re: kozlov, pihlman, and ahonen

hey guys, new to the NJ board.

Just wondering what your take on kozlov, pihlman and ahonen? How is Viktor Kozlov? is he still in NJ's plans. What aobut ahonen? Is he ever going to play in the NHL? and Pihlman? Does he have a shot next year with NJ?

much appreciated.

Welcome!

Personally, I think Ari Ahonen will be a NHL goaltender; but not with New Jersey unless A) Scott Clemmensen is no longer the back up or B) The Most Catastrophic Impact To The Devils Due To Injury takes place to a player I will not name out of fear of jinxing him.

From what I saw of him last season, Kozlov still needs to get used to NJ's style. He should be better after a training camp-and hopefully a good asset.

From what I understand, Philman will be a Devil but I don't know about next season. Maybe the season afterwards. If I recall, he did get a call up for 2 games last season.

Scott Clemmensen is a Group VI unrestricted free-agent. In an interview, he said he would like to see what is available. He might only get 10 starts as Brodeur's backup, so it does make sense for him to go elsewhere for the opportunity to be a platoon goalie or at least get 25 starts.

If Corey Schwab is healthy, he is the ideal Brodeur backup. That might allow Lou Lamoriello to trade Ari Ahonen to address the team's need for another goal scorer.

That takes me to Viktor Kozlov. He is only a playmaker, which the Devils have in abundance. The Devils have Six Playmakers in Search of a Goal Scorer when looking beyond Patrik Elias and maybe Brian Gionta. Kozlov also didn't look very good defensively to me after coming to New Jersey. I don't see him getting $2.3 million from the Devils, and he was scratched from 3 of 5 of the playoff games. That indicates a lack of confidence on Lou Lamoriello and Pat Burns' part.

I don't know what will happen with Tuomas Pihlman. The Devils have Brian Gionta and Jamie Langenbrunner at RW. Grant Marshall and/or Turner Stevenson could be resigned.

I don't know what will happen with Tuomas Pihlman. The Devils have Brian Gionta and Jamie Langenbrunner at RW. Grant Marshall and/or Turner Stevenson could be resigned.

I though that Pihlman was a LW. Depending on how long the lockout goes, we could see Elias, Brylin, Pandolfo and Pihlman on the left side when we start up again.

Suglobov is a RW. I've only seen him play one time w/ Albany, but he apparently does have the potential to be a 2nd line RW. If we keep Gionta on the top line, and put Langenbrunner with Pando and Madden, Suglobov might fit nicely on the second line. Especially if he gets another half a year to a year in Albany before the NHL starts back up.

I though that Pihlman was a LW. Depending on how long the lockout goes, we could see Elias, Brylin, Pandolfo and Pihlman on the left side when we start up again.

Suglobov is a RW. I've only seen him play one time w/ Albany, but he apparently does have the potential to be a 2nd line RW. If we keep Gionta on the top line, and put Langenbrunner with Pando and Madden, Suglobov might fit nicely on the second line. Especially if he gets another half a year to a year in Albany before the NHL starts back up.
In his only game in the NHL, Alexander Suglobov played LW in a line centered by Igor Larionov. The RW on that line was their fellow countrymen Sergei Brylin.

Tuomas Pihlman played on January 1 and 3 against Washington and Nashville. I was watching the Rose Bowl and lost track of the time and missed half the game against Washington on New Year's Day. I honestly don't remember Pihlman's play in the Nashville game. I don't know were Pat Burns had him play. I only listened to Albany games on the internet.

The Albany River Rats site shows both Pihlman and Suglovbob as RW's. I have read that Pihlman has the potential to be a good goal scorer, which the Devils really need.