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Your thought on today / about the team so far ?


SterioDesign

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If you have dependable goaltending and solid D, that's half the battle. The Devils have the first part. Adding Schneider should keep their GAA down. The Devils might not register a lot of shots but they don't give up much. They'll need more from Larsson and probably are hoping Gelinas or Merrill are up by the next calendar year.

 

Offensively, the play of Zajac and Henrique has to go up. Adding Jagr gives them another puck possession guy. Even at his advanced age, No.68 has to be accounted for. Ryder is a reliable finisher. 20-25 goals. Clowe is more of an injury risk. You'll love his compete. He's not the best skater but is good in the corners and does the dirty work. They still got 'ole reliable Elias, who is my favorite Devil. Amazing how consistent he still is. He's the man. You got solid depth with Zubrus, Carter and Bernier. They don't have to have a 30-goal guy to succeed. Scoring by committee can be just as effective.  

 

They'll probably have a watchful eye on Boucher. A full year in Albany can't hurt. He's definitely got some quick hands. I'd say their future is looking good.

I couldn't have summed up the situation any better ... nice work.

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The Bylsma clock started ticking with that hire. Clear as day. Just like Hextall going to Philly as Assistant GM of the Phailures. Bylsma and Holmgren both have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.

Bylsma def has to deliver this year. Martin's hiring should help him a ton.

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The offense doesn't look great, but there are some things I really like about this situation. You've got guys like Elias, Jagr, Zubrus, Ryder, and Clowe who have proven to be consistent players year after year (aside from Clowe's back luck with the Rangers last season). But because the team lacks a lot of first line talent, there will be many opportunities for younger players to prove themselves. It looks like this will be Josefson's year to prove that he can be an NHL player. He may end up competing for a spot with Loktionov, who, believe it or not has yet to play a full season in the NHL. Olesz is going to want to show that he's not some bust that had a few solid years and then faded away. Also, Zajac and Henrique are expected to step up their production in big ways this season. 

 

I'll exclude Zajac from this, but you've got to hope that at least one of these guys can live up to their potential. I think each of them has a lot of it.

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The offense doesn't look great, but there are some things I really like about this situation. You've got guys like Elias, Jagr, Zubrus, Ryder, and Clowe who have proven to be consistent players year after year (aside from Clowe's back luck with the Rangers last season). But because the team lacks a lot of first line talent, there will be many opportunities for younger players to prove themselves. It looks like this will be Josefson's year to prove that he can be an NHL player. He may end up competing for a spot with Loktionov, who, believe it or not has yet to play a full season in the NHL. Olesz is going to want to show that he's not some bust that had a few solid years and then faded away. Also, Zajac and Henrique are expected to step up their production in big ways this season. 

 

I'll exclude Zajac from this, but you've got to hope that at least one of these guys can live up to their potential. I think each of them has a lot of it.

 

In fairness, I think this is going to be a team we'll have to see actually play before we can even guess how good they're going to be...lots of new faces.  I'll admit I'm optimistic though.  To me, getting Kovy's contract off the books can't be seen as anything more than a major win, especially when one factors in that the guy didn't want to be a Devil or living in America. 

 

It's a team with upside, and if Schneider plays like Schneider, and Brodeur can simply be decent when he plays, the Devils shouldn't implode. 

 

Re:  Zajac and Henrique, big year for both.  If Zajac has another low offensive-output season on Year 2 of a pretty big contract, fans are going to start to turn on him, and most of them aren't going to care about Corsis, Fenwicks, PDO, or other ubernerd numbers that might make him look better...most fans (rightly or wrongly) still see goals, assists, and +/-, and they are going to want to see '08-'09 and '09-'10-type seasons from Zajac, with or without Parise.  

 

As far as Henrique goes...I have no idea what he is.  He started off hot two seasons ago, cooled off, had some big playoff moments, then really didn't do much last season.  I think by the end of this season, we'll have a better idea of how much he can contribute offensively, and more important, if he really SHOULD be expected to contribute offensively. 

