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Devils make cuts


StormJosh

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As per TG, Devils camp now looks like:

Forwards (21): Krys Barch, Damien Brunner, Ryan Carter, Ryane Clowe, Patrik Elias, Stefan Matteau, Rostislav Olesz, Stephen Gionta, Adam Henrique, Jacob Josefson, Andrei Loktionov, Rod Pelley, Tim Sestito, Travis Zajac, Steve Bernier, Jaromir Jagr, Cam Janssen, Michael Ryder, Mike Sislo, Mattias Tedenby, Dainius Zubrus.

Defensemen (13): Brandon Burlon, Mark Fayne, Eric Gelinas, Andy Greene, Peter Harrold, Adam Larsson, Jon Merrill, Bryce Salvador, Damon Severson, Alex Urbom, Anton Volchenkov, Harry Young, Marek Zidlicky.

Goaltenders (4): Martin Brodeur, Cory Schneider, Keith Kinkaid, Scott Wedgewood.

Assuming Clowe, Elias, Henrique, Loktionov, Zajac, Bernier, Jagr, Ryder, Zubrus, and Carter are locks at forward. Then, Fayne, Greene, Larsson, Salvador(e), Volchenkov, Zidlicky are locks at D.

That means pick 5 of these 17:

Matteau, Olesz, Gionta, Josefson, Tedenby, Barch, Brunner, Harrold, Gelinas, Merrill (short list).

...or the long shots: Sislo, Pelley, Sestito, Janssen, Severson, Young, Burlon

I'd like to see Olesz, Josefson, Brunner, Gelinas and Harrold make it.

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Barch shouldn't see the ice in the playoffs - then they should absolutely roll 4 quality lines, but I don't mind him as the extra forward and getting into divisional games when the other team dresses an enforcer. I think the anti-fighting crowd has really risen in recent years and overreacts to these guys. Maybe I'm old school but as a fan I enjoy watching 2 guys exchange punches on the ice, especially in rivalry games. As much as I am into the stat movement in hockey, there is still a heartbeat to the game and fighting has a place. I doubt dressing an enforcer in a handful of games while other teams do the same really has that huge of an impact on W-L over the course of 82 games.

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I dislike people complaining about enforcers more than I dlslike watching them.

 

The Devils didn't cut anyone eligible for waivers yet.  Young, Sestito, Pelley, and Janssen are all waiver-eligible.

 

He didn't "enforce" anything last night though. If he wanted to enforce, Boulton would've been his target. That blind-sided hit on his first penalty and tripping Brodeur on his third should've drawn his ire...

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I mean, you have 6 replies to a somewhat interesting topic - although it's more notable to me as fiesty pointed out that Bell and Black returned to juniors whereas Thomson went to Albany - on the subject of a fighter who A: has a one-way contract (the Devils cut nobody with a one-way contract) and B: has 400 NHL games played.  He could be cut later on, he probably won't be, but unfortunately this nonsense is part of the game.

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He didn't "enforce" anything last night though. If he wanted to enforce, Boulton would've been his target. That blind-sided hit on his first penalty and tripping Brodeur on his third should've drawn his ire...

 

Did someone trip Marty? Maybe that's whjy 4 out of 8 shots went into the net while he was the goalie. I didn't see the game must have been bad defense.

Edited by LucifersDog
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I'm more interested in the D-men... You've got 6 regulars locked in, and then half-regular Harrold (only eats his prunes some of the time), and then some young guys who kinda look like they can play (Gelinas, Urbom, Merrill).  Even conservatively, if you can only make a case for one of the 3 kids, that's 8D if you keep Harrold.  NJ has certainly done this in the past, but with a jam of regulars who likely won't sit games, it still seems crowded.

 

Question is: at this point, is there any realistic chance of a Salvador-type getting shipped out prior to Oct 1?  I'd like to see Gelinas make the team and get playing time, but not just to rotate in 1 every 10 games.

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I'm more interested in the D-men... You've got 6 regulars locked in, and then half-regular Harrold (only eats his prunes some of the time), and then some young guys who kinda look like they can play (Gelinas, Urbom, Merrill).  Even conservatively, if you can only make a case for one of the 3 kids, that's 8D if you keep Harrold.  NJ has certainly done this in the past, but with a jam of regulars who likely won't sit games, it still seems crowded.

 

Question is: at this point, is there any realistic chance of a Salvador-type getting shipped out prior to Oct 1?  I'd like to see Gelinas make the team and get playing time, but not just to rotate in 1 every 10 games.

 

I think Fayne is the only one that could be reasonably moved. He's UFA after the season, doesn't make the money the other guys make, and plays a closer style game to the guys looking to be brought up.

