295 replies to this topic

[newjerseydamo]

But finishing up, this is just stuff i noticed from watching the games. I now look forward to reading the thread, getting a 12 pack and watching the game tonight

pretty much a good, non-biased, calm post that reflects my feelings too, and exactly how i am approaching this Islanders game.
It's Xmas eve morning here, and I have a few beers to warm me up at 11am for game time, then moving on to my good friend Jack Daniels depending on how bad we get, but it is a Xmas eve tradition for me the past several years since the Devils have played on the 23rd (USA) time, makes for a good time leading up to Xmas Eve

I will be tipping to the boys today in hopes our holiday season can be a smiling one - a small step at a time, winning todays game

[NJDevs4978]

It's funny that you say this as Nick Kypreos on "Hockey Central" today told Dano during his interview that,

"the firing of Maclean was done only to make one player happy---Ilya Kovalchuk".

This is the same Kypreos that said Clarkson hated it here last year and wanted a trade, a couple months before he signed a three-year extension.

[Patches O'Houlihan]

as i've said since the talk of 1st overall picks and tanking has come up, it's just not a good idea. it's a fine idea for a franchise in total rebuild, but that is not this franchise. we have 4 guys in their prime who have shown themselves to be pretty darn good hockey players (parise, zajac, kovalchuk, volchenkov). by the time we'd come out of the 'tank', parise and zajac might both be gone.

There isn't much value in the top 2 picks in this draft anyway. This isn't a draft with franchise players at the top. The 1st and 2nd picks likely won't be worth the close to $4M cap hit on their ELCs. IMO getting a Saad, Murphy, Strome, Armia, Hamilton or Siemens somewhere between 5 and 8 will be just as good as picking first or second overall. I think 5 years from now, the difference between these players will be negligible and the best player may very well end up not being Couturier or Larsson.

[Rock]

This from Fischler:
http://www.msg.com/b...-newark-1.57492
Lemaire Era Begins (Again) in Newark

Lemaire walks into a dressing room that has suffered from frustration and underachievement, and faces issues with particular players that will pose a challenge. To wit:

* LEADERSHIP: Jamie Langenbrunner is captain, but upset Lemaire in the home stretch last season by beefing about being left home while injured. While some may have minimized the issue, the Devils never were the same team after that. Since opening night, the Devils have lacked pizzazz and jump; the spirit has been missing, badly. The captain is part of that problem.

*GOALTENDING: Martin Brodeur has played well but a notch below his normal high standard. Whether that's a function of a weaker defense -- the Devils have endured injuries to key backliners such as Bryce Salvador -- or an aging ace is something Lemaire will have to discern. He has a solid back-up handy in Johan (Moose) Hedberg.

* DEFENSE: Almost from the start, the backline has been a shambles. Andy Greene, a star under Lemaire, has failed miserably under MacLean. New acquisitions this season -- Henrik Tallinder and Anton Volchenkov -- have not lived up to their notices. Moving the puck out of the Devs zone and into offensive play has been one of the club's weakest points.

[Triumph]

There isn't much value in the top 2 picks in this draft anyway. This isn't a draft with franchise players at the top. The 1st and 2nd picks likely won't be worth the close to $4M cap hit on their ELCs. IMO getting a Saad, Murphy, Strome, Armia, Hamilton or Siemens somewhere between 5 and 8 will be just as good as picking first or second overall. I think 5 years from now, the difference between these players will be negligible and the best player may very well end up not being Couturier or Larsson.

i am thoroughly unimpressed with larsson statistically. couturier isn't blowing any doors off. whoever the devils end up with, he should almost certainly stay in whatever league he's in next year. and i know you know that the bonus cushion is off next year.

[maxpower]

the Flyers came out of the "tank" in one year. but they also pulled off a few robberies to make the team better, as well.

[Allthegoodnamesweretaken]

On December 21, 1976, the Blackhawks gave Billy Reay the hook and inserted Bill White behind the Chicago bench. The story has it that the Hawks management did not tell Reay directly that he was fired; a note was pushed under his hotel door with the dreadful news.

