go get Arnott

Sarge :)

i didn't know ricky rubio played hockey.

jagr would be nice..

but in all seriousness, im happy with how we stand. pelley can fill in for madden. berfors will finally get his shot on our 2nd line. its now make or break for this kid. we are going to have an extra 3-4 million to put towards signing a d man. whoever said other teams are going to be in salary cap hell for the next few years is right. lou played this one perfect

Jagr plz

jagr would be nice..

but in all seriousness, im happy with how we stand. pelley can fill in for madden. berfors will finally get his shot on our 2nd line. its now make or break for this kid. we are going to have an extra 3-4 million to put towards signing a d man. whoever said other teams are going to be in salary cap hell for the next few years is right. lou played this one perfect

Pelley can fill in for Madden on the whiteboard. Beyond that...

Per-Åge Skröder is 31 and led the SEL in scoring last season with 30 goals and 29 assists.

I'm not saying, just saying.

:yo:lets sign the scrotum guy then.

... he's getting Alexander Radulov to come back...

Lamoriello indicated that the Devils in the next few days would be signing a free agent who has been playing in Europe.

two words: Karel Rachunek :sarcasm:

... he's getting Alexander Radulov to come back...


that would be awesome.

that would be awesome.

That was a joke I believe. Radulov still has a year left on his Nashville contract.

that would be awesome.
Even if he could, Radulov belongs to Nashville.

That was a joke I believe. Radulov still has a year left on his Nashville contract.

Isn't this all a joke??? I'm just saying it would be awesome to have on our team.

Even if he could, Radulov belongs to Nashville.

again doesn't change the fact that it would be awesome.

Even if he could, Radulov belongs to Nashville.

and Radulov obviously doesnt care about that, :laugh:

oh if only it were that simple

Lou must have been mistaken. Vishnevski plays in Russia, and Russia is in Asia. :nod:

Oh jeez. Now I'm all hot and bothered.

Adrian Foster.





:sarcasm:

Oh jeez. Now I'm all hot and bothered.
Amazing how Lou saying he's going to sign a nameless European who could be anything from Christian Dube to Jaromir Jagr suddenly makes everything better.

Jagr

or

Tedenby!!!!!!!!!!!

Pelley can fill in for Madden on the whiteboard. Beyond that...

Exactly, when your downgrading from Madden to Pelley your losing a lot of things. Madden has leadership, he can actually put up some points, hes very good defensively and decent offensively. Pelley has virtually no offensively ability at all, just picture that next to Pandolfo. He is good defensively but not as good as Madden. But Im happy to see him called up, hopefully he can develop into a Blair Betts type player.

Petr Forsberg or better yet Janne Ojanen!:yo:

Even if he could, Radulov belongs to Nashville.

not if Nashville trades his contract...

but still that was a joke and he's not a UFA per the comment. Maybe it will be the only remaining player from Team Sweden that didn't get drafted last week.

TG: http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2009/07/lamoriello-devils-on-the-verge-of-signing-a-mystery-player.html

"We will be signing, I'm sure, at least one player very soon that's one of our reserve-list players," Lamoriello said.

Reserve-list player?

"One of our players that we have rights to," Lamoriello said.

Lamoriello would not say who the player is.

Could it be the mystery player from Europe Lamoriello spoke about?

Alexander Korolyuk?

Take your pick.



Elitserien | Forwards


# Player Team GP G A TP PIM
1. Per-Åge Skrøder (F) MODO 55 30 29 59 78
2. Fredrik Bremberg (F) Djurgården 53 17 40 57
3. Linus Omark (F) Luleå 53 23 32 55 66
4. Jaroslav Hlinka (F) Linköping 54 12 43 55 16
5. Niklas Sundström (F) MODO 49 18 35 53 70
6. Johan Davidsson (F) HV71 55 13 37 50 24
7. Johan Harju (F) Luleå 55 27 22 49 30
8. Jan Hlavac (F) Linköping 54 25 23 48 28
9. Jukka Voutilainen (F) HV71 52 17 30 47 63
10. Rickard Wallin (F) Färjestad 55 18 27 45 56



Elitserien | Defensemen

# Player Team GP G A TP PIM
1. Marcus Ragnarsson (D) Djurgården 49 12 25 37 38
2. Pasi Puistola (D) HV71 54 6 25 31 52
3. Mikko Lehtonen (D) Timrå 41 15 15 30 58
4. Kenny Jönsson (D) Rögle 47 6 24 30 26
5. Teemu Aalto (D) Linköping 47 11 18 29 36
6. Jaroslav Obsut (D) Luleå 54 8 21 29 48
7. David Petrasek (D) HV71 52 6 22 28 91
8. Per Gustafsson (D) HV71 49 9 18 27 42
9. Mattias Timander (D) MODO 55 10 15 25 70
10. Kristofer Berglund (D) Luleå 52 3 22 25 36


KHL | Forwards

# Player Team GP G A TP PIM
1. Sergei Mozyakin (F) HK Atlant 56 34 41 75 14
2. Jan Marek (F) Metallurg Magnitogorsk 53 35 36 71 62
3. Aleksei Morozov (F) Ak Bars Kazan 49 32 39 71 22
4. Danis Zaripov (F) Ak Bars Kazan 56 34 31 65 26
5. Aleksei Tereschenko (F) Salavat Yulaev 55 29 28 57 22
6. Jaromir Jagr (F) Avangard Omsk 55 25 28 53 62
7. Alexander Korolyuk (F) HK Atlant 56 21 32 53 32
8. Alexander Perezhogin (F) Salavat Yulaev 55 28 24 52 32
9. Konstantin Glazachev (F) Barys Astana 56 28 24 52 30
10. Pavel Brendl (F) Torpedo Nizhny Novogorod 56 35 15 50 48

KHL | Defensemen

# Player Team GP G A TP PIM
1. Kevin Dallman (D) Barys Astana 53 28 30 58 117
2. Peter Podhradsky (D) Torpedo Nizhny Novogorod 56 6 31 37 46
3. Vitaly Atyushov (D) Metallurg Magnitogorsk 55 8 28 36 34
4. Ilya Nikulin (D) Ak Bars Kazan 53 7 26 33 72
5. Magnus Johansson (D) HK Atlant 53 7 26 33 36
6. Aleksandr Guskov (D) Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 56 15 15 30 84
7. Karel Rachunek (D) Dynamo Moskva 50 9 21 30 85
8. Oleg Tverdovsky (D) Salavat Yulaev 48 8 21 29 30
9. Andrei Pervyshin (D) Ak Bars Kazan 54 6 21 27 28
10. Vitali Proshkin (D) Salavat Yulaev 55 6 21 27 66

SM-Liiga | Forwards

1. Kim Hirschovits (F) HIFK 58 18 48 66 54
2. Jarkko Immonen (F) JYP 58 24 41 65 40
3. Toni Koivisto (F) Kärpät 58 23 39 62 12
4. Jussi Makkonen (F) HPK 57 27 32 59 24
5. Jonas Andersson (F) Kärpät 56 24 33 57 54
6. Tuomas Pihlman (F) JYP 58 24 32 56 54
7. Ryan Keller (F) Blues 54 21 34 55 38
8. Steve Kariya (F) HPK 58 21 33 54 26
9. Antti Virtanen (F) JYP 56 22 31 53 34
10. Daniel Corso (F) Kärpät 41 22 30 52 45


SM-Liiga | Defensemen

# Player Team GP G A TP PIM
1. Mikko Mäenpää (D) HPK 58 11 36 47 40
2. Markus Seikola (D) Ilves 50 18 27 45 95
3. Ilkka Heikkinen (D) HIFK 54 8 26 34 22
4. J.D. Forrest (D) Kärpät 52 5 28 33 60
5. Mikko Jokela (D) Jokerit 55 8 20 28 72
6. Mika Strömberg (D) KalPa 55 5 22 27 86
7. Jan Latvala (D) Pelicans 57 9 17 26 14
8. Jukka-Pekka Laamanen (D) HPK 52 9 15 24 80
9. Ville Uusitalo (D) Ässät 57 7 17 24 62
10. Ville Mäntymaa (D) JYP 57 7 17 24 36

:yo:lets sign the scrotum guy then.
I can has scrotum?
http://www.modohockey.se/bilder/spelare/2009/266.jpg

I love how we're speculating on who Lou is going to sign. It's obviously Jagr!

