GDT - 11/29/14 - Devils @ Islanders - 7:00pm

[Mitico12]

The Devils have a huge quagmire on their hands because we have a lot of "used, spare, pin-ball machine parts" that are really unusable anywhere else.  To add insult to injury (no pun intended), we have players with a fair amount of salary on the books that makes it doubly hard to get rid of.

 

I can see a player like Brunner, Ryder, Zubrus, Elias, Jagr helping a young, inexperienced team come playoff time.  I can see them doing decent things in a 3rd/4th line role with teams like Pitt, NY Isles, the Habs, and St. Louis.   Would Lou trade to a division rival?  Probably not.

 

If the Devils are out of a playoff spot soon, and Marty does get signed in St. Louis, I can see him convincing their management to bring in a few Devils pieces to complete the pie.

 

Ironically, the players that I think have the most value on the Devils for trading come deadline are -  Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier.  Crashers, with 4th line experience, that will play their heart out on a team that lacks this element going into the playoffs.

[Devilsfan118]

22 goals in 106 GP as a Devil for Michael Ryder. Not like he hasn't scored at roughly that pace before, but what a disappointment he's been. Can't wait until his invisible ass is gone. And of course, he's the one guy who never misses a game. Lucky us.

 

Wow.  Never realized how bad he's been.  I mean, we all see how invisible and useless he is, but scoring at less than 20 goals/season pace?  And here we thought we'd be getting a 25-30 goal scorer.

[BostonNala370]

Thanks LOU for this mess!!!!!!

[Devil Dan 56]

Thanks LOU for this mess!!!!!!

Yeah!! How dare he not have continous prosperity!!! How dare there be a down turn after 2 decades of winning! Damn him to hell!

[thefiestygoat]

22 goals in 106 GP as a Devil for Michael Ryder. Not like he hasn't scored at roughly that pace before, but what a disappointment he's been. Can't wait until his invisible ass is gone. And of course, he's the one guy who never misses a game. Lucky us.

I really can't stand Ryder, he's become one of my most disliked players of all time. Same with Brunner. I'd be glad to dump either of them for some random draft pick at this point.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

I really can't stand Ryder, he's become one of my most disliked players of all time. Same with Brunner. I'd be glad to dump either of them for some random draft pick at this point.

Yep, I'll happily drive him to the airport. Brunner too.

[BostonNala370]

Yeah!! How dare he not have continous prosperity!!! How dare there be a down turn after 2 decades of winning! Damn him to hell!

Two decades o winning that's a stretch. Quite a stretch.

[Devil Dan 56]

Two decades o winning that's a stretch. Quite a stretch.

Success doesn't last forever. Teams build up, win for a bit, and then they have to rebuild. We were lucky enough to have an extended time of prosperity but all teams have hard times eventually. If Lou had stepped down in 2003, this team would still have losing seasons under who ever was GM after. It's the natural cycle.

[caron14]

we made the finals 2 years ago... with our gm i believe things will shakeup. trades coaching staff etc.

[BostonNala370]

Success doesn't last forever. Teams build up, win for a bit, and then they have to rebuild. We were lucky enough to have an extended time of prosperity but all teams have hard times eventually. If Lou had stepped down in 2003, this team would still have losing seasons under who ever was GM after. It's the natural cycle.

You don't know with a new GM lets say in 2006 when Lou seemed to lose it that we would have what we have had the past 2 1/2 years. But you do know what we got from Lou .

Edited December 1, 2014 by BostonNala370

[HellOnICE]

In 2006 he seemed to lose it.......????????

 

Fact remains, if we had better ownership, we probably would've won a cup in the last 3 years. If we had an owner who could've offered a better deal chances are we would've locked Zach up long term, Kovy would've stayed and we'd be a solid team. 

 

Lou put together a contender but it was dismantled really with none of his own doing. That's what sucks so bad. He made the bold move, it paid off, then it came crashing down because Vanderbeek didn't have enough money.

Edited December 1, 2014 by HellOnICE

[William D'Aquila]

In 2006 he seemed to lose it.......????????

 

Fact remains, if we had better ownership, we probably would've won a cup in the last 3 years. If we had an owner who could've offered a better deal chances are we would've locked Zach up long term, Kovy would've stayed and we'd be a solid team. 

 

Lou put together a contender but it was dismantled really with none of his own doing. That's what sucks so bad. He made the bold move, it paid off, then it came crashing down because Vanderbeek didn't have enough money.

 

Bingo. 

[Devil Dan 56]

You don't know with a new GM lets say in 2006 when Lou seemed to lose it that we would have what we have had the past 2 1/2 years. But you do know what we got from Lou .

 

Not exactly, no. But we do know that sooner or later, the team would have to retool. Years and years of drafting late is eventually going to lead to a lack of talent. You either let the team lose to get better prospects or you sign UFA's to fill the holes. 

[MadDog2020]

Not exactly, no. But we do know that sooner or later, the team would have to retool. Years and years of drafting late is eventually going to lead to a lack of talent. You either let the team lose to get better prospects or you sign UFA's to fill the holes.

Tell that to the Red Wings.

