116 replies to this topic

[BlueSkirt]

& BTW Zidlicky might be the biggest flop of all... he has me going friggin crazy, hope he doesnot come back...

Disregarding how much was given to get him, I think without Zidlicky we wouldn't have gotten this far. He added a missing dimension to our offense.

[Zubie#8]

Disregarding how much was given to get him, I think without Zidlicky we wouldn't have gotten this far. He added a missing dimension to our offense.

Totally agree, and I think he has a wrist injury since that simmonds hit because he is playing the puck with very stiff hands ever since.

[ThreeCups]

Patty is all class. I have have weird feeling towards Zach. I talked to him last season when he was hurt at the meet and greet and he was a nice guy, BUT I also get that feeling that his dad will persuade him to take the money and run. Unless he goes to an already contending team, he will never win anything, since I don't see him winning sh!t this year, obviously.

We are gonna post this sort of stuff again?!? You got a feeling his dad will persuade him to take the money and run based on a 23 seconds encounter with him at a meet and greet?!? REALLY?!?!?

[losdiablos103]

We are gonna post this sort of stuff again?!? You got a feeling his dad will persuade him to take the money and run based on a 23 seconds encounter with him at a meet and greet?!? REALLY?!?!?

No. That's not what I meant. I meant that I like Zach and he was cool to talk to. (End of that) But from JP's recent comments, I get the feeling that Zach won't be back. (nothing to do with me meeting Zach.

[Triumph]

Totally agree, and I think he has a wrist injury since that simmonds hit because he is playing the puck with very stiff hands ever since.

He's almost definitely still playing hurt. Hasn't been the same guy since that hit, unfortunately.

[devlman]

This thread is one born out of frustration, I understand. That said, my one wish for Parise would be to work on his shooting. I cant remember the last time he scored a goal more than 10 feet out. Everything he shoots goes right into the goalie's chest.

[Devils Pride 26]

This might be the dumbest thread of all time in the history of this forum.

Based on ONE GAME, you make a potential $100M decision. What if he scores the sixth goal in a 5-1 loss?

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

Kovy hasn't been playing well, but anyone who thinks he isn't injured should start paying closer attention. He would be absolutely lethal at 100% health. It's amazing that he was able to be so effective in the previous series due to his vision and shot alone. It's just that now that the games are so much tighter, he can't rely on that as much.

That's the thing about Kovalchuk. He needs space to be effective. The Rangers with their passive system gave it to him. The Kings are not doing it. I think he's hurt but it's not possible to extrapolate and say he'd be lethal in this series at 100% health. Maybe on the PP, but even then he's not getting much time and space from the Kings. They are taking him out of the game and I am not convinced they wouldn't be taking a 100% Kovalchuk out of the game.

[ThreeCups]

No. That's not what I meant. I meant that I like Zach and he was cool to talk to. (End of that) But from JP's recent comments, I get the feeling that Zach won't be back. (nothing to do with me meeting Zach.

Fair enough...

The choice is Zach's, and one he will have to live with for the majority of his remaining playing days...

Make the right choice #9....

[Triumph]

That's the thing about Kovalchuk. He needs space to be effective. The Rangers with their passive system gave it to him. The Kings are not doing it. I think he's hurt but it's not possible to extrapolate and say he'd be lethal in this series at 100% health. Maybe on the PP, but even then he's not getting much time and space from the Kings. They are taking him out of the game and I am not convinced they wouldn't be taking a 100% Kovalchuk out of the game.

Kovalchuk is able to buy space when he is healthy. Right now he is not trying to beat anyone 1 on 1 because he just can't make the skating/stickhandling moves necessary to do so. When healthy, he's a terror in the neutral zone with the puck - that burst isn't there, he's not able to back defenders off, and as a result he's probably dumped the puck in more during these playoffs than in the rest of his career.

He still only has 2 ES goals in the playoffs.

[sundstrom]

That's the thing about Kovalchuk. He needs space to be effective. The Rangers with their passive system gave it to him. The Kings are not doing it. I think he's hurt but it's not possible to extrapolate and say he'd be lethal in this series at 100% health. Maybe on the PP, but even then he's not getting much time and space from the Kings. They are taking him out of the game and I am not convinced they wouldn't be taking a 100% Kovalchuk out of the game.

kovalchuk is so obviously hurt it's not funny. What you are seeing right now is a healthy kovalchuk when he's 37 years old (and still under contract). in the last 2 months, have you seen kovy use his speed at all? have you seen a quick stop and go? there is zero left of his legs right now. i'm not saying a healthy kovalchuk changes any outcome but it would've been nice to see it.

[Neb00rs]

The problem with your overall mentality re: this situation is that you're basically boiling everything down to his performance in one game, or at least you're coming off that way. So if Zach has a monster Game 4 and, say, scores a couple of goals, suddenly that makes him worth the big coin? Even if the Devils lose that game 5-2? And I think he HAS shown up in Games 1-3...it doesn't look to me like the Devils as a whole aren't showing up.

I agree with your entire post. As to the game 4 changing everything - I meant it to be obvious that it would be a start and would need a win to follow. Saying, "If Zach Parise doesn't score next game..." Is just me basically saying he has to step up and do something big; big enough to remind me of why his captaincy makes him worth the money.

Guess we should also get rid of Zajac, Kovy, Henrique, Elias, Zubrus. No points for any of them during the finals. All totally overpaid for literally zero production. Other guys who suck: Ryan Kessler, Brad Richards, Jason Spezza, Pavel Datsyuk.