Ah, well it's nothing then.

TG: http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2009/07/lamoriello-devils-on-the-verge-of-signing-a-mystery-player.html



Alexander Korolyuk?

Urbom pulls a Bergfors and plays for Lowell? Do we own rights to any other Euros? Do we still have rights to Tuomas Pihlman?

TG: http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2009/07/lamoriello-devils-on-the-verge-of-signing-a-mystery-player.html



Alexander Korolyuk?

is this supposed to make me happy before bed?

Amazing how Lou saying he's going to sign a nameless European who could be anything from Christian Dube to Jaromir Jagr suddenly makes everything better.

Lou knows just how to make us feel better about things. Don't worry everyone, Uncle Lou is on it... :laugh:

So far as I know, the total list of Europeans to whom we hold rights is the following:

Tedenby
Josefson
Urbom
Khomutov
Korolyuk
Malmivaara
Pihlman

Its Tedenby!!! or Josefson!!!!! hopefully but it wont be.They still need to get bigger

and he is...............

is this supposed to make me happy before bed?

that bottle of lube and box of kleenex on your night stand will probably help you there

Adrian Foster.



That name is never to be spoken round' here! :rant:




Alexander Korolyuk?

That one is at least possible

EDIT: And if it's Malmivaara, I'll break something.

It's obviously Jagr!

Cant be Jagr. Jagr plays hockey for money.

So what happens with the Devils now?

Well, I don't know, but after the first post I think Lou may be signing a guy from europe...:sarcasm:
TG: http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2009/07/lamoriello-devils-on-the-verge-of-signing-a-mystery-player.html



Alexander Korolyuk?

Urbom pulls a Bergfors and plays for Lowell? Do we own rights to any other Euros? Do we still have rights to Tuomas Pihlman?
Hmmmm interesting. Very interesting.

TG: http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2009/07/lamoriello-devils-on-the-verge-of-signing-a-mystery-player.html



Alexander Korolyuk?

It also sounds like it could be Zajac

Urbom pulls a Bergfors and plays for Lowell? Do we own rights to any other Euros? Do we still have rights to Tuomas Pihlman?

Tedenby

Jordan Parise coming back to play in Lowell?

Jordan Parise coming back to play in Lowell?
or in NJ? :)

Tedenby

Well he's under contract with his club so we would need permission before bringing him over.

If it's Korolyuk I will poop muh pants.

or in NJ? :)

or in NJ. Please no.

So far as I know, the total list of Europeans to whom we hold rights is the following:

Tedenby
Josefson
Urbom
Khomutov
Korolyuk
Malmivaara
Pihlman
Sopanen too, or it could be boring old Jordan Parise.

Alexei Morozov..... I think hes considered a God over there though so doubtful.


****in guy killed us.

Sopanen too, or it could be boring old Jordan Parise.

good ol' boring Jordan Parise. A classic Devils move.

I hope it's not Tedenby or Josefson. I'd rather them continue to develop in Sweden rather than come here to play in the AHL.

If it's Korolyuk I will poop muh pants.

I feel like a two year old, they made LOL

Sopanen too, or it could be boring old Jordan Parise.

Good point. He's put in two solid seasons in Finland.

Alexei Morozov..... I think hes considered a God over there though so doubtful.


****in guy killed us.No because Marty will get owned in practice and never be the same again.:sarcasm:

I hope it's not Tedenby or Josefson. I'd rather them continue to develop in Sweden rather than come here to play in the AHL.
I know Lou said he thought Josefson was almost ready, but I'm pretty sure he didn't mean next month...

I would settle for another "Oduya" or "Salmela." I wonder if Lou will go after Derek Morris? Or Radek Bonk?

I also wonder if he would be bold enough to make Brandon Dubinsky an offer that the Rangers will not match?


Just for the hell of it:

Parise--Zajac--Langenbrunner
Elias--Dubinsky?--Bergfors
Rolston--Zubrus--Clarkson
Pandolfo--Pelley--Chad LaRose?
Leblond

Martin--Salvador
Morris?--White
Oduya--Greene
Corrente and Mottau

Marty
Andrew Raycroft?


Not bad for a start! Always open to civil suggestions!!!! :help:

that bottle of lube and box of kleenex on your night stand will probably help you there

PAUSE

:laugh:

unlike this free agency stuff that is just

:(

I hope it's not Tedenby or Josefson. I'd rather them continue to develop in Sweden rather than come here to play in the AHL.

I think they're both under contract.

Fedor Fedorov, in a ploy to land Sergei.

I know Lou said he thought Josefson was almost ready, but I'm pretty sure he didn't mean next month...
Well I don't expect it at all. I'm pretty sure Lou is more patient than that.

I know Lou said he thought Josefson was almost ready, but I'm pretty sure he didn't mean next month...

He's under contract so it wont happen. same with Tedenby.

I would settle for another "Oduya" or "Salmela." I wonder if Lou will go after Derek Morris? Or Radek Bonk?

I also wonder if he would be bold enough to make Brandon Dubinsky an offer that the Rangers will not match?


Just for the hell of it:

Parise--Zajac--Langenbrunner
Elias--Dubinsky?--Bergfors
Rolston--Zubrus--Clarkson
Pandolfo--Pelley--Chad LaRose?
Leblond

Martin--Salvador
Morris?--White
Oduya--Greene
Corrente and Mottau

Marty
Andrew Raycroft?


Not bad for a start! Always open to civil suggestions!!!! :help:

An offer sheet that the Rangers wouldn't match would more than likely be more than Zajac and probably even Parise so no.

Lou is saving cap space this season to sign Lebron next season...

I have a feeling it will be Korolyuk tho.

Where's Hellsempire when you really need him? :sarcasm:

Teemu Laine.

In 20 years I've never been negetive on this team.....We've in F'in trouble this season.

Illka Pikkareinen.

In 20 years I've never been negetive on this team.....We've in F'in trouble this season.

were in trouble every season, so im not worried about this season, check it, we lost every one of our old BIG names Ds and i mean hell back in the day martin was our number 5...and now hes our number 1, few seasons ago we "only" had marty and we won our division and came close to taking the conference, and this has been going on for god knows how long, everyone says that this is the year jersey goes down yet we never do...the team is consistently good and this year will be no different no matter who we have on our team

GO DEVILS! :yo:

were in trouble every season, so im not worried about this season, check it, we lost every one of our old BIG names Ds and i mean hell back in the day martin was our number 5...and now hes our number 1, few seasons ago we "only" had marty and we won our division and came close to taking the conference, and this has been going on for god knows how long, everyone says that this is the year jersey goes down yet we never do...the team is consistently good and this year will be no different no matter who we have on our team

GO DEVILS! :yo:

Loosing Madden and Gionta doesn't kill us, per se...but we have nothing waiting in the wings.

When we lost a player in the past someone always stepped up. Now we simply don't have any one to step up. Our Defense simply sucks and for the last few years our forwards saved their bacon...In my estimation, we just lost our 2 best defensive forwards and have no solution for it.......

I hope to god I'm wrong. But I don't see it.

Loosing Madden and Gionta doesn't kill us, per se....we have have nothing wating in the wings.

When we lost a player in the past someone always stepped up. Now we simply don't have any one to step up. Our Defense simply sucks and for the last few years our forwards saved their bacon...In my estimation, we just lost our 2 best defensive forwards and have no solution for it.......

I hope to god I'm wrong. But I don't see it.

we have bergfors and Pelley for now. If they don't pan out then we have some guys coming next year.

we have bergfors and Pelley for now. If they don't pan out then we have some guys coming next year.


Are you seriously saying that with a straight face????????

Loosing Madden and Gionta doesn't kill us, per se...but we have nothing waiting in the wings.

When we lost a player in the past someone always stepped up. Now we simply don't have any one to step up. Our Defense simply sucks and for the last few years our forwards saved their bacon...In my estimation, we just lost our 2 best defensive forwards and have no solution for it.......

I hope to god I'm wrong. But I don't see it.

We have plenty of prospects ready to step in. How do you think guys develop into NHLers?

