jerseysteve

I've seen two separate interviews with ZP in which he stated the Devs financial uncertainty factored into his decision. He also reaffirmed his desire to go home. Given the timeframe of his dad's death, you have to believe he may have known his dad was sick when he decided to leave. Stop trying to find reasons to bury Lou. He's done too much for our organization and U.S. Fans, and doesn't deserve it.

Don't know if you saw this yet, but Kovy stirred some controversy at the Worlds. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/18/russia-to-be-punished-for-completely-out-of-order-actions-after-worlds-final-loss-to-canada/

This type of thread has popped up in a few different areas, and I keep saying the same thing: Unless you can name a successor who improves our organization, then don't write how we need to get rid of him. Keep in mind the challenges he was saddled with the last few years. This organization was on the verge of bankruptcy. Parise even stated that the financial state of the Devs played a part in his decision. It wasn't too long ago that we were in the finals, and please don't make bs excuses about how that was a fluke. It is what it is, and it was what it was. Further, consider if you will, the completely unfair penalty we paid for signing Kovy. There were several players throughout the league signed to similiar deals, but only Jersey was penalized. That cost us a top 10 pick. But you know what, this could be a blessing in disguise. We have a new goal tending tandem that is arguably among the best in the league---when losing Marty, did you expect such a seamless transition or were you one of those screaming because we didn't re-sign Marty? Our defense is young---YOUNG and good. With Scott Stevens' tuteledge, the sky's the limit. Now we have to address offense. We'll certainly have cap space, although the FA market is slim pickings. We do have great defensive depth, and that will help land a forward or two, and then nthe draft. Finally, to the person who posted Glen Sather's name in the conversation...you've got to be kidding. How long has it taken to get where they are today? Let's not lose sight that as good as they look now, they still haven't won a thing since '94. Is THAT the "success" you want???

First, the Devils no longer hold the rights to Kovalchuck. He was released free and clear when he left. Second, he must sit out a full season of ALL league hockey, whether it's NHL or KHL. Lastly, he can only reenter the NHL if the NHL gms vote their approval. It's highly unlikely we'll ever see Kovy in the NHL again.

Threads like these make me long for the days when Devils fans were an exclusive group. We've begun to sound like the typical Rags fans. 1. Lemaire isn't coming back. Move on already. The game is different, and our team is different. 2. How come we didn't see this thread when we were 3-0? Ebbs and flows...That's why the game is played. 3. We didn't play poorly last night. If not for the freak delay of game call on Cammalerie, this could well have ended very differently. 4. The last two seasons, the team was impacted by the poor financial state of the owners. Why don't we wait a bit, and see how things develop this season? 5. Salvador does look like he's lost something out there. On the other side, the kids on defense look great. For all the talk about how old we are, the kids we do have, have been quite impressive.

I sure hope you're kidding.

Thinking of going. Anyone else going to be there?

Not sure if this is the proper place to post this, but is there a concerted effort to increase the price of tix available on Stub Hub? I can't commit to season plans anymore, and the past couple of years I've enjoyed nice seats in section 12-15. The prices now are 2-3x + what I'm used to paying. I understand why ST holders like that, but I'm just curious. Surely we don't sell out. Are these seats going to go empty?

We're two years removed from an appearance in the finals--Again. We have new ownership and a boatload of kids. The overreaction here is crazy.

Under no circumstances will Lou trade Schneider. Anyone who has followed this team for any period of time understands that's not how the Devils do business.

Except that all indications are that Lou's role will remain the same or even grow. IMHO you really need to throw this season out, and get ready for next year. Knowing what we know now about how bad the Devs finances have been the last two years, I just don't see how people can be so down on this team. Now that our finances are straight, I look for Lou to make a couple of moves to bring in scoring, and work some draft magic. I just can't get so down on this team as some people. In fact, I think the reality is that we over achieved on many levels.

They don't use diaries anymore. They use "people meters."

As someone who spent a lot of time in the broadcasting business, I will share this: putting ratings in the hands of someone not trained in interpreting them is a dangerous thing. Having not seen the actual numbers, I can't presume to analyze them. I will point out that there are many unusual nuances about this market that work against us in the ratings world.

Man, I don't know how old most of you are, or when you started watching the Devils, but Marty deserves much more from this fan base. Maybe Marty is done, but he has earned better than what I'm reading. How quickly we forget what he has meant to this team, how he gave a significant hometown discount at the dismay of the NHLPA, so that he could stay in Jersey. Sometimes I read this stuff, and it sounds just like the Rags' board. Really sad.

Ok, repeat after me: there is no way in hell that Marty goes to Colorado. Zero chance. Now, if you were to say Montreal, then I'd say it's a possibility. But he is not going to Colorado.

Ok, so now Lou was suppose to sign players who clearly had personal reasons for leaving? Let's look at some of the "stars" who left: Gomez? Gionta? Clarkson? Parise? Martin? Kovy? How about giving some credit to Lou for finding these guys in the first place? It seems like except for a couple of guys over the years, Lou seems to have a keen sense for knowing when to sell. In the case of Parise, you can't fires a guy to stay. Clarkson? If he gave us the same performance he's giving Toronto, you same people would be screaming how it was a stupid signing. I just don't understand the Lou haters. Let me ask you this: who would you replace him with?