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In fairness, I think this is going to be a team we'll have to see actually play before we can even guess how good they're going to be...lots of new faces.  I'll admit I'm optimistic though.  To me, getting Kovy's contract off the books can't be seen as anything more than a major win, especially when one factors in that the guy didn't want to be a Devil or living in America. 

 

It's a team with upside, and if Schneider plays like Schneider, and Brodeur can simply be decent when he plays, the Devils shouldn't implode. 

 

Re:  Zajac and Henrique, big year for both.  If Zajac has another low offensive-output season on Year 2 of a pretty big contract, fans are going to start to turn on him, and most of them aren't going to care about Corsis, Fenwicks, PDO, or other ubernerd numbers that might make him look better...most fans (rightly or wrongly) still see goals, assists, and +/-, and they are going to want to see '08-'09 and '09-'10-type seasons from Zajac, with or without Parise.  

 

As far as Henrique goes...I have no idea what he is.  He started off hot two seasons ago, cooled off, had some big playoff moments, then really didn't do much last season.  I think by the end of this season, we'll have a better idea of how much he can contribute offensively, and more important, if he really SHOULD be expected to contribute offensively. 

 

as for Henrique while i was also one of the one saying that Henrique was not putting good numbers cause he was playing with Kovy and Zach but because he was simply great and everything and that it was actually the other way around that he was making Kovy and zach better..... well this may have been seen through blinders im afraid. 

 

I mean... looking at his hands and forecheck the kids has talent but i think we may have pumped his tires a bit and honestly his "big goal" he was simply Johnny on the spot pushing the puck in, and before that and other than his OT goal against Florida he wasnt much of a factor, lets be honest.

 

I still see good potential in this kid he's really mature and good on the PK and i really like his hands he was one of the only player willing to beat a guy one on one with a deke from our team and he will be a good leader.

 

I really want to see him succeed big time with us.

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as for Henrique while i was also one of the one saying that Henrique was not putting good numbers cause he was playing with Kovy and Zach but because he was simply great and everything and that it was actually the other way around that he was making Kovy and zach better..... well this may have been seen through blinders im afraid. 

 

I mean... looking at his hands and forecheck the kids has talent but i think we may have pumped his tires a bit and honestly his "big goal" he was simply Johnny on the spot pushing the puck in, and before that and other than his OT goal against Florida he wasnt much of a factor, lets be honest.

 

I still see good potential in this kid he's really mature and good on the PK and i really like his hands he was one of the only player willing to beat a guy one on one with a deke from our team and he will be a good leader.

 

I really want to see him succeed big time with us.

I agree with this.  However, he is terrific on the pk and a scoring threat there.

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In fairness, I think this is going to be a team we'll have to see actually play before we can even guess how good they're going to be...lots of new faces.  I'll admit I'm optimistic though.  To me, getting Kovy's contract off the books can't be seen as anything more than a major win, especially when one factors in that the guy didn't want to be a Devil or living in America. 

 

It's a team with upside, and if Schneider plays like Schneider, and Brodeur can simply be decent when he plays, the Devils shouldn't implode. 

 

Re:  Zajac and Henrique, big year for both.  If Zajac has another low offensive-output season on Year 2 of a pretty big contract, fans are going to start to turn on him, and most of them aren't going to care about Corsis, Fenwicks, PDO, or other ubernerd numbers that might make him look better...most fans (rightly or wrongly) still see goals, assists, and +/-, and they are going to want to see '08-'09 and '09-'10-type seasons from Zajac, with or without Parise.  

 

As far as Henrique goes...I have no idea what he is.  He started off hot two seasons ago, cooled off, had some big playoff moments, then really didn't do much last season.  I think by the end of this season, we'll have a better idea of how much he can contribute offensively, and more important, if he really SHOULD be expected to contribute offensively. 

 

I don't think Henrique's future is that hard to guess at.  Every season of his but one points to what he is - a 35-50 point per 82 games NHL forward who can contribute on the PK (whether he can contribute much on the PP is questionable).  So he makes a good 2nd line LW/C or great 3rd line LW/C.  