[Mike Brown]

I love how people want to blow up the organization all because we hit our first stretch of lean years.

[Sneax]

First stretch? Where have you been for the last 5 years. Outside of a cup appearance this team has had a pretty steady trajectory, and it's been terrible.

Tell that to the Red Wings.

I feel like the red wings aren't to far off from being us. There core is definitely dwindling and they are no doing a great job replacing players. I could easily see them in our exact position in a few more years.

[Mike Brown]

First stretch? Where have you been for the last 5 years. Outside of a cup appearance this team has had a pretty steady trajectory, and it's been terrible.

 

What are you talking about?  This is the first real rough patch of seasons the Devils have gone through since Lou became GM.  That's a fact.  And it hasn't even been THAT LONG of a rough stretch.  5 years isn't all that long.  In those 5 years, we still managed to get to the SCF once.

 

And Detroit's prospect pool blows ours out of the water.  They're in great position to succeed long term.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Mike Brown

[BostonNala370]

Not exactly, no. But we do know that sooner or later, the team would have to retool. Years and years of drafting late is eventually going to lead to a lack of talent. You either let the team lose to get better prospects or you sign UFA's to fill the holes.

I will agree with you that as a team finishes in the top it drafts late so selecting talent becomes important within the draft. Getting the best left both in offense and defense. Also selecting the right players from the UFA. The scout and GM have this responsibility. How has Lou and Conte done in this area? I say great with defense not so with offense. Then there is the trades between clubs that allow for restocking. How have they done there? And finally there is the player contracts, length and dollar amounts. How have they done there? I realize that Lou's hands were tied because of Vanderbeek but still. I get your message try to get mine. There are no winners with this discussion just two losers look what we have for the past 5 years. I trip to the finals, a fluke, and probably 4 playoff misses.with new owners for some of those years.

Please, Read the article posted by fsu1852 in the fire DeBoer thread.

Edited December 1, 2014 by BostonNala370

[BostonNala370]

 

And Detroit's prospect pool blows ours out of the water.  They're in great position to succeed long term.

Why?

[Louismydad]

First stretch? Where have you been for the last 5 years. Outside of a cup appearance this team has had a pretty steady trajectory, and it's been terrible.

I feel like the red wings aren't to far off from being us. There core is definitely dwindling and they are no doing a great job replacing players. I could easily see them in our exact position in a few more years.

when datsyuk and setter berg retire in the next few years, they're going to be us(maybe a little better)

[Triumph]

No, the Wings do have good prospects, but they've never come close to replacing Lidstrom and they won't come close to replacing Datsyuk or Zetterberg probably either.  They've got a lot of very good young players and they'll be in line to deal for a superstar in the coming years, but I think their days as a great team may be over.  And that's forgetting about all the other teams that were great when the Devils were great - the Stars, the Flyers, the Avs, and the Blues, who've all had their struggles since then.

[Devil Dan 56]

I will agree with you that as a team finishes in the top it drafts late so selecting talent becomes important within the draft. Getting the best left both in offense and defense. Also selecting the right players from the UFA. The scout and GM have this responsibility. How has Lou and Conte done in this area? I say great with defense not so with offense. Then there is the trades between clubs that allow for restocking. How have they done there? And finally there is the player contracts, length and dollar amounts. How have they done there? I realize that Lou's hands were tied because of Vanderbeek but still. I get your message try to get mine. There are no winners with this discussion just two losers look what we have for the past 5 years. I trip to the finals, a fluke, and probably 4 playoff misses.with new owners for some of those years.

Please, Read the article posted by fsu1852 in the fire DeBoer thread.

 

I hear what you're saying. I just don't think these are problems exclusive to the Devils. The defense drafting has been great. The offensive, a lot of swings and misses. Lou has traded when there's a trade to be made (Kovalchuk, Zidlicky, Schneider). He's unloaded players through trade or buyout when possible (White, Rolston, Volchenkov, Mottau, Moose, Arnott). As for UFA contracts, that is what it is. You're going to overpay in free agency. The last 5 years are the end result. It's a decline and now it's time to unload what they can for picks, keep an eye to forwards when drafting (especially in the 1st rd) and restock the cupboard. Some picks in the top 15 will do this team very, very well. It's what they need. The Devils earliest picks in the last 10 drafts were: 23rd, 30th, 57th, 24th, 20th, 38th, 4th, 29th, 42nd, 30th. You just aren't going to consistently find elite talent with that positioning. 

[Sneax]

What are you talking about?  This is the first real rough patch of seasons the Devils have gone through since Lou became GM.  That's a fact.  And it hasn't even been THAT LONG of a rough stretch.  5 years isn't all that long.  In those 5 years, we still managed to get to the SCF once.

 

And Detroit's prospect pool blows ours out of the water.  They're in great position to succeed long term.

We have been bad for years now. Might be hard for you to see that, but it isn't for other people.

We have been swimming furiously to keep our head above water for a few years now. But when you think Scott clemenson plays great letting up 4 goals on like 30 shots, or that we are to talented to lose like this, I wouldn't expect a different response from you.

You probably still think we are making the playoffs this year.