38 replies to this topic

[msweet]

....There is much more going on here than meets the eye. The picking of Lemaire shows that Devils’ GM/President/CEO, Lou Lamoriello has finally seen what I have been saying for years now. The Devils, since the winning the Stanley Cup in 2003, have been constructed in a flawed manner. Sort of a sum of the pieces is less than the value of the pieces individually. Surely there are top level NHL players on the roster right now, such as Zach Parise, Patrick Elias, Travis Zajac, Jamie Langebrunner, and of course Martin Brodeur. But somehow this team just can’t seen to get over the hump and win in the playoffs. And the Devils have won their 3 Stanley Cups on the team concept. This past year’s team wasn’t going to win a coffee cup let a lone a Stanley Cup. The fact that Lamoriello allowed former stars John Madden (Chicago) and Brian Gionta (to Montreal for an ridiculous sum of money), and role players Mike Rupp (Pittsburgh), and Scott Clemenson (Florida) all to sign with other teams, tells me Lou is interested in remaking the Devils. And he is interested in remaking the Devils in sensible fashion. Not by making news and signing salary cap busting and fan-popular free agents. But rather by using existing young talent from the Devils’ farm team, the Lowell Devils, and having them play within their level of skill. And playing within its capabilities relative to the competition is what is really going on with the hire of Lemaire as the new head coach.

While Zach Parise maybe a perennial 40 goal scorer, he is not a dominating player in the mold of an Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby or an Evgeni Malkin. Zach Parise is one of the hardest working skilled players in the NHL who can beat any defenseman who is not playing at his best. Malkin, Crosby and Ovechkin can beat any defender, at any time whether or not the defender is playing their best. Similar things could be said about the Devils’ current defensive corps, which are very good but not great.

With that being said, Jacques Lemaire is there to make the Devils play in a way that they can compete with the highly skilled offensive teams in the Devils’ own Eastern Conference such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington. And that way is through controlled, sound and smart defensive play. And there is not better coach at doing that than Jacques Lemaire.

Please read what I am writing: You will see little or no neutral zone trap from the Devils this coming year. What you will see is smart, defensive based, well-positioned hockey, which controls the tempo of games.....

http://tinyurl.com/mqpnkt

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/Msweetwood

[Colin226]

Sounds good!! Who here cant freakin wait for the schedule?

[thelastonealive]

Sounds good!! Who here cant freakin wait for the schedule?

I can't believe I'm trying to re-work my work schedule so I can be home when the NHL schedule is released, but yet, it's what I'm doing. I want another home game on St. Patty's Day. That's really all I ask.

And lots of weekend dates, since weekdays are going to be impossible for me most of the year.

[Devils Pride 26]

Not with mike mottau and andy greene

[nmigliore]

Not with mike mottau and andy greene

Mottau is a quality defenseman; not great, but not bad either.. Andy Greene might end up as an extra if Eckford or Corrente win the last spot.

[thelastonealive]

Andy Greene's going to be better than most of you expect next year, just watch.

[Martyisth3b3st]

At the risk of sounding idiotic, when does the schedule get released?

[BlueSkirt]

usually around July 15 so within the next week

[thelastonealive]

At the risk of sounding idiotic,

Never stopped ya before

when does the schedule get released?

Wednesday, presumably. I'm not sure I've seen anything official, but that's when the press conference at Fenway is, and for the last few year's it's always been released the day after the MLB All-Star game.

[nmigliore]

Andy Greene's going to be better than most of you expect next year, just watch.

or this

didn't everyone have similar dislike for Oduya in 2007? and then he just put it together and has had 2 great seasons.

[Martyisth3b3st]

At the risk of sounding idiotic,

Never stopped ya before

when does the schedule get released?

Wednesday, presumably. I'm not sure I've seen anything official, but that's when the press conference at Fenway is, and for the last few year's it's always been released the day after the MLB All-Star game.

Now you're jumping on the bandwagon? "Nicest poster" my white irish arse!

Andy Greene's going to be better than most of you expect next year, just watch.

or this

didn't everyone have similar dislike for Oduya in 2007? and then he just put it together and has had 2 great seasons.

I distinctly remember taking place in "BENCH ODUYA *CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP*" chants. Yes, it's true. No, I'm not proud.

[thelastonealive]

At the risk of sounding idiotic,

Never stopped ya before

when does the schedule get released?

Wednesday, presumably. I'm not sure I've seen anything official, but that's when the press conference at Fenway is, and for the last few year's it's always been released the day after the MLB All-Star game.

Now you're jumping on the bandwagon? "Nicest poster" my white irish arse!

If I wasn't the nicest poster, there wouldn't have been a smiley involved, indicating that I was joking (see? funniest, too!)