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I don't think Henrique's future is that hard to guess at.  Every season of his but one points to what he is - a 35-50 point per 82 games NHL forward who can contribute on the PK (whether he can contribute much on the PP is questionable).  So he makes a good 2nd line LW/C or great 3rd line LW/C.  

 

Sounds about right, but based on the fast start he got off to two seasons ago, and some timely playoff goals, I think some think his upside might be higher.  This season should dispel that idea.   

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I don't think Henrique's future is that hard to guess at.  Every season of his but one points to what he is - a 35-50 point per 82 games NHL forward who can contribute on the PK (whether he can contribute much on the PP is questionable).  So he makes a good 2nd line LW/C or great 3rd line LW/C.  

I want to believe otherwise, but I think you're right about this. His production in the OHL 2 years after he was drafted is about as good as what you'd expect from a top prospect in their draft year. On top of that, he hasn't been too great in the AHL. I wish I could find another example of a player who did okay at the junior and AHL level, but then became a solid first liner, but I can't yet.

 

People get fooled by the fact that he held his own on a line with Parise and Kovalchuk, and didn't look out of place. This is an extreme example, but Palmieri didn't look awful when he was playing with Zajac and Kovlachuk, and look where he is now.

 

I think it's fair to expect Henrique to become a 2nd/3rd line player, even if we all hope he will achieve better than that.

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 I wish I could find another example of a player who did okay at the junior and AHL level, but then became a solid first liner, but I can't yet.

 

 

 

Maybe James Neal.  I don't know if he's been a "first liner", but at least in Dallas he scored 20+ goals a year, and scored 21 goals in 59 games his last year.  Those sound like numbers that would make you a first liner on a lot of teams.

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Talent-wise he's a 3rd liner.  I'm afraid of the paycheck he's going to get based on his fanfare and clutch '12 playoff rund.  Hopefully Lou learned from the Zajac contract.

 

Of course, if Lou hadn't re-signed Zajac before the season and had lost him this year, then SD and the rest would've been screaming about how Lou never keeps his UFAs and how he should've traded Zajac before losing him for prospects.  Poor guy can't ever win.

 

Signing Zajac was a risk, and it was based on Zajac's good '08-'09 and '09-'10 seasons.  If you're implying that this is already a bad contract, I think it's too early to say that, but Travis can't average .417 PPG next season...he really needs to be between .5 and .6 (basically 40-50 points)...not thrilling stuff, but at least respectable.  I'd consider anything beyond 50 a bonus, but I'm holding out hope we haven't already seen Travis' best.   

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sale of the team tomorrow should clear the doubts of some players we are targeting.

 

Was that an issue though?  If you're referring to Brunner, I think it's more that Lou doesn't think he's worth what he's asking.  And with Henrique, Lou's holding the keys on that one.

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Was that an issue though?  If you're referring to Brunner, I think it's more that Lou doesn't think he's worth what he's asking.  And with Henrique, Lou's holding the keys on that one.

 

not from our end, but players like schneider re-signing and good players coming over, it's a huge deal.

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sale of the team tomorrow should clear the doubts of some players we are targeting.

Was that an issue though? If you're referring to Brunner, I think it's more that Lou doesn't think he's worth what he's asking. And with Henrique, Lou's holding the keys on that one.

It doesn't help that there's not really any room for Brunner either.

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Er, thought you were talking about Zajac, not Henrique.  Anyhow, Zajac hasn't even played a game under his contract yet so it's a little early to call it a 'mistake' (and even if it was, it was a mistake we had to chance with our utter lack of centers/forwards in the system).  This season will be a telltale one for him, whether he can be a first-liner without Parise or an overpaid third-liner with intangibles.

 

It's a little early to write the book on Henrique but this'll be a telling year for him too.  Two years ago he had a solid year in between 9 and 17, last year not so much.  Even in the AHL he struggled.

Edited by NJDevs4978
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