First, I'm sure glad I didn't pay those ridicules prices to see this game. Also, funny how people want to scream about how bad we are...were you screaming when we were up 3-2? I put a significant portion of blame on the coaching staff. I love Marty, but to leave him in as long as we did, was bad coaching. For those ripping Lou, let me remind you that this past off season, and probably last one too, Lou was hamstrung by the ownership situation. He was clearly limited in what he could commit to based on the fact the team was for sale. In hindsight, I'll bet the whole Kovalchuck situation was the result of the Devs finances. It's ridicules to start screaming about Lou.

Theoretically, I might agree (though to deny the serious crime problem in Trenton is naive), but at the end of the day, perception is reality. No matter, hockey in Trenton is done. Given the way the most recent incarnation left, I see no way anyone will trust anyone else who tries to bring a team in.

I think it ludicrus to blame the new owners for anything. These guys are our white knights. Things could have turned out very different. As for this promotion, I didn't go, and I have no gripe, but I will say this: I remember vividly hearing the announcers talking about this promotion and wondering how the team could possibly make that kind of offer. It made no sense when I heard it, but I gather that whoever is responsible for these things, didn't do a good job writing copy, and left out the detail about limits. Having said that, I think even without the "fine print," common sense should apply. Besides, it was for a good cause. (I'm guessing TM didn't work because the tickets were gone.)

No way would I have done the trade the Isles did. Not without a contract extension in place. As for some of the non believers on here, I think if you take a step back, and look at our recent history RATIONALLY, we can come away with a few things: 1. It's now a given that Lou's hands have been tied for at least a couple of years due to the financial contraints we were faced with. By the time the new ownership deal was signed, it was too late to aquire any worthy free agents. 2. All signs now point to the possibility that the whole Kovy situation may have been a joint effort between player and team. I'm starting to believe the our financial situation made it necessary to allow Kovy to walk, free and clear. It turned out to be a win-win. Doesn't anyone find it interesting that we haven't heard one word...nothing at all from Kovy? 3. This season is a "let's get through this and then hit the ground running next season" kind of thing. No doubt we will try to compete, but this is the season we flush the past. 4. Lou is still the class of of GM that others would give their right arm for. We've had a ton of success through the years, and it's hard to blame Lou for the situation this team had been put into by ownership. Hopefully, that will start to change, but I don't understand those who are disrespecting the guy. I have to believe many of the haters are probably too young to remember what Lou brought to this team. This team was a joke before Lou arrived. I'll be crushed when he decides to retire. 5. I love Marty. I hope Marty and the team is wise enough to pull back playing time, significantly. I feel honored to have been able to watch him since day one. He was the best, EVER. Sadly, time stands still for no one.

There are 30 teams in the league. Only one can win the cup. We have won it 3 times in the last 18 years. How many times have the Rags won during that period? Philly? Pittsburgh? Montreal? Its the law of averages. The fact that the team was in much deeper financial poop than any of us realized, probably hampered the way in which Lou operated. It's absolutely stupid, to start attacking Lou now.

To be honest, I'm not offended by the chant, but I do find it embarassing. It seems pretty bush to me.

Many valid points, but I think there's more to be said. I love Marty, and have nothing but great appreciation and respect for what he brought to this club. That said, Marty is finally looking old out there. Last night during the shootout, he just wasn't Marty. Marty doesn't appear to be able to steal goals anymore. He just doesn't seem to be keeping up. I hope I'm proven wrong, and he pitches a bunch of shutouts. There's nothing I'd like more than to see Marty go out on top. That said, I fear we are watching another athlete who hung around a year too long. My other thought: Watching our team on the shootout is painful. They don't seem to be challenging the goal tenders. It was dreadful against the Isles. I don't know how everyone else feels, but this season, albeit just three games in, is starting to feel a lot like last season. If changes need to be made, I hope we don't wait until we are too far out of it. I want to be positive, and don't usually panic, but I'm just not feeling it this season.

Wow, I came here to share my fan grief with other fans, but I'm stunned by what I'm reading. Some are actually wishing a plane crash, or death??? Wtf people. It's a GAME. The fact that everyone is pissed answers the question whether or not he performed with us. He is an elite player, for sure, but life moves on. Be grateful we have one of the best gms in all of sports. We'll be alright. For those wishing death, I'd suggest you get help. It's embarrassing to read comments like that from Devils fans.

Well, I would've like for Clarkson to return, but this had the same feel of Parise a year ago. I'm not going to put down other teams for offerring money. I'm a believer that you're worth what people are willing to pay. Good for him. Personally, I'm not convinced that Clarkson will re[licate what he did here. The one thing that DID bother me, were the quotes attributed to Clarkson's agent earlier in the week. It was clear to me then, that Clarkson wasn't coming back.