Jerrydevil

Sue, I wish I caught that. Sounds like good radio. I did hear Russo and Francesa crticizing Mushnick, Heyman, Sandomir and Raissman for giving Marv Albert a pass. Here's the thing...I read every one of those columns and agreed with them all on the most important premise

Sorry about that. I hardly ever visit the other forums. I figured that since the Dolans are involved in hockey, it'd be OK to post this topic in Hell.

Maybe Carney won't be so expensive with the new CBA? Boy, there are a lot of unknowns.

Vadvlfan, there's no two ways about it. The Devils could use at least one veteran, NHL defenseman, and if there's hockey next year, I think Lamoriello will try to get one. It's the third time I've said it on njdevs.com, but Keith Carney would be nice.

Good lord! Scary, scary stuff.

Absolutely, point. A few Ranger fans I know have almost no hope unless Cablevision sells the team. Ownership is more interested in covering up mistakes and putting a spin on losing instead of fixing problems.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06162004/sports/25802.htm Albert left because Jimmy Dolan wanted him to put a more positive spin on Knick basketball, glossing over the negative, a.k.a. reality. Now we know why the Rangers have to lose 8-0 before Sam and JD start getting critical. Jimmy's watching.....closely. Maybe John Sterling can do Knick games........

I agree with that! Somehow, I don't see Madden getting that dough, but who knows?

Four years and $17 million. OK...........I'm just glad it's not my team that signed him for that long and for that much. But I can see why the Flyers want him back. He played extremely well in the playoffs. But is it a one-year thing?

We'll disagree on this, too. He's a good all-around player, but the team's money is better spent elsewhere, like a solid veteran defenseman.

Aylbert, I don't mean to nitpick, but I think you're wrong. The best way to judge a GM's draft performance is analyzing the players' worth four or five years down the road. Corey Foster was a bust, I don't care how weak the draft was. All GMs are not going to hit a homer every time. But Lou has hit as many homers as anyone. It's amazing how many very good players he has drafted....and not just in the first round (but we all know that).

Excellent thread. Several posters made great arguments. I only have one thing to add. I'd hate to turn my back on the NHL because I love the league and the Devils, but even the most passionate fans get disenchanted. Both sides better think about that. If a lockout is what's needed to clean up the mess, fine. But I expect lower ticket prices when all is said and done. Gary Bettman has specifically mentioned lower ticket prices when talking about the CBA negotiations, and I won't forget.

Human nature.

Hahahahahaha, good idea!

And the fact that the Devils weren't involved makes this poll more objective. And it's clear by the results of this poll that there's a HUGE question about whether it was a goal. No overwhelming evidence that it was...not enough for the officials to overturn in favor of Calgary. No controversy here....at least there shouldn't be.

Phil Bourque?

Agreed. LOL!

I don't want to sell Scott Stevens short either.....he's a great player and leader. Everyone knows it, even the Ranger fans, LOL! He'll be the first true Devil in the Hall of Fame. Deep down we all know that Ray Bourque was better. That's no crime, though. You can count on one hand the number of defensemen -- all-time -- better than Ray Bourque. Orr, Doug Harvey, Larry Robinson, maybe Denis Potvin...I think that's about it.

I sometimes wonder why the NHL isn't in Milwaukee. Then I remember that Gary Bettman is the commissioner.

1) I understand how the fact that the Avs beat the Devils causes people to unjustly crtiticize Ray Bourque. It's irrational, but I get it. 2) You have a warped view of loyalty. Your standards are for martyrdom, not loyalty. 3) (This is for NJD Jester). Calling Bourque a member of the "supporting cast" in 2001, is a little off the mark, considering the guy scored 59 points that season. You make him sound like Turner Stevenson, for crying out loud.

Come on, Pepperkorn! That's crazy talk! Bourque was a FANTASTIC all-around defenseman. He is not Paul Coffey. Just because Bourque won a few Norris Trophies doesn't make him a selfish player that scored points to the detriment of his team. And just because he agreed to a trade to the Avalanche doesn't mean the guy is disloyal. Like I said before, I didn't care for ESPN's Ray Bourque lovefest in 2001. No Devil fan liked it. It was in-your-face overkill. But I don't understand why some fans criticize the guy for winning a Cup with the Avs, as if he sold out the Bruins and Bruins fans. Crazy talk. I know Bruin fans who are GLAD that Bourque got his name on the Cup, because they know how good Bourque was to Boston.

Again, it all goes back to the Bruins, at least it does for me. Bourque was an excellent post-season player. His team didn't win the big one. What does that tell you, that Stevens was better in the clutch? I don't think so. Stevens was just as fortunate to be a Devil as the Devils were fortunate to have him. Put Stevens on the Bruins for his whole career

Even if the puck was in

I was not a fan of the Bourque lovefest in 2001. But still, this statement is entirely unfair to a great player who played for a team owned by Jeremy Jacobs.

Pictures! Want pictures!