USC09

Like I said this would never happen in a million years and its a dream scenerio, which does have flaws, because Tedenby and Josefson are both capable 2nd line players early on and can work their way up to the top line. I think they will be tremendous assets to our team next year if used in the right situations. I will post a new thread on my breakdown of the Devils possible offseason.

Here is some hypothetical trade and free agency scenerios: Trade Parise for Malkin Trade Zajac, Pandolfo and White for Datsyuk and Holmstrom Resign Kovalchuk Sign Volchenkov and Gonchar Resign and sign Martin, and either Corvo or Hamhuis Trade Rolston for a 3rd or 4th rounder to any team outside the conference or the division. Fetisov for Coach Kovalchuk Malkin Langenbrunner Elias Datsyuk Holmstrom Pelley Zubrus Halischuk Tedenby Josefson Henrique Extras: Vasyunov, Halischuk Volchenkov Corvo/Hamhuis Gonchar Corrente Greene Martin Extras: Eckford Again this is a dream scenerio, but I like Parise. That would be over the cap for sure when you would have 4 players make like $25-30 million combined. Kovalchuk-$7.5 million Elias-$6 million Malkin-$7.5 million Datsyuk-$7.5 million Volchenkov and Gonchar would make $11 million combined Corvo or Hamhuis would make $4 million Martin-$4.5 million ------ Now we are at $48 million, so unless the cap is over $60 million this is economically impossible.

I don't know how good Jeff Frazee will be, but if any indication, he has not lived up to par in camp since he has not made the team yet. The Devils definitely at some point in the Draft need to pick a goalie preferably with their 2nd round choice. In terms of next year, I don't think Danis is the best option for a backup since he struggles in shootouts and is very up and down. I think with Lou's track record the best choice would be to trade for Cory Schneider, Jonathan Bernier or Carey Price. All will benefit from practicing on the side with Marty. But you want to have have goaltenders in your prospect system. It will be an uncertain but interesting offseason for the Devils. Cannot wait for the Draft even though the Devils do not have a 1st rounder unless Lou tries to get back into the 1st round.

I have decided to compile a list of our potential candidates. (In no particular order) John MacLean Mario Tremblay Scott Stevens Mike Haviland John Torchetti Paul MacLean Brad McCrimmon Matt Shaw Jay Woodcroft Trent Yawney Guy Carbonneau Guy Boucher Kirk Muller Ted Nolan John Stevens Don Lever Rick Tocchet Kurt Kleinendorst Bob Boughner Mike Eaves Mark Johnson Andy Murray Scott Arniel Steve Ludzik Kevin Dineen John Anderson Brad Shaw Greg Gilbert Jim Playfair Dave Lewis Glen Hanlon Bob Francis Robbie Ftorek (Longshot) Larry Robinson (Longshot) Kevin Constantine (Longshot)

Other good candidates could be Paul MacLean or Brad McCrimmon from Detroit, but I think Lou will wait until the conference finals until at least getting into serious mode in hiring a coach. I would also look at Bob Boughner of Windsor Spitfires, Don Lever(former Devil and Hamilton Bulldogs Coach), Dave Lewis, (Trent Yawney, Matt Shaw or Jay Woodcroft {one of the San Jose Assistants}). I'd throw Andy Murray in the mix as well, he seems to emphasize a similar type of style that the Devils play. A dark horse could be John Anderson (former Thrasher coach and might attract Kovy back to NJ).

Bob Boughner (He is coaching Adam Henrique in Windsor and Harry Young). Maybe Paul MacLean of Detroit, Mike Haviland in Chicago, Brad McCrimmon in Detroit, Trent Yawney in San Jose, Kirk Muller, Mike Eaves (University of Wisconsin), Walt Kyle(University of Minnesota Daluth), Ted Donato(Harvard), basically who play a shot blocking scheme and up temp hockey. Johnny Mac and Scott Stevens could also be options, but I'd take a look at these first.

Anything can happen, but its possible, I mean all you have to do is just take it one game at a time and don't look forward or back. If you base it on their play in Game 1, 3 and 4, then they have no shot. If they can improve on what they did in Game 2 and minimize some of those mistakes, they can certainly give it a fight. The objective remains to win tonight and then go from there.

Well look at it this way, the Kovalchuk deal was maybe the kiss of death for the Devils ass oppose to the Mogilny deal in 2000. In 2000 the Devils were already good and this year, the Devils struggled mightily before the deal and it gave them a minor but not major spark. Look at the Devils defense since 2003: 2004 Playoffs: Albelin Rafalski White Niedermayer Hale Martin (Notes: A winning combo but it was a cup defense year, so I can let it go) 2006 Playoffs: Matvichuk Rafalski White Martin Lukowich Klee (Notes: I would say that had the Rag series not been a sweep, the Devils would have beaten the Canes) 2007 Playoffs: Matvichuk Rafalski White Martin Lukowich/Oduya Greene (Notes: Ottawa was a good team) 2008 Playoffs: Oduya Martin White Mottau Salvador Greene Extras: Rachunek, Brookbank, Vishnevski (Notes: You all remember what happened) 2009 Playoffs and This playoffs its basically no experience. White and Martin are the only experienced defensemen. Salvador, Greene and Skoula are somewhat experienced, but Greene is showing promise and Salvador and Skoula are a bit diminished in terms of their play. Basically I say keep White, Martin and Greene and ship out the rest and add quality experienced defensemen in the offseason.

It looked like they could have had 10 guys on the ice at the same time. "F" the refs.

