UnderDogX

Well, like I've said before I'm not superstitious but then again I am so I decided I'm going all out for the return of Elias. My fiance, my son, and I were all prepped for his first game back...I broke out my Elias jersey, my new Devs cap I got for Christmas...I put on a Twix (lil Devil) wallpaper on my computer and I've made a note never to post on a game thread before or during a game... Well, the Devs are now 2-0 since Elias' return and he doesn't seem like he's lost a step...I don't see me changing my routine until we get cold again Anyone else have any game day rituals you've started since Elias' return...or any in general you've done over the years? *my fiance busts out the lucky Devils shirt (she wore it to the Devils game 3 and 4 of the '95 Stanley Cup Championship) but only during playoff games...we had recently moved and couldn't find it for 2003-2004 playoff run...but we have it now...just in case

Tell me about it buddy.

Excellent article!!! At this point it almost seems the only thing keeping Lou from giving Elias the "C" is realizing that he's going to have to pony up the dough to keep him...he needs to realize it fast...Elias is as much a key part to the Devils as Marty and no one can deny that...even if its only been two games! If Lou learns anything from this season's mistakes its that there are only two "untouchable" people on this team and Elias is one of them...besides I think Elias would slight some money if he got a no trade clause in that deal

I don't see how they say it's a slap in the face...I mean those two people alone add up to what 80 something in age seriously though...Davey contemplated retirement then signed anyway...obviously no one wanted him or they would have traded him away for anything I'm sure...better than letting his salary get eaten in the minors....same thing with Almo...he out played his usefulness and wasn't up to par he just has a bigger contract...but whatever...you don't hear people complaining when a young guy isn't doing his job and gets sent down...It's plain and simple...if you can't play you can't play...esp now with the cap who's going to let a 30 something winger making 3.5 mil sit on the bench just cuz its rude to send him to the minors??

This is called the Ultimate Showdown...not sure if anyone cares or if anyone has seen this before but I thought it was kinda funny...and not a bad song either...rather catchy! Ultimate Showdown

Lou has been pretty heartless about it all honestly...I mean yeah I'm just as shocked as everyone else about Langdon still being here...I'm beginning to think Lou thinks he's just some Albany player and has forgotten about him But seriously..this just harks back to what I said earlier...I believe the success of this team was brought on by everyone involved with player selection, not just Lou...I think he got lucky a bit and has taken the credit since he is President, GM, God or whatever I believe he is just really a hard nosed kinda guy who is looking to save money...he had a string of good teams that won the Cup a few times but when push came to shove and he was under pressure he made a lot of mistakes...and of course he's admitting them now but in the end its all business to him...Hell, Freeze asked what his status was before he bought a house in Jersey and obviously got an answer he liked cuz he bought it...then a few weeks later Lou traded him...come on if that's not heartless (replace heartless with business if you like) then I don't know what is! And to set things straight, I'm not knocking Lou, I just believe no one really looks at our talent scouts and things like that when talking about how good are farm team was as far as producing quality players...I mean despite what some thing Lou doesn't scout every high school/college/minor leaguer then sign/draft them and then groom them into successful players..yeah he helps but it takes a lot of people to pull something like that off

He will....there is no way he will report to Albany...He'll announce he retirement in the coming days probably..that was probably part of the motivation behind it...knowing that they wouldn't have to eat the salary.... If I say so myself...(as I've been saying all day today ) this team is heading in the right direction now...unload the baggage that isn't going to help this team and start getting ready for a run to the playoffs....I'm just curious as to what will happen next....will Lou keep the team that played yesterday or will he try to fine tune things...who know...I'm sure with the room we have cap wise we'll get another offensive semi-talent and then maybe a young D man who can help out now...if we really need that...I am loving the way Hale and Martin have been playing and they are only 24!

Square one?....hardly....we got rid of Almo..it sucks..he had scored but he's sucked a lot too...We have what now almost 3 mil to work around if we decide to make a trade (which we probably will just to add some scoring depth) anywho...we have solid lines...we could easily play around with bringing up Sugs...switching around Tallackson (sp?) and Janssen....see what works...this season has just begun in my eyes...looks like Lou has realized the Titanic is heading towards an iceberg...its just a matter of time before he steers us clear!

