JULY 1st, D-Day?

Well, it will certainly be an interesting day on Thursday. Will there be tons of good players without contacts. More importantly, will Lou let Friesen and Kozlov walk? Or will he keep one of them. And will Lou possibly sign a free agent defensemen. :dunno:

Well, it will certainly be an interesting day on Thursday. Will there be tons of good players without contacts. More importantly, will Lou let Friesen and Kozlov walk? Or will he keep one of them. And will Lou possibly sign a free agent defensemen. :dunno:

Friesen cost around $3 mill to qualify... too expensive
Kozlov cost around $2.5 to qualify... give him a 2 year deal with $5 mill. If he continues to not really fit, someone would take a gamble on him for that type of money.

Jeff Friesen is worth $3 million more than Viktor Kovloz is worth $2.4 million. I would be shocked if Kozlov is retained and Friesen isn't. I am not sure what will happen with Friesen, but I don't think that Kozlov will be back in a Devils' uniform.

Kozlov has often been injured, has never scored more than 22 goals and was scratched in three of five games in the Philadelphia series.

If neither guy came back, I wouldn't be devasted. Friesen may have just had an off year last season, but his play was really disapointing, especially in the playoffs. I'm kinda on the fence with him. I think we could find someone better to replace him. Kozlov, I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. Cut him.

Kozlov is an exceptionally talented player. Just cutting him loose would be a mistake IMO. He didn't get a shot in the playoffs because he was coming back from a concussion....they weren't gonna throw him into a series against Philly like that.

As reported in several local papers, Lou matched Nieds who will probably go to arbitration and could make $8 million. Also, mentioned was that Lou is working on a Madden contract for $4 million per as well as contracts for Brylin, Turner and Pando. In addition, it was mentioned that Lou informed Friesen's agent a few weeks ago that he would be retained. This is great news, but this just proves to me that this $31 million hard cap isn't going to happen. Add Gomer and his raise and the Devs are over the cap, so, Lou must know that this hard cap will probably be a more realistic $40 to $45 million, unless the captain is going to retire.

There is no way they can put in a $31 mil hard cap and not have some cutting or grandfathering of current players contracts. Just having 20 guys at last years league average would put you over the cap.

Honestly, aside from Niedermayer and Gomez, tender NONE of them!!!

Re-sign Madden if you can, Brylin if you must, but let Hrdina, Kozlov and Friesen go.

My source tells me Brylin and Madden are signed already. Madden is $4 million a year, and Brylin is "around" $2 million. Good for us.

Honestly, aside from Niedermayer and Gomez, tender NONE of them!!!

Re-sign Madden if you can, Brylin if you must, but let Hrdina, Kozlov and Friesen go.That's ridiculous. Let Kozlov go. He was never a Devil-type player anyway. Friesen had a bad year. He's cheap comparitively and needs a good set-up man to center him. He will have Parise next year. Hrdina is a great center for the 4th line. $2.2 million? That's a good price for a defensive centerman who will be on our checking line.
I like Brylin but don't know where he fits in. I guess that is the story of his career. That being said, he has proven himself valuable this past decade, so I say re-sign him.

The record said Friesen will be qualified, and they're talking contract with Mr. Kozlov.

My source tells me Brylin and Madden are signed already.

Hellsempire.. dat you? :D

Hellsempire.. dat you? :D

heh. That's a good one.

Honestly, aside from Niedermayer and Gomez, tender NONE of them!!!

Re-sign Madden if you can, Brylin if you must, but let Hrdina, Kozlov and Friesen go.

There's no point in letting Pando go. He's the perfect role player and he doesn't cost much.

As reported in several local papers, Lou matched Nieds who will probably go to arbitration and could make $8 million. Also, mentioned was that Lou is working on a Madden contract for $4 million per as well as contracts for Brylin, Turner and Pando. In addition, it was mentioned that Lou informed Friesen's agent a few weeks ago that he would be retained. This is great news, but this just proves to me that this $31 million hard cap isn't going to happen. Add Gomer and his raise and the Devs are over the cap, so, Lou must know that this hard cap will probably be a more realistic $40 to $45 million, unless the captain is going to retire.


Even with a cap at 40-45 million, 4 million/year for Madden seems awfully high for an incosistant, undersized, 3rd line center. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy, but he is replacable.

Agreed, but what do we do with Erik Rasmussen who was a pseudo unsung hero for a good part of last year if Parise makes the squad and John Madden is retained? Slide Ras to wing? Not sure how effective he'll be there, but he may not have much choice in the end I guess.Actually, Rasmussen plays much better on the wing. He can go harder into the corners and punish defensemen. When he plays center, he has to make sure he doesn't get sucked down too deep in the offensive zone so he can get back on defense. Rasmussen, Hrdina and Stevenson was a pretty good line toward the end of the season.

I don't want to lose Jeff Friesen. And we can't keep both Grant Marshall and Turner Stevenson. I don't know what Lou is going to do, but I hope he qualifies everyone, including Viktor Kozlov, if only to trade them. You can't trade an UFA.

And please sign Mad Dog and Sarge, okay Lou? Show them the money--if we have it!!!

Later... ;)


P.S. "Who own the Devils?" - Marty Brodeur

Madden has been signed and also Friesen for 1 million(thank God it was not 3 million) and Kozlov and Hrdina has been signed... Next will be Brylin and Stevenson and Niedermayer... Marshall will be back as well...


Friesen is not worth 3 million... Madden is worth 3 million...