I am not a believer in history, but under a coach like Jacques Lemaire as much as he's been criticized on this board this season, they probably can squeeze out this series. A lot will depend on how they play in Game 4 tomorrow night. I knew the Devils would lose if the game went to OT, because simply they could not muster any chances late in the 3rd and played passive hockey. If they can correct that aspect and play with a lot of intensity they can pull even and then its a different series. Obviously the goal is find a way to win one in Philly, so realistically there is a chance. I have faith in the Devils in this series, because I think some players can pick it up and the "D" needs to chip in more.

If Gaborik did not score those goals in October, November and December and January, the Rangers would probably be fighting for the #1 overall pick. Gaborik is the Rangers MVP this season, I mean howbout Drury, a $7 million dollar mistake, Callahan, and Dubinsky.

Well Jamie better wake his ass up, they gotta win on Tuesday. Get over that healthy scratch, its not the end of the world. We need Jamie more than anything. And Patty might be playing well, but he's making dumb passes and mistakes. This is a perfect example of the Devils in the playoffs, they find ways to lose.

Anything can happen in the playoffs, but right now every team will enter the playoffs with many holes that might not be fixable. There will likely be no team that is on a roll entering the playoffs except for the Red Wings, even though they lost back to back to Nashville and Philly. In the East you can say that the Habs are the hottest team going into the playoffs, but yet they are very unstable. It seems the Caps are relaxing for the final week of the season since they are virtually the President's Trophy winners, but that can cost them against a team like the Flyers or Bruins. Its all going to be structure that will get it done in the playoffs, but in terms of the Devils, if they can play with a lot of intensity, they can go very far. I think they will go past round 1 at least, but no team is unbeatable. We shall see in about a week and a half.

The last power play looked like a real power play, but only if they can score on it. But again, they better come out strong against St. Louis.

I feel bad for Danis, but he did not even make an effort to challenge any shooters. You have to win these games in regulation or in OT, when backup goaltenders start, because they are usually ineffective in shootouts. The loses against sucky teams is continuing, but sucky teams are going to be the ones that are going to play very well these days. Hopefully they won't have a let down against St. Louis, who is a very dangerous road team.

I'm a Rutgers Student, but I am graduating after the Fall 2010 semester, but I'd be interested in it.

John MacLean, but Lemaire isn't going anywhere.

I hate all these complaints, the nature of sports has always been one team wins and the others are disappointed. The Devils are no different, you think they are going to win every game out right now. No way in hell that's going to happen. The last 10 games of the year are the most crucial. The Canes beat the Sens 4-1, and the Sens were rolling before the break, but hey they can break out before the playoffs again and carry the momentum. Momentum is the biggest key in the NHL and its how you use it will tell the tale. Brian Rolston is not that 30 goal scorer at most 25 if he is lucky. Brodeur is not going to make this crazy maneuvering saves, so shut up and just be as confident as you can be about this team. Plus the Devils always lose in the game following the trade deadline. If you look at it: 2003: Fall to Thrashers on deadline day. 2004: Fall to Flyers on deadline day. 2006: Win at Caps, but fell to Penguins the following night 2007: Win at Pitt 2008: Fall to Canes in OT and to Capitals 4-0 in Salvador debut. 2009: Fall to Islanders in Havelid debut 2010: Fall to Flames. So there is a trend so I kind of had a feeling it was not going to be the Devils night because the Flames got clobbered by the Wild at home in othe previous game, so you knew they were going to play hard. Yes, Edmonton is a bad team, but they are always dangerous against the Devils and they cannot afford a letdown against them, so lets just stay positive. The Devils control their destiny. They'll be fine.

I think everyone's schedule is scary and it scares me, because the bottom teams are going to play well right now due to the fact that they are either battling for the 7th and 8th spots or they are playing for pride and next year. If you look at Carolina, they are definitely playing for pride, because they have nothing to lose. Right now the situation in the NHL is that certain teams are going to play spoiler. It's like losing to the Nets in the NBA like the Celtics did on Saturday afternoon. So, the Devils cannot afford a let down and just play consistent hockey and keep the confidence from Tuesday rolling. Don't have the 2-4 minute stretches of being under siege like they were against San Jose and the Rangers before the break and they will be fine. I think they'll be fine especially when Martin does come back.

Its pretty slow for now, I thought we would already see like 2-3 deals done by now already, but it looks like it should be some hefty action around tonight and tomorrow. I do think the Devils will make 1 or 2 deals, nothing major though, definitely a defenseman. The scoring is fine, but the defense needs to get better. Not going to mention any names though. I'm pretty sure all of you know who is being dangled and shopped.

5 minutes left til the freeze ends.

What the hell is wrong with Martin? It looks like Lou will definitely need to add another defenseman by next Wednesday.

It could be the kiss of death for Ottawa, two years ago, the Canes dealt Stillman and Commodore to the Sens and it started their demise that year, so this deal is a wait and see. Cullen is a great player, but he's got some downside from the 05-06 team.

This 1-3 slide should have no bearing on Kovy's decision to stay or not. Right now as it stands, he is simply a rental, but it can all change over the course of a few weeks. If the Devils do re-sign him, it might be for 2-3 years and no more. I think after the break he will be better and more confident, especially if Russia medals in the games and he will be riding a high dose of confidence.

As Dano said, this is a perfect time for a slump, but something tells me the Devils will find a way to win on Friday and Saturday, because you want to go into the break on high note. Its not Kovy's fault, he's only 1 guy, there is 18 other guys. Plus Marty hasn't been making any good saves as well.