 

Lou has said if someone shows they can make the jump, he'll make a move for them. He referenced Colin White in 2000, saying Colin showed he was ready to come up, and Lou moved someone (I think Odelein) later in the season to give him a spot.

 

Also, we can't forget the inevitable injuries that will come this season.

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Gelinas has to play, no point wasting him as the #7. Gelinas will be called up once Lou finds a trade that is acceptable. I doubt it is before the 15 game mark, he will wait for injuries to amount. There is a good chance one of Volchenkov, Zidlicky or Salvador will be injured as well.

Edited by Jas0nMacIsaac
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I think Fayne is the only one that could be reasonably moved. He's UFA after the season, doesn't make the money the other guys make, and plays a closer style game to the guys looking to be brought up.

 

Lou has said if someone shows they can make the jump, he'll make a move for them. He referenced Colin White in 2000, saying Colin showed he was ready to come up, and Lou moved someone (I think Odelein) later in the season to give him a spot.

 

Also, we can't forget the inevitable injuries that will come this season.

That's what we thought would happen last year, but it never really happened.

Still got my fingers crossed that Volch can be moved, but I imagine that's unlikely. Zid could always be moved, but I think that would be very not like LL to sign someone then dump them before the deadline.

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That's what we thought would happen last year, but it never really happened.

Still got my fingers crossed that Volch can be moved, but I imagine that's unlikely. Zid could always be moved, but I think that would be very not like LL to sign someone then dump them before the deadline.

Unfortunately, the guy who makes the most sense is Sal, but he also happens to wear our "C" so is not terribly likely.  Moving Fayne doesn't make sense, who is a solid top-4 D in my mind.  Sal and Volch make sense from a skillset point of view, but are both a hard sell to other teams.  I agree Harrold shouldn't be a lock by any means, but he's a good 7th because no one cares if he rots for 15 games in a row.  It makes more sense to have him as #7 than Gelinas.  I like the youth coming up on the back end, but I'll just patiently cross my fingers for a Volchenkov-sized miracle.

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Every time I tune into a game it's Barch getting his ass beat. If he was actually a good fighter, I wouldn't mind having him on the squad.

 

Funny story, went out to get mexican food take-out and I turned the radio on and I heard this:

 

"Barch misses with a right, OHHHHHH and Barch take a hard left and he's out!"

 

Funniest Barch moment.

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As per TG, Devils camp now looks like:

Forwards (21): Krys Barch, Damien Brunner, Ryan Carter, Ryane Clowe, Patrik Elias, Stefan Matteau, Rostislav Olesz, Stephen Gionta, Adam Henrique, Jacob Josefson, Andrei Loktionov, Rod Pelley, Tim Sestito, Travis Zajac, Steve Bernier, Jaromir Jagr, Cam Janssen, Michael Ryder, Mike Sislo, Mattias Tedenby, Dainius Zubrus.

Defensemen (13): Brandon Burlon, Mark Fayne, Eric Gelinas, Andy Greene, Peter Harrold, Adam Larsson, Jon Merrill, Bryce Salvador, Damon Severson, Alex Urbom, Anton Volchenkov, Harry Young, Marek Zidlicky.

Goaltenders (4): Martin Brodeur, Cory Schneider, Keith Kinkaid, Scott Wedgewood.

Assuming Clowe, Elias, Henrique, Loktionov, Zajac, Bernier, Jagr, Ryder, Zubrus, and Carter are locks at forward. Then, Fayne, Greene, Larsson, Salvador(e), Volchenkov, Zidlicky are locks at D.

That means pick 5 of these 17:

Matteau, Olesz, Gionta, Josefson, Tedenby, Barch, Brunner, Harrold, Gelinas, Merrill (short list).

...or the long shots: Sislo, Pelley, Sestito, Janssen, Severson, Young, Burlon

I'd like to see Olesz, Josefson, Brunner, Gelinas and Harrold make it.

Of these guys, who has to clear waivers?  Teddy, Gio, Harrold, Olesz, Sislo/  Pelley? Sestito?  none of which will get picked up probably.

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I think Fayne is the only one that could be reasonably moved. He's UFA after the season, doesn't make the money the other guys make, and plays a closer style game to the guys looking to be brought up.

 

Lou has said if someone shows they can make the jump, he'll make a move for them. He referenced Colin White in 2000, saying Colin showed he was ready to come up, and Lou moved someone (I think Odelein) later in the season to give him a spot.

 

Also, we can't forget the inevitable injuries that will come this season.

I hate to say it but I agree that Fayne is probably going to get moved. It's a shame since I'd much rather have him on the team than Salvador, Zidlicky, Volchenkov, and Harrold but he is by far the most moveable. I was kind of hoping he would be a guy that would help bridge the gap between the veteran D they already have and the young D that will come in over the next few years, but I doubt that happens now.