Loosing Madden and Gionta doesn't kill us, per se...but we have nothing waiting in the wings.

When we lost a player in the past someone always stepped up. Now we simply don't have any one to step up. Our Defense simply sucks and for the last few years our forwards saved their bacon...In my estimation, we just lost our 2 best defensive forwards and have no solution for it.......

I hope to god I'm wrong. But I don't see it.

SHHHH Don't tell "feed me a stray cat" that. He's very adamant on the fact that it's a cup caliber blueline. BWAHWHAHAHAHAHA

In my estimation, we just lost our 2 best defensive forwards and have no solution for it.......

I think you're underestimating the defence that Parise, Zajac, Elias and even Zubrus provide. Elias and Parise are money on the PK. All our forwards backcheck well, this team is built on being defensively responsible.

Collectively, this is a group who was in serious contention for the Jennings trophy, the lowest GA in the league, until the late season choke job. This despite a no-name defence that played far above its talent, and the absence of Marty for 50+ games. We'll be fine.

Gionta was our second best defensive forward?

SHHHH Don't tell "feed me a stray cat" that. He's very adamant on the fact that it's a cup caliber blueline. BWAHWHAHAHAHAHA

Ignorance personified. And way to bring this argument into another thread. Good job on all accounts.

Never did I say the Devils have a "Cup caliber defense", whatever that actually is. Just that it's not out of the realm of possibility for them to win the current defense.

I should have you know that I am a proponent of adding a good puck-mover and trading Salvador.

We have plenty of prospects ready to step in. How do you think guys develop into NHLers?

Tell me what two forward prospects we have that can play a defensive game 1/1000 the level of Madden and Gionta?


Our defense WILL be exposed this season barring a miracle.

Are you seriously saying that with a straight face????????

I am. Bergfors has creativity that Gionta was seriously lacking. I think he could thrive playing with Elias.

Pelley, according to Lou Lamoriello himself and in the opinion of this and many other Devil fans, is ready to not only step into the lineup, but to fill Madden's role.

Gionta was our second best defensive forward?

he may have been. but Madden wasn't the first.

Elias/Gionta are kind of a draw. Elias can be better, but he loses track sometimes.

Zajac is probably the best defensive forward on the team. Zubrus is certainly capable.

Gionta was our second best defensive forward?

In the top 6; I would argue he was as good as Langenbrunner. That is significant.

In 20 years I've never been negetive on this team.....We've in F'in trouble this season.

I think thats pretty pessimistic. Honestly, when I argued that Bergfors wasn't ready for the NHL I did it on the presumption that Sutter knows better than I. Well he put up pretty good numbers in the AHL this year so he's as ready as he'll ever be. We could use help at center though, I'll give you that.

I am. Bergfors has creativity that Gionta was seriously lacking. I think he could thrive playing with Elias.

I don't think Bergfors knows how to play defence. But I agree that he does have some flashy moves to him. We could use that creativity, hopefully it gets put to good use and he plays with Elias.

he may have been. but Madden wasn't the first.

Elias/Gionta are kind of a draw. Elias can be better, but he loses track sometimes.

Zajac is probably the best defensive forward on the team. Zubrus is certainly capable.


Not even close

I don't want to have to bury players that just left, but c'mon. Madden was a fraud defensively all the way back to 2007. Remember Ottawa going through them like a hot knife through butter in that first period debacle of Game 1? After Vinny destroyed them the series before? That was a reality check and a half that took Lou two years to realize.

I don't want to have to bury players that just left, but c'mon. Madden was a fraud defensively all the way back to 2007. Remember Ottawa going through them like a hot knife through butter in that first period debacle of Game 1? After Vinny destroyed them the series before? That was a reality check and a half that took Lou two years to realize.

Again, Not even close.

Tell me what two forward prospects we have that can play a defensive game 1/1000 the level of Madden and Gionta?


Our defense WILL be exposed this season barring a miracle.

How do you think those two developed into solid NHLers? Situations just like these.

Bobby Carpenter was replaced by John Madden.

Petr Sykora, in all his glory, was replaced by Gionta.

As Classic Devil said, championships are built from within.

You say you've been a Devils fan for twenty-plus years, which I certainly believe. Just look back to the late nineties, specifically the 1999-2000 season. Madden, Rafalski, White, Pandolfo, Gomez. They were all breaking into the league or had just established themselves as regulars. It's a very comparable situation.

In the top 6; I would argue he was as good as Langenbrunner. That is significant.

Langenbrunner didn't even start backchecking until halfway through this season, he was too busy *****ing at refs to bother. How is that solid defensive play?

Again, Not even close.

I'm sorry, I must have imagined Madden and Pandolfo being torn to shreds. Unfortunate, McKaylotsofnumbers refuses to post bad things on Youtube (other than Modano's GW), so I can't dump around 15 videos from that playoffs on you.

Not even close

Are you ****ing kidding me? Zajac is elite defensively. Certainly a top-10 defensive forward in the game. Just ask Selke voters.

I did read a scouting report saying Josefson was very close to NHL ready... but that would be very unusual to rush him like that and they would have to buy out his contract.

I don't think he'd bring Tedenby or any other winger over since Bergfors should be ahead of all of them on the depth chart.

Then again, he just said he was on the verge of signing someone we have 'the rights to'. It doesn't necessarily mean they are going to play in the NHL. It could be P. Cormier.. then they would invite him to camp and assign him to Lowell.

How do you think those two developed into solid NHLers? Situations just like these.
Bobby Carpenter was replaced by John Madden.



BS. Under the supervision of great Veterans! Like Stevens, Niedermayer, Daneyko.....Who are the the Stevens and Daneyko's of this team????

And Carpenter and Madden NEVER crossed....Madden replaced Holik and they played at the SAME TIME...You learn then move on.

I did read a scouting report saying Josefson was very close to NHL ready... but that would be very unusual to rush him like that and they would have to buy out his contract.

I don't think he'd bring Tedenby or any other winger over since Bergfors should be ahead of all of them on the depth chart.

Then again, he just said he was on the verge of signing someone we have 'the rights to'. It doesn't necessarily mean they are going to play in the NHL. It could be P. Cormier.. then they would invite him to camp and assign him to Lowell.

Cormier is under 20 so he can't play in the AHL. It's New Jersey or Juniors.

My guess is Sopanen.

Ignorance personified. And way to bring this argument into another thread. Good job on all accounts.

Never did I say the Devils have a "Cup caliber defense", whatever that actually is. Just that it's not out of the realm of possibility for them to win the current defense.

I should have you know that I am a proponent of adding a good puck-mover and trading Salvador.

You calling someone ignorant is rich. Trade Salvador? Great call. Yes, let's move the one guy on our blueline that actually plays with a snarl while being able to skate. Go ahead, trade Salvador and watch our already weak blueline get tossed around even more come playoff time.

"Just that it's not out of the realm of possibility for them to win the current defense."

Yes, it is. You will not find one person to support this outlandish claim of yours. It's really quite foolish.

If any of you think Prospect are going to replace veterans....Well its a pipe dream to say the least.

Are you seriously saying that with a straight face????????

yeah. They aren't as good as what we lost but Pelley is a solid 4th liner and Bergfors may be a boom or bust guy. Obviously no rookie is as good as a 10 year vet but they are also a lot cheaper. I honestly think Bergfors can be a 40 point guy next year which is fine by me. We have to get younger and we have to prepare for the future. The rookies have to play eventually.

BS. Under the supervision of great Veterans! Like Stevens, Niedermayer, Daneyko.....Who are the the Stevens and Daneyko's of this team????

And Carpenter and Madden NEVER crossed....Madden replaced Holik and they played at the SAME TIME...You learn then move on.

Pelley played on the NHL team two years ago for 40 games. And Bergfors spent a month with us last season:dunno:

and we still have Langs who has done a great job mentoring Parise and Zajac and we may bring back Shanny who is a great locker room guy.

yeah. They aren't as good as what we lost but Pelley is a solid 4th liner and Bergfors may be a boom or bust guy. Obviously no rookie is as good as a 10 year vet but they are also a lot cheaper. I honestly think Bergfors can be a 40 point guy next year which is fine by me. We have to get younger and we have to prepare for the future. The rookies have to play eventually.


