85 replies to this topic

[Voros19]

I don't understand some of you. We lost our 50+ point defenseman and you're worrying about Lukowich. The Devils need offense from the blueline. I liked Luko as much as the next fan, but re-signing him for three years does nothing to rectify the current problem on defense.

White - Martin
Lukowich - Greene
Oduya - Matvichuk

Do you honestly want this unit out there? Rachunek isn't an ideal, but he at least has some potential, given more PP time, to replace the offense we lost in Rafalski.

[Risky]

What in the name of high holy fvcking hell is going on? We lose THREE North American players in as many days and sign a couple of passionless commies. I think Lou's gone red. And not in the good way.

I hope there's a "master plan" here, otherwise the Rock will be waiting until 2009 at the earliest to host its first postseason hockey game.

[TravisZajac]

I think it's a rite of passage. You cannot become a true NJDevs regular until you've experienced THE MELTDOWN.

Sometimes it happens four or five times in a season, sometimes twice in an offseason, always at least once during the trade deadline.

It's fun.

Well, i'll have get used to it..I'm experiencing my first Free Angency on njdevs.com so..

[Tretyak 20]

How do we know this is the worst team since the 80s if they haven't even played a single game yet?

Can we at least clarify -- worst team on paper, worst team in the summer, worst team pre-season...you know, something? I hardly think this team is screwed, but then again, they have yet to play a single PRE-SEASON game for crying out loud!

Certainly the worst team on paper. I can't claim to know how that will translate onto the ice. Who knows? Maybe Marty will single-handedly win us 30 games and we won't look so bad. Maybe Zajac will follow in Parise's footsteps and actually have a better sophomore year than his rookie year. Maybe Elias will remember how to play hockey again. Maybe Zubrius will finally (after 10 years) become the player Philly thought they were drafting. I have no idea.

The fact is that everything is stacked against this team, though. Lou doesn't seem to realize it, and most Devils fans don't either - since they follow him with the kind of devotion that would shame most cult leaders.

But let's take a second just to examine the Devils defense and clarify what I mean.

White - Coming off a lousy season. Only real physical D on the team.

Martin - Logged big minutes, but still looked average. Not much size or strength.

Matvichuk - Looked very old and slow in the few games he played. At his age, it's all downhill from here.

Oduya - Looked good, but fell flat late. Not very big or strong. Possible sophomore jinx.

Greene - I honestly don't know what anybody sees in this kid. He's small, doesn't react quickly, doesn't have much skill, is one of the physically weakest players I've ever seen, and doesn't read plays all that well. I still don't understand why he ever made the Devils.

Rachunek - This is a guy who couldn't stick on the Rangers blueline! He wouldn't hit you if you insulted his mother. His positional play isn't all that great either.

Fraser - If he ever makes the NHL, It'll be at least 2 years from now. Painfully slow, but at least he hits people and plays with passion.

[TravisZajac]

Is the Hockey season begins tommorow?

No.
It will start in October.There's still 3months before the season starts, and i'm sure Lou will upgrade this defense via the rest of desensemen in Free Agency or in Trades.

[Tretyak 20]

If he signs Hinote, I'll shut up and give Lou the benefit of the doubt. But otherwise, there are no other D's out there that could really help this team.

[TravisZajac]

If he signs Hinote, I'll shut up and give Lou the benefit of the doubt. But otherwise, there are no other D's out there that could really help this team.

Do you want to pay 6millions Souray?

Otherwise,Sign Brent Sopel/Ference/Markov.Yes, we'll not have the best defense, but wait for a trade or Next year Free Agency.Or even this year.

I remember 1year ago in 2006.We had no number 2center,We had Brylin as a number 2 center.And we still managed to make the Playoffs.

[Tretyak 20]

Souray is way too injury-prone. Sopel, Ference and Markov are all second rate. Of course, chances are Lou won't make an offer on any of them anyway. Remember, this is the new "fiscally responsible" Lou!

I remeber 2006 too. We still had Gomez, Rafalski and Lukowich. We got an unbelievable season from Parise, Zajac and Langs. Are those things going to happen this year?

[TravisZajac]

Souray is way too injury-prone. Sopel, Ference and Markov are all second rate. Of course, chances are Lou won't make an offer on any of them anyway. Remember, this is the new "fiscally responsible" Lou!