 

Also agree about injuries. With all the wear and tear Salvador and Volchenkov have, I think there will be plenty of call up opportunities this year.

 

One thing that bothered me at the time and still bothers me is bring back Zidlicky. I get the sense he is a popular locker room guy but he's garbage at even strength and it's not like he's helped turn around the Devils PP that much. Not to say lack of PP success is all on him, it's on the team and coaches collectively, but I think Gelinas can probably help just as much on the PP as Zidlicky and at least be on the same level at even strength. Would've rather seen the roster spot go to Gelinas and some of that money go to Brunner.

Edited by thefiestygoat
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I hate to say it but I agree that Fayne is probably going to get moved. It's a shame since I'd much rather have him on the team than Salvador, Zidlicky, Volchenkov, and Harrold but he is by far the most moveable. I was kind of hoping he would be a guy that would help bridge the gap between the veteran D they already have and the young D that will come in over the next few years, but I doubt that happens now.

Also agree about injuries. With all the wear and tear Salvador and Volchenkov have, I think there will be plenty of call up opportunities this year.

One thing that bothered me at the time and still bothers me is bring back Zidlicky. I get the sense he is a popular locker room guy but he's garbage at even strength and it's not like he's helped turn around the Devils PP that much. Not to say lack of PP success is all on him, it's on the team and coaches collectively, but I think Gelinas can probably help just as much on the PP as Zidlicky and at least be on the same level at even strength. Would've rather seen the roster spot go to Gelinas and some of that money go to Brunner.

A: Zidlicky is not garbage at even strength - his numbers away from Salvador were quite good

B: Gelinas has 1 game of NHL experience

C: Gelinas's minor league numbers do not suggest a player as offensively skilled as Zidlicky - the assist numbers simply aren't there

D: Two exhibition games aren't enough to crown Gelinas.

If Gelinas had .66 points per game I'd say okay this guy is not only ready for the NHL, he's ready for PP1 duty - didn't exactly happen that way. And there's no safety net if Gelinas can't handle it.

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I hate to say it but I agree that Fayne is probably going to get moved. It's a shame since I'd much rather have him on the team than Salvador, Zidlicky, Volchenkov, and Harrold but he is by far the most moveable. I was kind of hoping he would be a guy that would help bridge the gap between the veteran D they already have and the young D that will come in over the next few years, but I doubt that happens now.

 

Also agree about injuries. With all the wear and tear Salvador and Volchenkov have, I think there will be plenty of call up opportunities this year.

 

One thing that bothered me at the time and still bothers me is bring back Zidlicky. I get the sense he is a popular locker room guy but he's garbage at even strength and it's not like he's helped turn around the Devils PP that much. Not to say lack of PP success is all on him, it's on the team and coaches collectively, but I think Gelinas can probably help just as much on the PP as Zidlicky and at least be on the same level at even strength. Would've rather seen the roster spot go to Gelinas and some of that money go to Brunner.

 

Zidlicky had to be brought back at the time. They take a giant hit with Kovalchuk going and then right after letting their #1 offensive defenseman walk?  Who would be running the powerplay? Where would any of the offense come from?

 

Now we see that the Devils have some pretty nice offensive defenseman, but it's still only pre-season and none of them had any NHL experience. Just too risky back in July to let these guys go. Some time these moves work, but most of the time they burn you (like letting Sykora go and hoping Butler or Tedenby would replace him).'

 

I do have concerns with Fayne going when he is better than half of the defensive roster. But Salvador and Volchenkov are pretty unmovable. Harrold is the perfect 7.  I think we see injuries sort this stuff out.

Edited by devilsrule33
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A: Zidlicky is not garbage at even strength - his numbers away from Salvador were quite good

B: Gelinas has 1 game of NHL experience

C: Gelinas's minor league numbers do not suggest a player as offensively skilled as Zidlicky - the assist numbers simply aren't there

D: Two exhibition games aren't enough to crown Gelinas.

If Gelinas had .66 points per game I'd say okay this guy is not only ready for the NHL, he's ready for PP1 duty - didn't exactly happen that way. And there's no safety net if Gelinas can't handle it.

I'm sure he's better away from Salvador, anyone would be, but he still gets caught out of position and gets burned more often than not. There is no way you can convince me he is competent at even strength. His Corsi doesn't tell the whole story. He's a PP specialist D.

 

I'm not even a big fan of Gelinas and I can't watch the preseason games so it's not like I'm crowning him at all like you suggest. Infact out of all the young Albany D I'd think higher of Urbom and Merrill at this moment in time than I do of Gelinas. My point is Gelinas with an $870,000 cap hit is more valuable than Zidlicky's $4,000,000 if you are going to carry a D that can't play D but can help on the PP. Then use the money saved to get a guy like Brunner under contract.

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