:shakehead

You prepare for the future while you have the veterans....Not AFTER!!!!!

BS. Under the supervision of great Veterans! Like Stevens, Niedermayer, Daneyko.....Who are the the Stevens and Daneyko's of this team????

there's no point arguing with this guy, he's caught up in absolutism. his opinion is 100% correct and there's no arguing things even when you have indisputable evidence of it.

Madden has been a diminished defensive player for 3 years. he had some added offense two seasons ago to make up for it, but now he doesn't even have the offense. and as he gets older, he's going to lose steps. he already has to be in 100% perfect shape (he admits he wasn't in the past) to be less than he was before when he was hanging out stuffing his face with Marty.

Zajac is better than him. Zubrus is better than him. There's a possibility Pelley can touch him defensively. He is living on rep. It's sad, I like the guy, I even went out and got his jersey this year (thank god the jersey was free, so it only cost $50), but he is seriously diminished.

I think he's going to stick out like a sore thumb on the Blackhawks. He had alot of crutches here, most of all, the organization's addiction to linematching. If he stinks on a 1 year deal, it's not going to be pretty. I think it could go alot like Bobby with us. Except that organization has absolutely no ties to him. Ask Johnny Mac how it went with the Rangers.

BS. Under the supervision of great Veterans! Like Stevens, Niedermayer, Daneyko.....Who are the the Stevens and Daneyko's of this team????

Parise, Elias, Langenbrunner, Zajac, Oduya, Marty, White, etc.

We have a solid core. It's not like we'll be asking these guys to carry the team. That is the difference between us and bottom feeding teams.

They may not be Hall of Famers, and they don't have to be, but it's a damn good core of players and that's how young players develop - when they can grow into their own and not have to carry a team.

Parise played with a solid core and wasn't asked to carry the team. Look at him now.

Paul Martin, same thing.

You're going to see a similar role for Bergfors, in my opinion, that we saw with Zajac. There is a hole in the top six to be filled and Zajac took his chance and ran with it. Our team wasn't depending on him as we had the EGG line at that point. Now we have ZZPops so Bergfors can play with solid veterans like Elias and Rolston and hopefully provide valuable secondary scoring.

You calling someone ignorant is rich. Trade Salvador? Great call. Yes, let's move the one guy on our blueline that actually plays with a snarl while being able to skate. Go ahead, trade Salvador and watch our already weak blueline get tossed around even more come playoff time.

I actually presented empirical arguments in my posts. You provided nothing but unsubstantiated riff-raff, so based on that fact, I would call your argument ignorant.

Right, because "snarl" gets you far in the new NHL. The major flaw on the Devils defense is not a lack of snarl, but a lack of puck-moving ability. White and Salvador are redundant entities and I would like to see one dealt, presumably Salvador since White is better and has a NTC.

What snarl did Detroit have on their defense? Kronwall had an open ice hit every 5 games, but other than that, there was none. Pittsburgh, outside of Orpik, had no snarl. The one consistent theme among both defenses was they had a defender or two who could move the puck and work a powerplay well, far more important qualities than snarl.

If any of you think Prospect are going to replace veterans....Well its a pipe dream to say the least.

Good grief. So in your opinion, 10 year NHL veterans just sprout out of the ground like some sort of gnome or troll?

There's a possibility Pelley can touch him defensively.


After that.....Really... Nothing elses you say can be taken seriously

After that.....Really... Nothing elses you say can be taken seriously

Funny I feel the same way about your posts...

Good grief. So in your opinion, 10 year NHL veterans just sprout out of the ground like some sort of gnome or troll?

No...My point is you bring up the next generation WHILE the vets are still there....This is the way we've ALWAYS done it.

:shakehead

You prepare for the future while you have the veterans....Not AFTER!!!!!

What do you call Parise, Elias, Martin, Langenbrunner, Zubrus, Zajac, Oduya, Marty, and hopefully Shanahan?

Holy poop on a stick. You act like we're the Islanders of last year and have NOTHING.

We have one of the better cores in the NHL and it's been that way since, I'd say, 1994. Now, it's obviously not the same players from the '94 team, is it? Of course not. We've been so good for so long, along with the Red Wings, because we plug kids into the lineup and they grow into our system.

THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.

Christ, how did you react when Rafalski and Gomez bolted? The same doom and gloom? Losing the linear player Gionta has become and an ancient Madden is NOTHING compared to losing Gomez in his prime and a still very effective Rafalski.

Hey guys Parise should still be in the AHL. We should NEVER play rookies. They stink and aren't as good as overpaid 10 year vets.

:shakehead

You prepare for the future while you have the veterans....Not AFTER!!!!!

Well according to you it's too late for that anyway, so why bother worrying about it?

But I say we still have the veterans to mentor our rising prospects. You don't think Bergfors will benefit from playing with someone like Elias or Rolston? Shanahan definitely mentored Clarkson in how to play his role this year. Parise is learning how to be a future leader on the team from Langenbrunner and Elias. Pandolfo will prove that he's not totally useless by teaching Pelley how to be a defensive forward at the NHL level. White and Salvador can definitely impart some wisdom to Corrente. Most of these players are not future HoFers, I'll give you that, but our rookies will definitely benefit from the veteran leadership on the team.

What do you call Parise, Elias, Martin, Langenbrunner, Zubrus, Zajac, Oduya, Marty, and hopefully Shanahan?




I call them not good enough.

If any of you think Prospect are going to replace veterans....Well its a pipe dream to say the least.

Are you ****ing retarded? Prospects replaced veterans in 1999-2000.

Madden was a rookie, Rafalski was a rookie, White was a rookie, and Gomez was a rookie. We didn't know how they were going to turn out, or if they were going to turn out. It's not like we don't have any veterans. We're getting younger, after being the oldest team in the NHL, or what seemed like the oldest. It's what this team needed, we need to change the culture of the New Jersey Devils and this is the steps needed to do it.

Elias, Rolston, Langenbrunner, Zubrus, Martin, Oduya, White, Parise, and Zajac are our veterans and they're damned good mentors. 4 are Cup Champions, and the rest know what it takes to win. We need to develop a new future and we may as well start today.

The team was not going to win the Stanley Cup signing the FA Crop that was available this season. I don't like Havlat or Gaborik they're both made of glass and GIANT question marks. Hossa, sucks in the playoffs when it matters the most. Bouwmeester never even hit the FA market and was probably not going to sign here. Niedermayer, never coming. So there was nothing worth going after that was going to get us a Cup. There are some coming up in the future. And our future looks bright and clear.

If you want to jump off of the bandwagon, go right ahead. I on the other hand am ready and excited to bring about winds of change. We deserve it, and the locker room needs it.

In a few years, Josefson, Tedenby, perhaps Vrana, Cormier, Bergfors are going to be the future of this team. And, when the time is right to sign the appropriate free agents we will do it. There is no point in ****ing up the cap of which we don't know what the future holds anyway. If it drops, a lot of these teams are ****ED while the Devils are laughing.

Well according to you it's too late for that anyway, so why bother worrying about it?



hence my orginal point.....In 20 years, This team is now in trouble

I call them not good enough.

Just get off the team and cheer for the Rangers if you want to complain about the lack of spending money.

They are good enough, selling our teams players short is no way to be a fan. You're being a hater, and it's unbecoming of you.

No...My point is you bring up the next generation WHILE the vets are still there....This is the way we've ALWAYS done it.

For the third time, our core of veterans is still intact. Lou said it himself.

Our core is the ZZPops line, Elias, Rolston, Martin, Oduya, Marty, Clarkson, and I guess Zubrus.

Bergfors has a chance to take a top six position and run with it - something we've been waiting for since his rookie year in the AHL.

Pelley, who has some NHL experience, now has a chance to step in after having a great year in Lowell as not only a guy who produced in all situations, but was a leader as well.

You throw in an energy guy like Zharkov and an awesome all around hockey player in Halischuk and there is more than enough reason to be excited.

If When it drops, a lot of these teams are ****ED while the Devils are laughing.

See: Rangers and Gaborik et al.