OK, here's my take....take it with a grain of salt....My thoughts are from the beginning Lou used a little bit of skill, talented scouts, and a lot of luck putting together the Stanley Cup Devils of past....Lou is all about the hardnosed, saving money style, he was used to it and it worked....the only player Lou ever catered to was Marty...but he's the best at his position in the entire Universe (with the exception of Khrkailaiv from the Grnaiahcsh galaxy in sector 439) Now at the beginning of this season Lou thought he had it all figured out...He had his team just needed to sign a few...play a little hard ball but they'd all be back..but then a few wrenches got thrown in....Elias got sick, Burns wasn't getting better, Stevens started contemplating retirement, and Scott wanted to be with his sister....Lou, in my opinion freaked, he forgot about his hardnosed style and needed to get players that could compete...the first thing that came to mind was to put together a team that had already won...so he went after two players that did well with us in the past that still had no teams (Almo and Mala*cough*) he offered them what they wanted to return and even went as far as getting a coach we had won with before....I just think now he is realizing his mistakes and trying to salvage the team...after seeing how a player should really act (i.e. Elias' return) and how a team should respond he has now started what I will call....the Cleansing Phase....so the way I see it is we can start getting back to hockey...We've got some cap room and now its just a matter of time before Lou does something that will help us when (and we more than likely will) we get into the playoffs!!!! -Just my 2 centavos!!

hold on I found part of the missing article...quite interesting...I guess it got lost in the shuffle through websites...hmm "That's it, I'm taking my boys out of this league!" Carol Neidermayer responded when asked about Rob's concussion. "If the league can't protect players against the malicious boards by adding some kind of soft cushion then they don't need to be playing." Scott Niedermayer couldn't be contacted because he was grounded but Carol did say this on his behalf. "Scott told me to tell you that he loves his brother and thinks the boards should be suspended at least ten games." After leaving trying to finish the interview I began to walk away only seconds later to be chased by Carol as she screamed, "and we're taking the puck with us....and the sticks too!" I guess TSN.ca must have forgotten to add that part in

As a wise man once said....."even a blind, one handed para-plegic will throw the dart and hit the bullseye eventually"....ok, so I said it...still it applies...all you have to do is visit a few sites and link things together....fill in names however you want and eventually you'll get something right...We've all read the Marty article and he's not going anywhere...as far as Gomez...He's been consistent as of late and he helps this team so unless Lou does decide to retool this team and build it around the likes of Marty and Elias then he won't be going anywhere...At best we'll get rid of who isn't doing well that will relieve some cap space, like Kozzy and Almo through crap trades or waivers and then sign a free agent or something during the off season...we can and should still make a push for the playoffs so it's not like we aren't a good team we just aren't doing well at the moment...This team has too many players willing to play thier role (i.e. Madden, Langs, Gionta, Janssen, Marshall....) and two of the top players in thier respective positions (Elias, and Marty) so it's not like we need much...chemistry is the real thing we need...and if last night is any indication we are one step closer with Elias returning....Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the game my friends...the show's just begun!!

Perfectly put Manta...people automatically assume that you mean when playing with better players you are better...but I've thought the same thing for a while...regardless of how crappy the Pens are they have a huge cast of has been superstars but still stars that get the attention of the teams 1st Defensive line while Crosby goes out there and does his thing on a lesser line....I too believe Ovechkin is a better player but I've not seen either aside from Devils games...regardless hearing of Crosby's whinny attitude is enough for me to not care for him...last thing the NHL needs is the face of the league being a little brat who throws a tantrum when he doesn't get a call he wants....

I loved the line combination last night...a little bit of everything....of course the EGG line is the best and the PBM line was doing well...getting some good chances...maybe if Mogilny gets his act together they can get him in that line replacing Brylin....Could give us two good scoring lines...not to mention the Madden line which was getting some production (I loved how they mentioned Langs streak without a goal but didn't mention that he's been on the Madden line which isn't meant to score...but oh well) Madden played a strong game...seemed to me like he was trying to show Lou that he deserves the "C"...that's the hardest I've seen him play in a while...like I've said before if he could get some aim he could score a lot more....I would leave the last line alone...Janssen is quickly becoming my hero...I love the way he tells the refs to back off so he can finish the fight ....if they could fit Brylin on that line, and get Kozzy to start actually shooting then maybe we could have a good scoring team....

I agree Derek...I mean not so much about the if they do they'll make the playoffs...I think they will just because he's there but anyway, I think his off ice actions have earned him consideration and tonights play earned it fully for him!! He was amazing...he did everything anyone could have expected short of getting a goal for himself!! Here's hoping for continued success!!! BTW did you see his break away? That move is one he's done most of his career, two dekes then back hand it up or between the leg and the pipe on the right side...his hands are just a little slower than they used to be but i'm sure in a few games they'll be back to speed!!