Zach also done a really awful job as captain. I mean, any fool can be a leader on a team that goes to the SC Finals.

I'll say again for the zillionth time: we shouldn't get rid of anyone. Zach is the big FA, so he's the guy you decide if you're pitching a big offer to or not.

[PaDevsFan]

keep in mind that Zach is like second highest in playoff points on the team this season. In addition, he's the second Captain in team history to lead the Devils to the SCF.

That being said if he walks, he walks. Give the "C" to Kovy.

This is leadership:

C to Kovy???  I hope you are kidding. . .

[Devs1965]

Yeah I agree, I should not of used the word game changer. I guess I am saying is that his skill set is not worth the contract he will get. Of course the man plays all out every night but I do not think it is worth it. Just my 2 cents.

I am definitely not saying I want him gone but the contract has to be reasonable.

I said something similar after the game but more frustration, I do not want to see the Devils give more contracts ala Kovy that will hurt us for years to come. I like both players and appreciate the way they have both played in getting us here. Hockey is a game of inches and game 1 and 2 could have gone either way. I hope he stays but for a realistic price!
LGD!!!!

[Jerzey Devil]

Seems to me like a lot of the Devils lost their game at the wrong time. Parise (missed shots), Kovy (turnovers/not taking shots when he should), Elias (seems almost invisible this post season), Zubs (with all the penalties), Clarkson (missing the net/never passing)...

Henrique, Zajac, and Marty are showing more heart than anyone else on the team right now.

That being said I can't help but somewhat agree with Ben00rs. Zach can make big money this off season. Anything over 6.5 per is an over payment and I think we should pass. If keeping Parise helps us acquire Suter this off season then I'd go as high as 7 per for Zach.

C to Kovy??? I hope you are kidding. . .

Why not? Most of the team seems to look up to him a lot.

[ghdi]

C to Kovy??? I hope you are kidding. . .

If Zach departs, Kovy is easily the Captain and I dont think theres even a debate as its clear Patty is not interested in that. The way he's changed his game and been the man this season cannot be disregarded. He's stunk this series, but its clear that he's injured. Kovalchuk is the best player on this team (when healthy) right now.

I've been mentally preparing myself for Zach to leave since the one year deal was agreed to this past offseason. That said, I think this run has solidified him in NJ. If he leaves, its going to be because someone blows him away with the offer. I said before the playoffs that I believed a run to the Conference Finals was what it would take to keep him here. Only one other team can say they made it to the Finals this year and I think this run will go a long way in his decision making.

The only thing I don't want this franchise to do is get involved in a bidding war. I do not want to see Zach get an 8 million dollar deal from us. I don't think he's worth that much and I think it would be a mistake to commit that much to him.

If we lose him, I just hope it happens fast so Lou can do something to attempt to replace him, or make the team better in some way. We won't be as good without him, but we would obviously have a huge hole to fill. I really hope Vanderbeek is being up front about the financial woes being cleared up soon, but I'm very skeptical of that and that is the one fear I have in preventing a long term deal here.

[lucifer91]

If Zach departs, Kovy is easily the Captain and I dont think theres even a debate as its clear Patty is not interested in that. The way he's changed his game and been the man this season cannot be disregarded. He's stunk this series, but its clear that he's injured. Kovalchuk is the best player on this team (when healthy) right now.

I've been mentally preparing myself for Zach to leave since the one year deal was agreed to this past offseason. That said, I think this run has solidified him in NJ. If he leaves, its going to be because someone blows him away with the offer. I said before the playoffs that I believed a run to the Conference Finals was what it would take to keep him here. Only one other team can say they made it to the Finals this year and I think this run will go a long way in his decision making.

The only thing I don't want this franchise to do is get involved in a bidding war. I do not want to see Zach get an 8 million dollar deal from us. I don't think he's worth that much and I think it would be a mistake to commit that much to him.

If we lose him, I just hope it happens fast so Lou can do something to attempt to replace him, or make the team better in some way. We won't be as good without him, but we would obviously have a huge hole to fill. I really hope Vanderbeek is being up front about the financial woes being cleared up soon, but I'm very skeptical of that and that is the one fear I have in preventing a long term deal here.

This +1000. Salvador would most likely become other A if he still with us. Another person I can see taking a leadership role in about 4 years is Henrique.

[PaDevsFan]

This +1000.  Salvador would most likely become other A if he still with us.  Another person I can see taking a leadership role in about 4 years is Henrique.

If Zach leaves and they dont sign a character guy to wear the C I would easily give it to Zajac.  when healthy he is one of the best players on the team ALL AROUND Defensively as well as offensively.

[ghdi]

If Zach leaves and they dont sign a character guy to wear the C I would easily give it to Zajac. when healthy he is one of the best players on the team ALL AROUND Defensively as well as offensively.

I actually wouldnt mind Travis at all. However, Travis is a UFA next offseason. Its possible we'll be going through this same baloney that we are with Zach this year, next year. For that alone, I don't think he'll get it, but he's another possibility for an A. Kovy is here for 10 more years or however long it is. I also dont understand why some people are still against him. He's proven himself this year beyond a shadow of a doubt, despite his poor play this series which I think has more to do with his health. He's said all the right things and its clear the rest of the team love him.

[Chuck the Duck]

I think Travis would make a good captain if Zach leaves, but the money clearly is on them giving it to Kovy. He's the centerpiece for the present and future even with Zach here, and I can't see them realisitically giving it to anyone but Kovy (unless DeBoer decides Elias deserves another shot at captain) if Zach goes via FA.