In a few years, Josefson, Tedenby, perhaps Vrana, Cormier, Bergfors are going to be the future of this team. And, when the time is right to sign the appropriate free agents we will do it. There is no point in ****ing up the cap of which we don't know what the future holds anyway. If it drops, a lot of these teams are ****ED while the Devils are laughing.

I agree with the whole post but wanted to mention another thing on this topic. How nice is it going to feel when the 2010-11 season rolls around and Josefson and Tedenby will be over here and there will actually be some spots for them to fight for.

After that.....Really... Nothing elses you say can be taken seriously

rotfl. I'm sorry you're a moron. I'm trying to hold it in, but I can't. Get back to me when Madden is in the press box in March.

i bet a million of my non existent vcash its korolyuk

Are you ****ing retarded? Prospects replaced veterans in 1999-2000.

Madden was a rookie, Rafalski was a rookie, White was a rookie, and Gomez was a rookie. We didn't know how they were going to turn out, or if they were going to turn out. It's not like we don't have any veterans. We're getting younger, after being the oldest team in the NHL, or what seemed like the oldest. It's what this team needed, we need to change the culture of the New Jersey Devils and this is the steps needed to do it.



With Holik, Stevens, Niedermayer, and Daneyko to guide them.


Martin, Oduya, Parise, and Zajac are our veterans

That is rich....Our 3rd players our our Vet....Stuipid but rich!


The team was not going to win the Stanley Cup signing the FA Crop that was available this season

No one said they were....But if the goal is icing the best team possible, we are not doing it.


In a few years, Josefson, Tedenby, perhaps Vrana, Cormier, Bergfors are going to be the future of this team.

Banking on prospects is is even more stupid than calling 3rd players "Vets"

Between Elias, Pandolfo, Langenbrunner, White and Brodeur I think the Devils have plenty of experience. This isn't the Florida Panthers. The Devils have players that know what it takes to win.

don't bother replying, I dumped you on the ignore list. I'm not doing this for 3 months.

I call them not good enough.

Then I lol at you.

A top winger in the league
A top defensive center with strong offensive abilities
A respected captain who can still contribute regularly on offense
When he is on his game - another top winger in the league...I'd say top 15
A top all-around defenseman in the league
One of the more underrated puck movers and skaters in the league

Sounds like a damn good core to me.

Not to mention the best ****ing goalie of all time.

I actually presented empirical arguments in my posts. You provided nothing but unsubstantiated riff-raff, so based on that fact, I would call your argument ignorant.

Right, because "snarl" gets you far in the new NHL. The major flaw on the Devils defense is not a lack of snarl, but a lack of puck-moving ability. White and Salvador are redundant entities and I would like to see one dealt, presumably Salvador since White is better and has a NTC.

What snarl did Detroit have on their defense? Kronwall had an open ice hit every 5 games, but other than that, there was none. Pittsburgh, outside of Orpik, had no snarl. The one consistent theme among both defenses was they had a defender or two who could move the puck and work a powerplay well, far more important qualities than snarl.

You keep avoiding the question that I posed earlier. What has our current top-6 done to merit you claiming they are capable of being part of a cup winning team?

Nothing. First you state "Just that it's not out of the realm of possibility for them to win the current defense." Which, of course, it is.

Then you say you'd like to see us add a PMD. If you're so confident in our current top-6 why do we need to change it? I mean, we've done so well with it the last few years why change it, right?

Like I said, not one poster will agree with you that we can win a cup with our current top-6. You know it. I know it. And the rest of the hockey world knows it.

See: Rangers and Gaborik et al.

And their board is going gaga over possibly still being in the mix for Heatley. The Habs are royally screwed.

hence my orginal point.....In 20 years, This team is now in trouble

http://www.jasoncronkhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/bill-murray-you-suck-239x300.jpg


We lost an aged center who's one main job is to play solid defensively as a forward and failed at doing that last season.

We lost a 20 goal scorer yes but he should have had at least 30.. He seemed like he aimed for the goalie's chest at times. Obviously referring to Gio.

Mike Rupp....yeah.

I'm pretty sure it could be Alexander Korolyuk. We have his rights and none of the other guys we have rights to could be labeled as "mystery players"...

But I guess we'll see.

I'm fine with the approach Lou is taking. It was time for Gionta and Madden to go. No chance in hell that Gionta should've been back considering what he got from Montreal.

I think it's funny how you're harping on Madden's defensive abilities, JimEIV, when he wasn't even the best defensive forward on the team anymore.

Not even in the top three, actually, according to Selke voting.

No one said they were....But if the goal is icing the best team possible, we are not doing it.

Eventually you'll have to take a step back to take two steps forward. If the Devils kept Madden and Gionta what place on the roster would the Devils have for fresh talent? Not much, and combined they would amount to almost 8 million, in the case of Gionta, until he is 35. Thats pretty steep to be running in place don't you think?

I'm pretty sure it could be Alexander Korolyuk. We have his rights and none of the other guys we have rights to could be labeled as "mystery players"...

But I guess we'll see.

I'm fine with the approach Lou is taking. It was time for Gionta and Madden to go. No chance in hell that Gionta should've been back considering what he got from Montreal.

I'm glad you're on board with that approach, Swede.

I figured we'd be hearing from you a little more if you weren't;):laugh:.

I think it's funny how you're harping on Madden's defensive abilities, JimEIV, when he wasn't even the best defensive forward on the team anymore.

Not even in the top three, actually, according to Selke voting.

That doesn't count. JimEIV's opinion is all that matters.

I'm pretty sure it could be Alexander Korolyuk. We have his rights and none of the other guys we have rights to could be labeled as "mystery players"...

But I guess we'll see.

I'm fine with the approach Lou is taking. It was time for Gionta and Madden to go. No chance in hell that Gionta should've been back considering what he got from Montreal.

they could be "mystery" players in that nobody knows who the **** they are. :laugh:

out of all our free agents losses gio is the only one that really hurt and we have rolston to replace his scoring totals so a complete non-issue...bergfors i could see putting up 20-20 for the season which replace rolston numbers from last year


If we do sign korolyuk which I think thats what lou meant we have this

parise-zajac-langs
elias-korolyuk-bergfors/rolston
rolston/bergfors-zubrus-clarkson
shanahan/pandolfo(split time)-pelley-pl3/halischuk for a couple stints

With Holik, Stevens, Niedermayer, and Daneyko to guide them.




That is rich....Our 3rd players our our Vet....Stuipid but rich!



No one said they were....But if the goal is icing the best team possible, we are not doing it.



Banking on prospects is is even more stupid than calling 3rd players "Vets"


Players who have been through the grind, and understand the rigors of an NHL season are veterans. Just because you are young, doesn't mean you're not worthy of being a leader. You're just not smart enough to understand that.

The goal is to ice the best team for the New Jersey Devils and their management. You leaving the fanbase isn't going to hinder our support, or what the team does, and neither of us really care. We're doing what is best for the New Jersey Devils, and that is moving forward without backwards thinking.

Eventually you'll have to take a step back to take two steps forward. If the Devils kept Madden and Gionta what place on the roster would the Devils have for fresh talent? Not much, and combined they would amount to almost 8 million, in the case of Gionta, until he is 35. Thats pretty steep to be running in place don't you think?

That's another thing, Jim. You want to pay the two of them roughly eight million combined? Get the **** out of here.

That doesn't count. JimEIV's opinion is all that matters.

Your getting the gist.

Your getting the gist.

Your grammar is atrocious.

That's another thing, Jim. You want to pay the two of them roughly eight million combined? Get the **** out of here.

What is the solution???? Pelley and Bergfors?

What is the solution???? Pelley and Bergfors?

Yup. Or say goodbye to one of Parise/Martin in the coming years. Take your choice.

Your grammar is atrocious.

I thought my typing has been pretty good considering I've been drinking since my buddy Gionta left town.

Sorry You'RE

What is the solution???? Pelley and Bergfors?

What's so wrong with Pelley and Bergfors?


What's wrong with getting younger and better?

What is the solution???? Pelley and Bergfors?

Better those two on the cheap instead of losing Martin and Clarkson next year.

I thought my typing has been pretty good considering I've been drinking since my buddy Gionta left town.

Sorry You'RE

Maybe you should leave with him.

What is the solution???? Pelley and Bergfors?