[Colin226]

its either released at 3pm or 5pm this Wednesday.. i read the definite time somewhere... cant wait to figure out what games i can and cant go to.. rest assured i will be posting my seats below face value for you guys for the games i cant attend

[DaneykoIsGod]

I want another home game on St. Patty's Day. That's really all I ask.

A very emphatic +1 on that.

[britoon]

Please read what I am writing: You will see little or no neutral zone trap from the Devils this coming year. What you will see is smart, defensive based, well-positioned hockey, which controls the tempo of games.....


Hope you're right...bring on October!

Edited by britoon, 13 July 2009 - 05:32 PM.

[Martyisth3b3st]

At the risk of sounding idiotic,

Never stopped ya before

when does the schedule get released?

Wednesday, presumably. I'm not sure I've seen anything official, but that's when the press conference at Fenway is, and for the last few year's it's always been released the day after the MLB All-Star game.

Now you're jumping on the bandwagon? "Nicest poster" my white irish arse!

If I wasn't the nicest poster, there wouldn't have been a smiley involved, indicating that I was joking (see? funniest, too!)

This multi-quote thing is gonna make this post pretty f'ing big... all of it just to say....

[metallidevils]

I'm not really happy with Lemaire being the coach, but I pretty much agree with the OP. With Sutter's system, the only chance of success was extreme overachieving because the team really isn't talented enough to win highly offensive games. Not enough players are natural goal scorers, and the defensmen aren't good enough to protect a lead, so we could never run away with games.

[DevilMinder]

Good article Matt, and I agree those late lead losses were brutal all last season. It was almost expected be the end of the season.

[Devils Pride 26]

Not with mike mottau and andy greene

Mottau is a quality defenseman; not great, but not bad either.. Andy Greene might end up as an extra if Eckford or Corrente win the last spot.

The only quality Mottau has is being a 6/7 defensemen that is slow and must not be paired with Colin White. I like the way Andy Greene plays the game and his skillset is one we don't have a lot of but he is very weak in his own end. If he can improve there, he has all the tools needed to stick around. Greene kind of reminds me of a much lower ceiling Oduya. The difference being Oduya was forced to step in and play because we had no one else.

Msweet, do you really think this devils defense is 'very good'? I look at this defense and I see Paul Martin as a well rounded do it all #1 defensemen. Then Johnny Oduya as one of the best skaters and puck movers we have. He has out grown falling down and dropping his stick every 5 seconds from 2 years ago to become a great #3 that is forced to be a 2 here. Other than that I see nothing. Colin White and Bryce Salvador are both slow and one dimensional that are decent in there own end, good on the PK and tough as nails, but struggle to carry the puck or make smart passes so they just chip it off the boards when under pressure. I already talked about Mottau and Greene so that leaves us with the kids. The two that could make an impact this year are Corrente and Eckford and I'm thrilled about that because we've been so dry on blueline prospects in years past. My hope is that Corrente makes the team and plays well enough to EARN a top 4 spot, not just be handed to because we don't have the horses. That is unlikely, because I don't see anybody blocking his path so I guess he'll just have to prove himself on the go. Since I'm banking on Corrente playing a big role, I'd be estatic if Eckford can play a role of any kind this year. I'd love to see him on the back pairing with a chance to run the PP.

That's all I got for now and I hate doing this because it pains me to rip apart our guys like this. Hell, I've been watching Colin White play defense on this team half my life. Believe me, I'm still going to be as excited to the next guy when the season starts, blowing through money for tickets, rooting like a madman, believing this team is good enough to win the cup, but I just don't see it.

And this has nothing to do with free agents or anything, I've been behind Lou 100% when it comes to that. Looking at the last 2 years and seeing those first round exits made me think what's the worst that could happen with these young guys, we miss the playoffs? During the offseason I came to the conclusion that I'd rather watch these kids grow and play hard to make the NHL. Even if that includes missing the playoffs one year so we can make a future where we are cup contenders 10+ more years. I think that is a much better idea than duct taping the same team we had trying to get it over the hump and failing.

Edited by Devils Pride 26, 13 July 2009 - 07:50 PM.

[NJDevs4978]

No, Lemaire is not the Devils' best chance to win a Cup. He's their best chance to get 100-point seasons and division titles in the regular season. But they have zero chance to win a Cup in the new NHL with the Jacques system and this group of players.

Unless Lou and Jacques BOTH have turned over a new leaf (and I refuse to believe it till I see it), this is just more running in place. Too competitive to sink, but no real chance to do damage in the playoffs. I had higher hopes for this offseason after the youth movement.

Edited by Hasan4978, 13 July 2009 - 08:15 PM.