I remeber 2006 too. We still had Gomez, Rafalski and Lukowich. We got an unbelievable season from Parise, Zajac and Langs. Are those things going to happen this year?

No.

2005-2006.

Remember though?
But,..Lets talk about 2006-2007.

Pzl was magic.Gomez?Inconsistent/was never 100% motivated.

Ralfaski do hurt, but Lou felt that giving him a 5-6millions contract for 5years was too much.Imagine Ralfaski at 35 for 5-6millions, that would be insane.
Lukowhich,..Yes he's a small loose.NOT A HUGE LOOSE.
Guys like Greene/Oduya will have more minutes ..And if we manage to get a defensmen like Markov/Ference/Sopel and then get a top 4 defense via a trade then , WE'LL have love Lou..

Also..Zubrus will definately help more Elias and Gionta.He's big, he works verry well in the corners, hits everywhere, good defensively.Gionta will not be injured , The head coach will not be Julien.Parise and Zajac will get better as Greene,Martin,Oduya..
Madden will recover from that grooing injury.

[Tretyak 20]

Enjoy your dream world. It's on schedule to come crashing down on or about November 1.

[TravisZajac]

Enjoy your dream world. It's on schedule to come crashing down on or about November 1.

What the?
This team somehow will puts 100points.Its obvious.Zajac/Parise will get better,Julien will not be the coach, which means there'll be forecheck and less stupid decisions.Of course the defense will be less effective than last year, but again, there's still 3months before the season starts.


Keep living into your darknest world , Where Lou Lamoriello must be fired

[Voros19]

Enjoy your dream world. It's on schedule to come crashing down on or about November 1.

Definitely quoting this.

[TravisZajac]

Definitely quoting this.

I would, byt my signature would be too big so...

Good thing quoting him

[SatansDevils]

sh!t!

Lou could have signed Lukowich for almost the same conyract the Lighting did. Lou has other plans I think. Just have that feeling he is going after Souray here guys and he will be a Devil me thinks.

[ZuljinRaynor]

So why is Luko still on the Devils roster page about half a day after he signed with the Lightning while Rachunek got added after the Lightning signing? Gomez and Rafalski just disappeared after they left NJ.

[xxchaznjxx]

Enjoy your dream world. It's on schedule to come crashing down on or about November 1.

there is not much of a loss in zubrus vs gomez. maybe i just wasn't sold on gomer and his passes that went to nobody. maybe elias' play suffered because most nights it didn't seem like gomer gave a dam. you make it sound like we gave up gretzky. i don't know how we'll replace those 13 goals last year.

i will miss rafalski and he will be hard to replace. especially all those shots from the point into the opposition players shins. and watching him give the puck up in our own end was fun. i do wish we had him back, but not at the price he signed for.

and i can't believe the way people are crying about losing lukowich. you must have seen something i didn't. so what if he played hard all the time, alot of the time it wasn't good and i believe we can find another defensman to play hard every night. i like markov or vishnevski. i don't think either one is a step down from luko.

and its only july and you have us down as the worst team on paper since the 80's i think you're a rangers fan. or just the most pessimistic devils fan i've ever read.

we may only be the 4th best team in our division now(arguably), but i still believe this is a playoff team. weren't the flyers supposed to be the cream of the crop on paper before the season started last year? how'd that turn out?

[puckrock]

Am I the ONLY poster here that's, dare I say, optimistic about this season?

[sykkie15]

Am I the ONLY poster here that's, dare I say, optimistic about this season?

[Sickman]

Am I the ONLY poster here that's, dare I say, optimistic about this season?

No sir. I think our defense needs some help but I'm confident Lou will find a way to strengthen the D-corps before the season starts. I'm not throwing the team under the bus just yet.

Loosing Gomez, Luko and Rafalski has certainly left some big holes but even had these players stayed, the Devils still would have been in the same position they have been in the last couple of seasons, 2nd round losers. Maybe next year they would have found a way to force that elusive 6th game. Fact is the Devils have been outclassed pretty badly the last couple of years. A change was in order.

If next years team doesn't win anything, what's the big deal? They will at least lose cheaper and Lou will be in a much better position to acquire the help the team needs in the future.

During the last two seasons, the Devils proved they weren't good enough and they were an expensive bunch doing it as well. For better or worse I'm actually glad they are going in a different direction next season.

Edited by SickMan, 04 July 2007 - 02:34 PM.

[XxLancerHockeyPridexX]

This is bull....I liked Luko