Well we'll see. I know for a fact that Madden and Gionta weren't the solutions anymore, though.

What is the solution???? Pelley and Bergfors?

Why not Pelley and Bergfors?

You keep avoiding the question that I posed earlier. What has our current top-6 done to merit you claiming they are capable of being part of a cup winning team?

Nothing. First you state "Just that it's not out of the realm of possibility for them to win the current defense." Which, of course, it is.

Then you say you'd like to see us add a PMD. If you're so confident in our current top-6 why do we need to change it? I mean, we've done so well with it the last few years why change it, right?

Like I said, not one poster will agree with you that we can win a cup with our current top-6. You know it. I know it. And the rest of the hockey world knows it.

Like, I don't know how to make this any clearer. The fact that the Hurricanes won the cup in 05-06 proves that it is infact possible to win a cup with a defense that isn't spectacular on paper and quite average. The current Devils defense fits this description.


And never once have I said that I'm very confident in the current crop of defenders. Once again you insinuate false hyperbole on my part. Good job you are very skilled at rhetoric. Anyway, I recognize that improving the defense will improve our odds at the cup. I've said as much several times. However, it is ridiculous to assert that the Devils can't win a cup with their current defense when Carolina won a cup with an average defense in 05-06 and Pittsburgh just did with a slightly above average defense.

I'm sure I can find some posters, even though it's in vogue to flip out over an underwhelming SEVEN game performance, who agree with the following statement: The Devils defense, though imperfect and with numerous flaws, isn't so much of a hindrance to completely render New Jersey incapable of winning a cup. When the 08-09 Devils team played to their capabilities, they were among the best in the league. Teams have won the Stanley Cup with mediocre to above average defenses in the past and they will do it in the future.

Maybe you should leave with him.

Maybe....

Why not Pelley and Bergfors?

Caz their 2 yungggggggggg wtfffffffffffffffffffff

Why not Pelley and Bergfors?

Maybe....cause niether one are NHL players??? :dunno:

I hope to **** it's Jonas Gustavsson.

Then again, I got my hopes up three times today.

Maybe....cause niether one are NHL players??? :dunno:

newsflash everyone isnt immediately an nhl player

Well we'll see. I know for a fact that Madden and Gionta weren't the solutions anymore, though.

See, this is what I don't get DD. Obviously it wasn't working the past few years (don't give me that good regular season ********), so there's really no reason to go off on some crazy rant. Like you said, it's time for a change. Time to get younger and save 6+mill in cap space in doing so. Change isn't always bad people. Both players were rookies once.

Maybe....cause niether one are NHL players??? :dunno:

What were your thoughts on Madden in 98-99? What about Gionta in 01-02?

I hope to **** it's Jonas Gustavsson.

Then again, I got my hopes up three times today.

Lou said it was a player whose rights we already own.

newsflash everyone isnt immediately an nhl player

One more time, for the slow...

You bring players up under the tutelage of vets…..You don’t throw them into the fire in a sink or swim situation

Maybe....cause niether one are NHL players??? :dunno:

So? Elias wasn't an NHL player, Parise wasn't an NHL player. They made it. Bergfors has played 4 years in the AHL, it's time for him to come up here and be a player. These guys need to learn at some point. No point burying a player on the fourth line as youngsters. Look at Parise, Larry buried him on the fourth line and it was horrific. He was going nowhere. He was given playing time and he became one of the league's elite young players.

See, this is what I don't get DD. Obviously it wasn't working the past few years (don't give me that good regular season ********), so there's really no reason to go off on some crazy rant. Like you said, it's time for a change. Time to get younger and save 6+mill in cap space in doing so. Change isn't always bad people. Both players were rookies once.

Some people just don't see it our way, that's all. I think they're horribly wrong, but whatever.

Maybe....

Your a hockey fan thats been around long enough to know that in the post lock out NHL you need to set priorities. IMO, Parise is our #1 priority, Martin is the #2. Signing both of Madden and Gionta long term jeopardizes Lamoriello's ability to sign Parise and Martin down the road. Obviously, Parise is not easily replaced. Not as easily as Gionta would be.

What were your thoughts on Madden in 98-99?



My thoughts were...
Thank god Holik was shutting down the best lines in the NHL

Maybe....cause niether one are NHL players??? :dunno:

Rod Pelley was groomed to be the next John Madden once he retired or left the team. It was obvious the way he played when he was up in the NHL.

Nicklas Bergfors was drafted 23rd overall for what reason then? We have some of the best scouts in the league. I doubt they would grab him instead of players like T.J. Oshie and Andrew Cogliano if they thought he would be a flop.

One more time, for the slow...

You bring players up under the tutelage of vets…..You don’t throw them into the fire in a sink or swim situation

The slow? Bergfors will be learning under one of the most respected veterans in the league. All-star, and Stanley Cup Champion, Patrik Elias. That's a hell of a tutor for a player we want to become a scorer.

We have the right teachers to help Pelley become a good checking center.

Your a hockey fan thats been around long enough to know that in the post lock out NHL you need to set priorities. IMO, Parise is our #1 priority, Martin is the #2. Signing both of Madden and Gionta long term jeopardizes Lamoriello's ability to sign Parise and Martin down the road. Obviously, Parise is not easily replaced. Not as easily as Gionta would be.

But don't you know we can be like the rangers and have a different core every 2 yrs and when they don't pan out blow it up and sign a bunch of all-stars who are either injury prone or over rated.

THATS THE WAY TO BUILD A TEAM!

Ha, if it's Korolyuk it's for 1.2M. That really makes me doubt it's Korolyuk.

One more time, for the slow...

You bring players up under the tutelage of vets…..You don’t throw them into the fire in a sink or swim situation

How is this a "sink or swim" situation? If Bergfors doesn't work out we aren't going to go down entirely as a team because of it.

And for the fourth time: We have a core of veterans. None of these rookies are going to be asked to carry the team. Were Madden and Gionta carrying the team? Certainly ****ing not.

Ha, if it's Korolyuk it's for 1.2M. That really makes me doubt it's Korolyuk.

What do you mean? Did you just see something I didn't?

Ha, if it's Korolyuk it's for 1.2M. That really makes me doubt it's Korolyuk.

What did I miss where did the 1.2 come from or is that just a guess ?

My thoughts were...
Thank god Holik was shutting down the best lines in the NHL

And a checking line to shut down the other teams worked well in the old NHL and if we were still living back then, I'd be all for having Madden out there eating up ice-time. But now, we need our best players playing against theirs. Parise, Zajac, Elias, Langenbrunner are all better defensively than most top line players. Let them handle it, let them play 20 minutes a game. Let them score some goals. We still have Martin Brodeur and a proper system. I want a right handed defenseman though.

Nicklas Bergfors was drafted 23rd overall for what reason then?



Adrian Foster was drafted 28th for what reason then
Ari Ahohen was drafted 27 for what reason then
Jean-Francois Damphousse was draft 24th for what reason then

Shall I go on???????????

What do you mean? Did you just see something I didn't?

probably his qualifying offer.

It's been a long time since we had a significant infusion of youth, and IMO, it's the right time to move in that direction. We need to see what these young guys can do. Even with the loss of Gionta and Madden, this team still has a solid group of experienced NHL'ers to help the development of the youngsters. If we wait any longer to give Bergfors a shot, he's going to leave and go back to Europe. He's bided his time patiently, now it's time for him to get a chance at the big league level. I'm looking forward to seeing how Bergfors and these other young guys fit in the puzzle for next season.

What do you mean? Did you just see something I didn't?

No, he's right. Korolyuk had a contract that was worth 1.2 million a year. He had one year left on the deal, and the stipulation was if he were to come back, he would have to play out that contract. I dunno if 1.2 is without the rollback. If it is, then the price should actually drop.

One more time, for the slow...

You bring players up under the tutelage of vets…..You don’t throw them into the fire in a sink or swim situation

Bergfors, like DF said, will be learning from Elias. We're lucky he has someone like that to learn from.

You act like Pelley is fresh out of college or something. This is going to be his fourth pro season. He spent two years playing with Madden and will continue to play with a team full of defensively responsible players.

or the dead year remaining on his contract, like Radulov. that's probably it.