Devils Pregame....looks like Elias is wearing the "A" probably 3 people wearing it....bit of a dissapointment....especially after hearing the most recent interview Matt had with him...sounds such like a leader...its amazing how great of a guy he is...not only on the ice but off...hopefully he'll get that "C" soon!!

For starters sorry this isn't in the "Game Thread" like I'm sure it should be but I've posted on the game thread 7 times this year each resulting in a loss..I'm not superstitious but I'm not pushing it with Elias' return But about Elias...I just hope they make a deal about it..I want him, even if he is going to only play a few minutes, out during the starting line announcements...I want the camera to show him stepping out onto the ice (proudly displaying the "C" probably ) and then be able to see his reaction when they say his name and the 5000 (more or less) people at CAA completely go nuts...I think as fans that would get us going and believe me, what is it 6 out of the last 7 we've dropped, we as fans deserved to get pumped up as well!!!

on the whole Friesen thing...isn't it a sports hernia? Or is sports hernia just the new term for groin injury kinda like you don't say "I stabbed him in the face with a pen cuz he wouldn't stop F**%!@ with me" you have to say "it was self defense" anyway interesting stuff...a lot of questions that Matt and the Maven have answered during Devils pregame....and besides Marty was only "off" before his injury...he's the only one keeping us from losing 6-1 EVERY night!!

Ok, now there are a few different ways this could go but I've been thinking about this.... With the return of Elias approaching and the lack of attendance a constant would it be wise for the Devils to advertise or at least make some kind of marketing out of his return?? I mean without a doubt, if they were to actually set a date they could be ensured a hike in attendance at least by hardcore Devils fans (I for one, even though I know I couldn't go, would love to get tickets to the game in which he is returning) Now this poses another question... Would this be wise to add extra pressure to Elias??...now in my opinion I would say probably not the wisest thing but even if he were to only play the PP then they could still market it as his returning and everything and there really would be any expectations other than for him to get our PP going which is what everyone expects him to do anyway... But regardless, the Devils marketing his horrendous and it seems like they have no motivation to actually get people in the stands...but I just thought that this was something interesting to talk about....slow news day anyway I, for one, would just rather they televise the fact that he is returning during Devils Pregame or whatever then actually show him coming on to the ice..."C" blazing on the front of his jersey, fireworks exploding, rocking to the song "Bad to the Bone"...lol...only kidding about that last part of course

someone hoping he would become a figure skater! ...

You got that right..... GO FALCONS!!!! wow..can't believe I'm saying this!!! E-A-G-L-E-S!!! GO EAGLES!!!!

Thanks alot...and to answer your question....Well first I want to finish up the NHL...Like I said from the beginning this all started with wanting to make a cool Devils' emoticon but then just kinda blossomed when I made a penguin and then decided to try the whole NHL...from there I kinda hit a slump with the NHL guys and decided to make up a Cowboys one...so that put down my two favorite sports...I'm not really a baseball fan or basketball for that matter but I'll put it this way...eventually the NHL and the NFL will be done completely...I've contacted NHL marketing but haven't heard back from them...once I get a few more NFL ones done I'll contact their marketing team...if I ever get responses then I'll probably see If i can do the NBA and MLB...so who knows...but that's far off from now probably!! but if there is one in baseball you would like let me know...I'm not saying I'll get it done right away but if I do hit a slump with the other guys and want to try something different then who knows I might try to put it together for ya!!

That's what I would guess...then again I would like to see us run 3 good scoring lines instead of a checking line and a "roughing up" line.... So I would like to see something more like... Elias - Gomez - Marshall Kozlov - Parise - Gionta Langs - Madden - Pando Brylin - Rass - Mogilny Just a thought...it puts a bigger guy on each scoring line but still a guy who can dish to a better scorer...not sure if the Almo line would work but it would be worth a shot....maybe switch Langs with Kozlov and then put Kozlov with Almo and Brylin on the Madden line...if the team plays every night like it did tonight then the possibilities are endless!! But we still need a solid point man on PP who can still make a good 3rd or 4th liner....

Just thought I'd throw this one out there...I finished it up earlier today! I went with the obvious here...and played alot of the secondary logo....but wanted to make him more warrior like so I added the shield in his hand...so I give you Lil Senator....let me know what you think!!!

Not really...i mean yeah it gives us a good captain but it doesn't ensure a big trade...after all Lou was easy to part with McUseless just by sending him down...that clears up space enough if he does it again...so who knows...