titansman Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Looks like Justin Coutu just got the call: http://theahl.com/stats/transactions.php Just great with 2 coming up in Kalamazoo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils1985 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 If Zubrus is indeed saddled with a broken leg, I expect we'll be cherry picked again. At this rate when Lowell comes to the Rock Trenton fans will see a ton of familiar faces. And it's only November. Oofah. Time for Kowalsky to break about that crystal ball and line up some players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shtikl Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 If Zubrus is indeed saddled with a broken leg, I expect we'll be cherry picked again. At this rate when Lowell comes to the Rock Trenton fans will see a ton of familiar faces. And it's only November. Oofah. Time for Kowalsky to break about that crystal ball and line up some players. If Kowalsky hasn't been on the phone, he hasn't been paying attention. Or his budget's been cut again. The NJ-Devils have been dropping like flies, and Lowell's been very lucky by comparison, don't know what happened to Castonguay but he's not a healthy scratch. If the injury bug bit Lowell hard, you'd probably have to forfeit some games, or Kowalsky would have to lace up. At least Coutu will play tonight, he won't be skating practice without a number and watching another call-up make his debut. Honestly, "Thing 1 and Thing 2" at practice yesterday? Maybe Howse is healthy, and you'll have 6 D and a full crew of forwards tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils1985 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Howse is back, so he's healthy enough, at least. Since the Devils certainly aren't alone in the injury bug that will certainly deplete the available pool - wonder if we've see player/coach and player/assitant coach scenarios before? Hah. Wasn't long ago we had a lot of healthy bodies manning the nachos; nice to have a reserve but I'm sure they didn't think it'd be depleted before turkey coma day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shtikl Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Howse is back, so he's healthy enough, at least. Since the Devils certainly aren't alone in the injury bug that will certainly deplete the available pool - wonder if we've see player/coach and player/assitant coach scenarios before? Hah. Wasn't long ago we had a lot of healthy bodies manning the nachos; nice to have a reserve but I'm sure they didn't think it'd be depleted before turkey coma day.... Player/coach is a lot more common in the lower minors, but Chris Terreri played for the Rats once. Played against Hershey. Pretty rare for an AHL team to be in those straits but, well, that's the Devils for ya. Where is Kowalsky going to find 2 more defensemen and 2 more forwards? Bigger question, where is he going to find players who are willing to come to Trenton? The rumors must be flying thick and fast now, any player worth dried spit is going to run the other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils1985 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Well I was thinking both having to suit up; would be entertaining to say the least. I know where he can find one forward, they even have the #11 still open. I've actually been impressed by his ability to find people. Jeff Prough was a nice addition for us last year, and now he's up with you guys (on merit). Considering the number of T Devils that made the move this year I imagine the org is pretty happy with Kowalsky. The hockey part, at least, doesn't appear to be in shambles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titansman Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 Player/coach is a lot more common in the lower minors, but Chris Terreri played for the Rats once. Played against Hershey. Pretty rare for an AHL team to be in those straits but, well, that's the Devils for ya. Where is Kowalsky going to find 2 more defensemen and 2 more forwards? Bigger question, where is he going to find players who are willing to come to Trenton? The rumors must be flying thick and fast now, any player worth dried spit is going to run the other way. What rumors are you talking about? Why would a player run the other way when presented an opportunity to show his skills and have a good chance to move up. A good number of last years team is in the AHL now. This is the kind of stupid comment i would expect from someone who has never even seen a game here. You can talk about the attendance, the same you could in Lowell. That is a fact. Other than that you have no idea what is happening here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils1985 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 The hockey ops are in decent shape; a lot of guys came back which is a positive sign; several also moved up which is another positive sign. I'm not sure how much stock a player, in midseason, would put into the fact that the front office is a mess. It greatly concerns the fans (at least this one) but as long as the checks clear probably not the players so much. They're busy enough playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titansman Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 The hockey ops are in decent shape; a lot of guys came back which is a positive sign; several also moved up which is another positive sign. I'm not sure how much stock a player, in midseason, would put into the fact that the front office is a mess. It greatly concerns the fans (at least this one) but as long as the checks clear probably not the players so much. They're busy enough playing. I'm not even sure if the front office is a mess. The Devils dont divulge much. Yes Keith Jones has been awol the last couple of games, but for all we know this may have been pre planned with obligations we dont know about. But who knows. Besides that everything else, at least to me, has been pretty much the same. The main changes have been occuring with the arena and naming rights etc. The Devils have nothing to do with this and