Adrian Foster was drafted 28th for what reason then
Ari Ahohen was drafted 27 for what reason then
Jean-Francois Damphousse was draft 24th for what reason then

Shall I go on???????????

And none of those players showed that they have what it takes in the minors. Bergfors has.

My thoughts were...
Thank god Holik was shutting down the best lines in the NHL

Thank God we have Zajac, Elias, Parise, Langenbrunner, Zubrus, and a host of other defensively responsible forwards.

How is this a "sink or swim" situation?

Seriously? Are you going to ask Bergfors to play top 6 minutes? Are you going to ask Pelley to shut down Malkin or Corsby with a minute left in a 2-1 game????

If the answer is yes...Well...

If the answer is no they aren't ready to be here.

It's been a long time since we had a significant infusion of youth, and IMO, it's the right time to move in that direction. We need to see what these young guys can do. Even with the loss of Gionta and Madden, this team still has a solid group of experienced NHL'ers to help the development of the youngsters. If we wait any longer to give Bergfors a shot, he's going to leave and go back to Europe. He's bided his time patiently, now it's time for him to get a chance at the big league level. I'm looking forward to seeing how Bergfors and these other young guys fit in the puzzle for next season.

That seems to be the approach that at least 90% of the board is taking. We have a solid group of guys that are seemingly ready to make the jump.

That seems to be the approach that at least 90% of the board is taking. We have a solid group of guys that are seemingly ready to make the jump.

this board at least. some of the other ones look like the fire drill from the Office.

And none of those players showed that they have what it takes in the minors. Bergfors has.

Your blind faith is admirable

Adrian Foster was drafted 28th for what reason then
Ari Ahohen was drafted 27 for what reason then
Jean-Francois Damphousse was draft 24th for what reason then

Shall I go on???????????

3 bad picks (two of which are goalies) proves as enough evidence to say that all draft picks are gonna be busts?

And its not like Foster and Ahonen are not doing anything. Both played on their respective teams last year and they had pretty respectable seasons.

Bergfors IS NHL ready, played games last year and will fill the hole Gionta left.

Seriously? Are you going to ask Bergfors to play top 6 minutes? Are you going to ask Pelley to shut down Malkin or Corsby with a minute left in a 2-1 game????

If the answer is yes...Well...

If the answer is no they aren't ready to be here.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD ****ING DAMN NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're going to have Elias-Zajac-Langenbrunner out there. They're our best defensive forwards and deserve to be out there, NOT Madden and Pandolfo who couldn't get it done last season. Zage was a face-off whiz and a great penalty killer. Let the kids play.

Seriously? Are you going to ask Bergfors to play top 6 minutes? Are you going to ask Pelley to shut down Malkin or Corsby with a minute left in a 2-1 game????

If the answer is yes...Well...

If the answer is no they aren't ready to be here.

Did we ask Zajac to play top six minutes straight out of college? Yes.

Did we ask Madden to shut down the powerhouses of the NHL right away? No. Not that it matters though, seeing as we seem to be done with line matching. And even if we aren't, it won't be Pelley's line playing against Crosby and Malkin. It will probably be Zubrus.

Your blind faith is admirable

And your lack of faith is sad man. I would like you to just enjoy the ride, it's not going to be the smoothest, but it won't be the end all be all either. The Devils never have a full re-build, this is a semi-rebuild.

That seems to be the approach that at least 90% of the board is taking. We have a solid group of guys that are seemingly ready to make the jump.

Its the only positive approach....But the devils haven't had a an insugence of youth without proper up bringing since the 1980's.

This is the wrong time.

It is the wrong time becuase our prospects suck and our team has too many holes to cover adquetly.

Seriously? Are you going to ask Bergfors to play top 6 minutes? Are you going to ask Pelley to shut down Malkin or Corsby with a minute left in a 2-1 game????

If the answer is yes...Well...

If the answer is no they aren't ready to be here.

Who is to say that he can't do that?

John Madden went undrafted so apparently not many people thought he could have done what he did either.

this board at least. some of the other ones look like the fire drill from the Office.

Stanley: "OH...OH MA GAWD."

Your blind faith is admirable

What the **** do you mean, blind faith? He had a good year in the AHL. That's how (most of) the 30 guys that run NHL franchises judge whether or not a guy is ready for the big show.

What do you mean? Did you just see something I didn't?
He went to arbitration with the Sharks and was awarded 1.2M, he didn't like it so he bolted to Europe. So if he comes back it has to be for that one year contract.

Its the only positive approach....But the devils haven't had a an insugence of youth without proper up bringing since the 1980's.

This is the wrong time.

It is the wrong time becuase our prospects suck and out team has to many holes to cover adquetly.

Why is it the wrong time? There was no one within value that was going to put our team into Stanley Cup contention. So why not wait out a year, play as hard as you can, and let the rooks get experience. Then when the right mix is available, make your move. Don't make one just because everyone else is making one. That's never the route you want to go.

He went to arbitration with the Sharks and was awarded 1.2M, he didn't like it so he bolted to Europe. So if he comes back it has to be for that one year contract.

I already explained this for you, sir.

I already explained this for you, sir.
I'm sorry the war with JimEIV is moving WAAAY too fast for me, I didn't expect 40 posts in the last ten minutes. ;)

1. Pihlman
2. Vrana
3. Ahonen

Seriously? Are you going to ask Bergfors to play top 6 minutes? Are you going to ask Pelley to shut down Malkin or Corsby with a minute left in a 2-1 game????

If the answer is yes...Well...

If the answer is no they aren't ready to be here.

Why can't Bergfors play top six minutes?

If he plays on the 2nd line he will still be shielded from the tougher matchups, plus he put up a respectable amount of points in the AHL (51 points in 66 games). What is so horrible about him playing on the 2nd line?

Its the only positive approach....But the devils haven't had a an insugence of youth without proper up bringing since the 1980's.

This is the wrong time.

It is the wrong time becuase our prospects suck and out team has to many holes to cover adquetly.

Give me legit reasons why all 10 of these players suck and i'll give you all the credibility in the world:

Bergfors
Halischuk
Cormier
Corrente
Vasyunov
Zharkov
Vrana
Eckford
Burlon
Tedenby

Did we ask Zajac to play top six minutes straight out of college? Yes.


Yes there have been special case....Gomez, Niedermayer, hell even Rafalski stepped right in.....Are you claiming Bergfors, Pelley or Corrente are Gomez, Niedermayer, Rafalski or even Zajac????????????????

Its the only positive approach....But the devils haven't had a an insugence of youth without proper up bringing since the 1980's.

This is the wrong time.

It is the wrong time becuase our prospects suck and out team has to many holes to cover adquetly.

Says who? You? The ****ing HockeysFuture.com prospect rankings? Get real.

Dog pile on the rabbit.

Bergfors = Gomez?

Pelley = Madden?

Any prospect D ready to play next season = Rafalski?

White I'll give you if Corrente has a strong camp.

Just pull their stats and situations before becoming Devils and compare.

Any D in our system coming up in our system under the tutelage of White, Martin, and Oduya = White and Martin coming up under the tutelage of Stevens, Niedermayer, and Daneyko?

wtf?

Give me legit reasons why all 10 of these players suck and i'll give you all the credibility in the world:

Bergfors
Halischuk
Cormier
Corrente
Vasyunov
Zharkov
Vrana
Eckford
Burlon
Tedenby

There is no talking to this guy it's like talking to a brick wall. Ignore him and move on.

Give me legit reasons why all 10 of these players suck and i'll give you all the credibility in the world:

No rookie has EVER jumped into the NHL and played top six minutes, not even if they have three years of pro experience under their belt already. Who's going to be the number one pick next year, I want to try to follow our next addition. :shakehead

Give me legit reasons why all 10 of these players suck and i'll give you all the credibility in the world:

Bergfors
Halischuk
Cormier
Corrente
Vasyunov
Zharkov
Vrana
Eckford
Burlon
Tedenby

A. How many will have more than 200 career games played in the NHL when it is all done? My bet is no more than 3.

B. How many are ready to step in now....My opinion; NONE.

C. How many are ready to play at a high level...No Question, without a doubt, not arguable...NONE

Dog pile on the rabbit.

