MantaRay

But you shoudn't be...like I've said, we got Elias' best and we saw him get to four Finals, two of which his team won.  He doesn't have unfinished business here.  He may decide he'd like to win one last Cup, and there could be a stacked team that decides it could use veteran insurance, a guy like Elias who is still capable of significant contributions, and who knows...if Elias decides he really wants that one last shot that he may not get here, he may even be willing to take a discount to play for such a team.  I can't blame him one bit if that's the route he wants to take.  And it won't cheapen his Devils career one bit.   

 

I want his career to be 100% Devil, for selfish and legacy purposes.    

 

I would not blame him if he leaves, but I would be heartbroken personally. 

 

He is the greatest Devil forward EVER. I can't see anyone ever coming close to his accomplishments in helping make this franchise a perenial championship caliber.   Playing a strong defensive game, sacrificing individual points, yet always being in the top three in team scoring regardless of who he plays with.    #26 should be the first and only forward # to be retired.

LOL: Gruden

He has been auditioning for HC jobs since he got on ESPN.   He is the worst color commentator in the NFL, constantly brown nosing every GM in the league via broadcast to land a coaching job.

Hopefully, this suck up will land him a job OFF camera, so ESPN can hire someone with an actual opinion instead the flattering non-sense (e.g.  "Tannebaum has done a great job building this offense for the Jets and Tebow is going to make a huge impact this year")

Lovie Smith didn't deserve it.

Agree

Add in that the Cowboys might be looking to bring in a real OC and let the evil Ginger Genius just supervise all (I'm all for this....I'd love Whinsenhunt if Arizona gets stupid and fires him....)

Agree

Whisenhunt would be a huge win for Dallas. I always loved his game planning as OC in Pitt, too bad he had garbage in Arizona.


LOL: Gruden

He has been auditioning for HC jobs since he got on ESPN.   He is the worst color commentator in the NFL, constantly brown nosing every GM in the league via broadcast to land a coaching job.

Hopefully, this suck up will land him a job OFF camera, so ESPN can hire someone with an actual opinion instead the flattering non-sense (e.g.  "Tannebaum has done a great job building this offense for the Jets and Tebow is going to make a huge impact this year")

Go Titans

Right now "The Waiting" by Tom Petty

The liberal maintstream press is virtually incontrovertable.  Something like 80 percent of producers (the people that actually write network news) that work for the major networks regularly vote democrat.  The figure for major newspapers, is even higher, the WSJ being one of the few exceptions.  (Can anyone say with a straight face that the New York Times is not a left-wing publication?)  

Jimmy's right, Fox News is tiny in comparison.  That's why I find it humorous to watch a liberal's head explode when the very name is mentioned.  

That said, this doesn't really bother me all the much.  While I'd prefer television and print media be more open about their biases, it's not too difficult to snuff out.  (No liberal believes Fox News is "fair and balanced" and no conservative believes the New York Times contains "all the news that's fit to print").

Incontrovertable? It's a fallacy.  There is no evidence that the media has a bias.  This myth was invented back in the 80's when a republican congressmen witnessed how his son's coach played a ref at a high school basketball game. Complaining, and complaning until he started getting more favorable calls from the ref.

Now, it's used as a red herring, distraction and also a thought control device where you basically train people NOT too look for information.  The New York Times as a left wing publication is a great example.

Correct, and acts of god such as Hurricanes

The auto-pick uses Yahoo's rankings...  highest ranked, available player- regardless of position need, contract/injury/egal status, etc.

Hopefully, last years Hurricane will not visit us this year.  Damn Climate Change!!

Crasher is mysteriously missing.  We should just pencil in Frank Gore now.

I miss this banter.

what moves would you make?

Immediately: Still back and watch.  Panic moves/Rash decisions kill.
Wait for the smoke to clear.  I would avoid Nash (asking price) and Semin (lazy) completely.

I would look at Bobby Ryan, for the right price (lower round draft picks, Teddy) but that would mean waiting until August and he might be gone.  But that is ok.  

I think Lou will look at someone NOT on the radar, who has fallen out of favor and needs a change in scenery and will not demand a huge asking price.  That would be my plan.  We have a good team base which went to the Finals, no need for major changes.  But we do need to make one move for a second line scoring wing.

I can't see how anyone is surprised by this.  Zach did not hire new agents last July because he was staying.  Buying a new home in Minnesota in the past year was more evidence.

I don't disrespect Zach for this.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.  

That being said, I think Minny made a terrible mistake today.  This contract has Scott Gomez times 13 years all over it.  Suter is nothing without Weber.  This is Wade Redden times 13 years.

Even with these signings they are still a borderline playoff team.   It will interesting to see how Lou plays his hand now.

Sorry Gang for being away for so long, since January I started a new job, which has taken all my leisure time away.

My days have been filled with learning more about International Business Law, and Running a new Digital Media Task force.  So, my time is very limited.

As some of you know, I was lurking in the background during the playoffs and didn't want to distract from the great team achievement, nor jinx the boys during this run.

I just got back from vacationing on Martha's Vineyard and had the time to drop by.  I wanted to thank all my good friends here for the kind messages and really nice enticement to come back to the boards.  You guys rock.

I begin my Mea Culpa, by apologizing for ever doubting the magic of Lou Lameriello.

In any sport Defense and quality depth wins championships.  In the case of Lou's Devils that has been our heritage. I have been Lou's biggest supporter.  I applauded the signing of Smelik, Klee, and the Three M's after we lost Nieds.  Lou could do no wrong in my book.  All his moves ALWAYS made sense to me.

I was against the Kovy signing because, Forward was not a need.  Defense was.

I was afraid that signing Kovy the UFA would purge the quality depth via the Salary Cap (particularly Parise) and hinder the signing of a corner stone defensemen.  

I looked our roster in July and thought there is no way we are making the playoffs with Pelly, Zharkov, Sestito, Fraser, and Eric Boulton along with a collection of average defensemen.  

Overall the Devils finish exactly where I thought: 4 of 5 in East.   Thankfully, what I didn't predict was Buffalo, with that revamped blueline unraveling, Tampa tanking from 103 point to 84, and I guess I overrated Brian Burke in picking Toronto in the #8 playoff spot.  

Kudos to Lou:  I was very happy to see Sal play great D all Season, Sykora going from 2 Goals to 21, PDB using Clarkson more like Sutter did.  and the miracle of that 4th line with Little G, Carter and Bernier.

Love PDB!!!

Great season!  Hopefully, Zach signs long term.

Premise 1:  Barry Melrose picked the Kings to win.
Premise 2:  Barry Melrose is always wrong.
Conclusion:  The Kings will not win.

Best news of the Week.   This and the McGuire's "bad hockey Karma" slight bodes well for us.

That was the best game Kovalchuk has played since being acquired.   He looked well rested and determined.  Kudos.

Looking forward to another epic NJD/NYR battle in Hoboken on February 7th at Texas Arizona for the Devils Viewing Party:

Hoboken Devils Viewing party

No sympathy for him.  I am very happy the Hab fans hate him so much.

Seinfeld hands down.

"We're the DEVILS!!! THE DEVILS!!!"

"gotta support the team".

Sykora is giving us much better than expected play.  The question really is, can he keep it up throughout the 2nd half of the year?  His chemistry with Elias is undeniable, and it seems like they instinctively know where each other is going to be on the ice at all time.

If he keeps it up, and can pot 20+ goals this year, then I can see him playing here 1 more season before calling it a career (especially if he is willing to re-sign for around $750K).

Anyone can play with Elias, he is the only player on the Devils who can make wingers better than they really are.