Devil Dog

Seems like the early excitment and anticipation has begun the inevitable descent into skepticism and doubt.  The very definition of being a Devils fan come the trade deadline.  As predictable as the rising and falling of the tide.

Sucks.

Given that Atlanta has stated that they will not allow a team to negotiate a long term deal prior to a trade happening truely makes this a rental situation.  I think that the number and caliber of players needed to make a trade for a rental player measurably drops versus a player under contract for a couple of more years.

That being said I doubt this is anything more than Potvin tossing out a comment without any backing.  

I guess the $10 million dollar question is whether Kovy's attitude changes coming to this team, with its playoff history, its coaching staff and veteran players?  

Gomez has not been the same player since leaving.  That shows how being on the right team can impact a players approach/commitment to the game.

STill not going to happen though.

This will be very good news if he can come back without any long term issues.  Interesting side note:  (N)Єverson in todays Post claims that Zubrus will be out till after the Olympic break.

How do you have two articles written at the same time about the same person be sooo far off from each other?

Does anyone do research anymore?

Possible Truce Between New Jersey Arenas Could Come at a Cost to Fans

http://www.nytimes.c...l center&st=cse

To end the fight, Jerold L. Zaro, Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s economics czar, has brokered a deal to move the Nets to the Prudential Center, cementing the privately run building as the dominant indoor sports venue in New Jersey. It would in turn cede many of its nonsports events — rock concerts and family shows like the Ice Capades — to the Izod Center, which would become an entertainment hub.

To avoid undercutting each other, the arenas would form a 50-50 venture, called Jersey Presents, that would schedule events and share revenue from them.

A new ticket surcharge of $1 for sports and $3 for other events would go into a fund that would be split between the arenas’ owners using a complicated formula. The surcharge, which will look like a tax but is being called a user fee, may require legislation in Trenton.

The one item that does not seem to be addressed is what happens if/when the Nets do leave for Brooklyn?  If a period of two years or more goes by with most of the non-sports acts going to Izod, does the Pru Center then have the ability to go after them again?  One would assume that they would.  Does the Izod Center stay open and we are back to square one in terms of the competition between the two arenas?  Seems like the info coming out is limited to what happens over the next 24 to 35 months and nothing beyond that.