If true that is a gutless way to fire someone.

[maxpower]

If true that is a gutless way to fire someone.

"Hey, I'm not supposed to be getting a bill.... oh, this is much, much worse."

[Triumph]

the Flyers came out of the "tank" in one year. but they also pulled off a few robberies to make the team better, as well.

the difference is the devils are a better team than that one.

[GIRLNRED]

Nothing was really happening... I'm excited just to know that something was done. Too little too late, but... hell... Let's just have some fun trying to guess what's next...

[jagknife]

first off, i got a message from a good friend in montreal around 830 telling me Lemaire was heading to Jersey, by 9, HNIC writers picked up on it, i texted another friend, TG then tweeted about the players only meeting, i almost freaked cause i had bested Єklund (2.3% accurate) and then got a response from taunting him a little bit.

also, i hate to be the only delusional optimist here, but i honestly think this is a christmas miracle and we;re going to make the playoffs, even if its sneaking in, philly style, we're going to make it...

[Gunslinger27]

Come on we knew it was coming....If this team starts winning now,Jmac will be out of a coaching job a longtime. And Jac is a proven winner. So will see if its the players or the coaches..

[ZeroGravityFat]

no i also think we can make the playoffs now because teams are not as good as usual and 88 might not be the floor for 8th spot. we have a decent shot at phillying in.

[Gunslinger27]

no i also think we can make the playoffs now because teams are not as good as usual and 88 might not be the floor for 8th spot. we have a decent shot at phillying in.

If anybody can turn this around it's JL. A good coach of player evaluation. Let's Go Devils ! We start out fresh now...

[95Crash]

the difference is the devils are a better team than that one.

What? The Flyers from a couple of years ago? How do you figure that?

[Patches O'Houlihan]

no i also think we can make the playoffs now because teams are not as good as usual and 88 might not be the floor for 8th spot. we have a decent shot at phillying in.

As of right now, it's going to take 96 points to get the 8th seed.

[Risky]

This is hilarious.

I'm officially embarrassed to be a Devils' fan. Absolutely embarrassed.

Lemaire? Hah. Whoever said it is right. Vanderbeek said to Lou "This is your fvcking mess. I wanted XYZ, you wanted MacLean. You clean it up."

Lou needs step down or Vanderbeek needs to step him down. I never thought I'd be saying this, but it's time. This organization has gone so far off the rails since the lockout that I no longer even know what I'm watching and what I'm rooting for.

Lou should have fired himself during that pathetic press conference.

WHERE ARE THE TRADES AND CUTS OF THESE LOSERS WEARING RED? Langenbrunner should have been dealt in the off-season for his bitchfest last year. I've never seen a bigger pansy in a hockey uniform, outside Sean Avery.

[ATLL765]

Like I suddenly forgot how soft this team was and how they gave up on JL. What makes management think he's going motivate them this time around?

Here comes the line shuffling, even if they're working. There goes Tedenby's progress too....Bergfors part deux. Fvck Lemaire

Are you serious? Bergfors was just not very good at anything other than scoring. He didn't backcheck or play defense at all and he refused to get into the dirty areas and risk being hit or hit someone himself.

Tedenby seems to be a far more well rounded player and is much more adept on defense than Bergfors was. As mentioned by many other, Bergfors is in the doghouse in Atlanta as well for problems he has with the coach. Sounds like this is an issue with Bergfors that he had here and that's why he was gotten rid of.

[Jerrydevil]

Bergfors was just not very good at anything other than scoring. He didn't backcheck or play defense at all and he refused to get into the dirty areas and risk being hit or hit someone himself.

Imagine if he was REALLY good at scoring. He could make $100 million!

[MantaRay]

What? The Flyers from a couple of years ago? How do you figure that?

Clearly Jay Pandolfo's shooting percentage made the Devils a far superior team.