Bergfors = Gomez?

Pelley = Madden?

Any prospect D ready to play next season = Rafalski?

White I'll give you if Corrente has a strong camp.

Just pull their stats and situations before becoming Devils and compare.

Any D in our system coming up in our system under the tutelage of White, Martin, and Oduya = White and Martin coming up under the tutelage of Stevens, Niedermayer, and Daneyko?

wtf?

Another one, good lord. How many teams are able to have Stevens, Niedermayer and Daneyko come out and help them? And are you forgetting that we still have Stevens and Daneyko to come and help? Just because they can't do it on the ice, doesn't mean they can't come in and talk to them. Maybe Bergfors will be like Gomez, it's rare for us to have a guy score 70 points, let alone a rookie. That was for all intents and purposes, incredible. I'll always remember it. And why not Pelley = Madden? Both are undrafted FA's from the college ranks, both spent time in the minors, and both came up when the Devils needed a defensive C.

Yes there have been special case....Gomez, Niedermayer, hell even Rafalski stepped right in.....Are you claiming Bergfors, Pelley or Corrente are Gomez, Niedermayer, Rafalski or even Zajac????????????????

We don't know until they are given the chance. You seem quite happy to shoot down their chances before they've even seen a second in the NHL. If Bergfors sucks in the top 6, we start looking for other options. But we wouldn't be utilising our assets properly if we never even gave him the opportunity.

I hope it's Denis Pederson!:)

Yes there have been special case....Gomez, Niedermayer, hell even Rafalski stepped right in.....Are you claiming Bergfors, Pelley or Corrente are Gomez, Niedermayer, Rafalski or even Zajac????????????????

Every year certain players are asked to either step in or step up. So yes i'm claiming that Bergfors, Pelley and definitely Corrente do fill the voids similar to the ways Gomez, Niedermayer, Rafalski and Zajac did.

Not necessarily saying they'll be as good as them but they'll successfully play their roles. They all have great potential though.

Another one, good lord. How many teams are able to have Stevens, Niedermayer and Daneyko come out and help them? And are you forgetting that we still have Stevens and Daneyko to come and help? Just because they can't do it on the ice, doesn't mean they can't come in and talk to them. Maybe Bergfors will be like Gomez, it's rare for us to have a guy score 70 points, let alone a rookie. That was for all intents and purposes, incredible. I'll always remember it. And why not Pelley = Madden? Both are undrafted FA's from the college ranks, both spent time in the minors, and both came up when the Devils needed a defensive C.

that's the funniest thing about that arguement. Scott Stevens and Larry Robinson are assignment coaches. What else do you want? Slava too? I wish, but it's not like the assignment coaches are Kevin Dean and Sasha Goc.

A. How many will have more than 200 career games played in the NHL when it is all done? My bet is no more than 3.
B. How many are ready to step in now....My opinion; NONE.

C. How many are ready to play at a high level...No Question, without a doubt, not arguable...NONE

I'll take that bet. I think Comier, Bergfors, Halischuk, Corrente, and Tedenby will all become full time NHLers.

Yes there have been special case....Gomez, Niedermayer, hell even Rafalski stepped right in.....Are you claiming Bergfors, Pelley or Corrente are Gomez, Niedermayer, Rafalski or even Zajac????????????????

Are we asking Pelley to be any of those guys? No. We're asking him to be a solid bottom six center, which he certainly can be.

Are we asking Corrente to be Scott Niedermayer? No. We're asking him to be a solid second pairing guy with a mean streak, which he certainly can be.

How can you say Bergfors is just dead in the water? He's shown he has potential and this is going to be his chance to step in and play a top six role, like Lou has wanted. Remember Gomez with Brylin and Mogilny when he was young? Everyone starts somewhere.

Jaglolr

A. How many will have more than 200 career games played in the NHL when it is all done? My bet is no more than 3.

B. How many are ready to step in now....My opinion; NONE.

C. How many are ready to play at a high level...No Question, without a doubt, not arguable...NONE

Oh thats all justified. You win. :handclap:



:shakehead

What did I miss where did the 1.2 come from or is that just a guess ?

Korolyuk has to fulfill an arbitration award outstanding from about five years ago.

A. How many will have more than 200 career games played in the NHL when it is all done? My bet is no more than 3.

B. How many are ready to step in now....My opinion; NONE.

C. How many are ready to play at a high level...No Question, without a doubt, not arguable...NONE

Bergfors - 200 games easily
Halischuk - 200 games easily
Cormier - 200 games easily
Corrente - 200 games easily
Vasyunov - 200 games eh, maybe
Zharkov - 200 games eh, maybe
Vrana - 200 games, quite possibly
Eckford - 200 games, has the potential
Burlon - 200 games, has the potential
Tedenby - 200 games has quite the potential

So 4 that will easily, and three that have quite the potential to do so.

Bergfors, Halischuk and Corrente are ready to step in now. All have had strong camps with the Devils, and two have come up here and shown us that they can contribute to the team.

Those 3 can also play at a high level. They're ready for the rigors of the NHL.

I'll take that bet. I think Comier, Bergfors, Halischuk, Corrente, and Tedenby will all become full time NHLers.

It would surely beat the odds.......But I'll one up you. I'll bet Bergfors is back in Europe within the next two seasons.....What do you want to bet?

I hope it's Denis Pederson!:)

No, it's not. It's someone the Devils hold the rights too. Not have held, but hold.

I can't believe you guys are seriously arguing with him. You'd be better off getting a rock from outside and trying to convince it.

He's a know-it-all. Prospects are bad. Of course coming from an organization that largely built its team from within by developing players and then either using them or selling them.

If the prospects aren't bad, they have no mentors. Like the Hawks and Pens were swimming in them. Hell, we have more mentors than either of those teams did, maybe more than both put together. Most people don't have the luxury of having guys like Stevens and Robinson being able to work with their prospects. You can make a case that our outside staff is better than our actual coaching staff.

Ok funny idea.

How many people would I confuse if i showed up to the rock next season in a Kitchener Rangers Halischuk jersey.

Not that I would do it...but yeah...

Sorry i'm in full on over-rate matt and pray he makes the team mode

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Bergfors - 200 games easily
Halischuk - 200 games easily
Cormier - 200 games easily
Corrente - 200 games easily
Vasyunov - 200 games eh, maybe
Zharkov - 200 games eh, maybe
Vrana - 200 games, quite possibly
Eckford - 200 games, has the potential
Burlon - 200 games, has the potential
Tedenby - 200 games has quite the potential

So 4 that will easily, and three that have quite the potential to do so.

Bergfors, Halischuk and Corrente are ready to step in now. All have had strong camps with the Devils, and two have come up here and shown us that they can contribute to the team.

Those 3 can also play at a high level. They're ready for the rigors of the NHL.

LOL.....Vrana??? You simply high

It would surely beat the odds.......But I'll one up you. I'll bet Bergfors is back in Europe within the next two seasons.....What do you want to bet?

That you quit HFboards.

Dog pile on the rabbit.

Bergfors = Gomez?

Pelley = Madden?

Any prospect D ready to play next season = Rafalski?

White I'll give you if Corrente has a strong camp.

Just pull their stats and situations before becoming Devils and compare.

Any D in our system coming up in our system under the tutelage of White, Martin, and Oduya = White and Martin coming up under the tutelage of Stevens, Niedermayer, and Daneyko?

wtf?

We're quite obviously not saying they'll be carbon copies of those players. We're using their situations, which are quite similar, to try to explain it to some of the more simple-minded folk around here.

That's all. Obviously we aren't saying Bergfors will be Gomez, Pelley will be Madden, and Corrente will be Rafalski.

Bergfors will be Bergfors, Pelley will be Pelley, and Corrente will be Corrente.

That's why I hate comparing players. It sets expectations incorrectly, whether it be high or low.

LOL.....Vrana??? You simply high

Petr Vrana is 23 years old. He will be 24 this year, and he is going to fulfill one year in the Czech republic. He could also be the player we are bringing back. He showed us he could play. And now is the time to try and let him play if we can get him out of the deal. You're high thinking that we could have done anything to become instant SC contenders outside of Bouwmeester, who never even saw the market.

Jaglolr

/thread