what effect this may have caused who knows. According to the front office a new 10 year lease was signed so at least we have hockey (though would be nice to have our players) It just bothers me when someone not from this area throws out comments without really knowing anything of fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titans04 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I'm not even sure if the front office is a mess. The Devils dont divulge much. Yes Keith Jones has been awol the last couple of games, but for all we know this may have been pre planned with obligations we dont know about. But who knows. Besides that everything else, at least to me, has been pretty much the same. The main changes have been occuring with the arena and naming rights etc. The Devils have nothing to do with this and what effect this may have caused who knows. According to the front office a new 10 year lease was signed so at least we have hockey (though would be nice to have our players) It just bothers me when someone not from this area throws out comments without really knowing anything of fact. It's a fact that both Keith Jones and Butch have left the org. Butch's job opening was posted on the ECHL website over a week ago, Jones left weeks ago. Another paid front office person has left as well. Lou jacked around with the Devils roster yesterday by putting Leblond who's not hurt on IR just so McCammond could play last night without having to put somebody on waivers to try and send them down (PLL, Pikk etc)so I don't think at least for now that Zubrus will cost Lowell or Trenton another player via call-up. LeBlond can come off IR right away because the time was retroactive fro the last game he played according to TG. Halishuck would probably have been in the mixed to be returned to Lowell as well as Sestito. What it will do is most likely prevent Lowell receiving a player back which probably would have meant a player falling to Trenton - I guess Kell based on Prough playing over him in the last game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils1985 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 It's also a fact that attendance has dived this year; welcome to Friday night (October 30, to be precise) in Trenton: This is at opening faceoff. The crowd did fill in a bit as the period went on...maybe an additional 100 people. Last year this was a Wednesday crowd; year before it was a *bad* Wednesday crowd; year before it was a horrible weather crowd. This is the most obvious change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titans04 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Come on defenders it's your turn to spin this. The view from the opposite side of the arena was the same and like you said this was a weekend game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils1985 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I will also say this isn't an abberation. Every game (save Reading when they brought 400 people) has looked like this. It's pathetic, and the year following posting the best record in the entire league the second half of the season and a truly inspiring 7 game tilt with Elmira in the playoffs, including a 4OT game 1, a 2OT game 6, and several returning key players. All of that positive on-ice momentum, and attendance has plummeted by about, oh, half. Yeah, things are great. I've no doubt the economy is a factor - but it's a nationwide problem. Are minor league teams everywhere down as much? That I don't know. If they've really signed a 10 year lease, that's great, makes me think they'll still be around next year. Beyond that....things have to change, I would think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonPwnedFlorida Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 If they've really signed a 10 year lease, that's great, makes me think they'll still be around next year. Beyond that....things have to change, I would think. They did...and they will be. Like ive said all along...Attendance has dropped EVERY year. Ever since day one we have seen a steady decline in attendance. It sucks to lose Keith Jones...but im very happy to lose Butch..Guy was horrible, im so glad he is gone. Besides who didnt see it coming? What was he gonna be wheeled out on his wheelchair every game? Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titans04 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 ECHL Press Release Attendance Rises Again November 16, 2009 The ECHL raised its average attendance for the second straight week and is 5.7 percent ahead of its average for the first five weeks of 2008-09 with 4,393 per game. The only minor professional hockey league to increase average attendance each of the last two seasons, the Premier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils1985 Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 They did...and they will be. Like ive said all along...Attendance has dropped EVERY year. Ever since day one we have seen a steady decline in attendance. It sucks to lose Keith Jones...but im very happy to lose Butch..Guy was horrible, im so glad he is gone. Besides who didnt see it coming? What was he gonna be wheeled out on his wheelchair every game? Lol Attendance dropping every year isn't a red flag? Especially when, let's be honest, the loss rate INCREASED since the Devils took over? 800 people in the stands doesn't strike me as a viable organization, sorry. It can only go so low before they pull the plug, lease or no. The floor really dropped out this year and like I said, it's not like last year's team was an embarrassment, far from it. And I loved Butch; Jones was ok, the guy in there now has no business being there. Hopefully with the long stretch between home games they can find somebody, anybody, else. I sure hope they can turn it around and this is the low point...cause it's pretty low in the off ice department. As long as they're here, I'm here. I'm surprised they haven't announced that 10 year deal. OTOH, no I'm not, I've no idea what they're doing anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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