2013 New Jersey Devils (Team News, Player Discussion)

[NJDevs26]

Apparently they will be raising it at the home opener and if that does hold true, I am not a fan of that

There should be no raising prior to a home opener of any banner unless it is a cup banner, the ECF banner should like they do the division banners and have always done the ECF banners, just be hanging prior to doors opening to the public and during pre-game lineup announcements, shine a light on it, congratulate the team and thats it

Well they could always put it up the night before or something, hide it so nobody sees it beforehand and just unveil it the night of the game. But yeah I wouldn't be a fan of making a big deal of it, and if they do it's not Lou that's deciding it.

I bet they were practicing in front of a full house

Shame we'll never find out how many people they 'could' be practicing in front of, I'm getting envious hearing all these other reports about how thousands of people flocked to other teams' practices.

 

[ScottyK]

Eklund really does read this board has O'riely to NJ

 

[Wingman77]

Well they could always put it up the night before or something, hide it so nobody sees it beforehand and just unveil it the night of the game. But yeah I wouldn't be a fan of making a big deal of it, and if they do it's not Lou that's deciding it.

That is absolutely for sure

 

[glenwo2]

WHERE'S SYKIE?

I WILL *NOT* FALL DOWN THIS YEAR!









Speaking of Sykie(from TG's blog) :

Elias said he was “a little bit†disappointed the Devils have decided not to re-sign Petr Sykora (at least for now).

“He fit in great and he was a big part of this team,†Elias said. “There’s not too many guys if any in the league for the amount of minutes, for whatever he was making, that put up 20-plus goals and 45 points. So, that’s pretty impressive. Obviously, we still had some chemistry going there, even with (Dainius Zubrus) and we enjoyed it. It was fun, but those are decisions that management makes and you just go with it. You never know. I don’t know if he already got offered (a contract) somewhere else or what’s going to happen, but I believe he can be an effective player in this league for some team.â€

That sucks. I can't believe that Lou would ignore a chance to use Sykie in a short season like this.

 

[Bleedred]

My prediction is Darche gets a contract, and makes the team. It will most likely be a two way contract though, and it will definitely be just a year, and under a million. Probably around what Sykora made last year. Seems like he could be useful. Maybe like Jay Pandolfo, but let's hope he's not as embarrassingly terrible as Jay was his last couple seasons with us.

I also have to believe Sykora was not brought back for reasons other than giving a younger player a chance like Lou said. Maybe Pete told Lou he has no more use for him after running out of gas last year, maybe he wanted more money, but something I have to believe is up. I would expect when Sykora signs somewhere he'll get 3 or 4 times as much as he made last year. I can see the Isles, or another cap floor team offering him $2.5 million for a year.

 

[NJDevs26]

I would expect when Sykora signs somewhere he'll get 3 or 4 times as much as he made last year. I can see the Isles, or another cap floor team offering him $2.5 million for a year.

If THAT happens, nobody in their right mind can blame Lou for not bringing Sykora back (pro-rated salary or not). I don't think he'll get anywhere near that much...but you certainly lay out a plausible enough scenario. I have been wondering what the two-three teams millions below the cap floor were going to do to get above it, and there aren't that many FA's of note

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Eklund really does read this board has O'riely to NJ

What would we have to trade for him? I'm assuming a lot

 

[glenwo2]

My prediction is Darche gets a contract, and makes the team. It will most likely be a two way contract though, and it will definitely be just a year, and under a million. Probably around what Sykora made last year. Seems like he could be useful. Maybe like Jay Pandolfo, but let's hope he's not as embarrassingly terrible as Jay was his last couple seasons with us.

I also have to believe Sykora was not brought back for reasons other than giving a younger player a chance like Lou said. Maybe Pete told Lou he has no more use for him after running out of gas last year, maybe he wanted more money, but something I have to believe is up. I would expect when Sykora signs somewhere he'll get 3 or 4 times as much as he made last year. I can see the Isles, or another cap floor team offering him $2.5 million for a year.

Never really thought of that.


If a team offers you that much money, then you have to take it at this point of your career(Sykora's career, that is).


BUT I'd rather he be a Devil 'cause we saw that he ran out of gas during the course of the LONG Regular season....

In a 48-game season, he'd still have gas in the tank in the playoffs....

Oh well....I'm sure Lou knows what he's doing.

 

[Bleedred]

I'm not confident enough in Tedenby replacing Sykora. Sorry to the fans of Mattias, but I'm not sold.

Now had Parise actually stayed then I would be a little warmer to the idea that Sykie goes out, and in comes Tedenby. I think of Butler as Sykora's replacement, and really no one other than Zajac (Missed most of last season) as Parise's replacement.

I just hope Pete really don't put together a Patty-Zajac-Kovy line. We'd really be a two line team then at best. And I still don't know why Pete is so set on Kovy playing right wing. Must be the right handed shot thing. That's all I can think of.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I'm not confident enough in Tedenby replacing Sykora. Sorry to the fans of Mattias, but I'm not sold.

Now had Parise actually stayed then I would be a little warmer to the idea that Sykie goes out, and in comes Tedenby. I think of Butler as Sykora's replacement, and really no one other than Zajac (Missed most of last season) as Parise's replacement.

I just hope Pete really don't put together a Patty-Zajac-Kovy line. We'd really be a two line team then at best. And I still don't know why Pete is so set on Kovy playing right wing. Must be the right handed shot thing. That's all I can think of.

Having Kovy on the right wing makes it easier for him to receive and give passes. Its harder playing on your off wing, it leads to more errors. He played great last year on RW so I am not surprised at all. It also doesnt really matter because on the rush wings and centers always create different plays with guys going to the other side.

 

[NJDevs26]

$2.5 is really $1.5 in terms of salary since everything signed this year's going to be pro-rated. Come to think of it I 'could' see some floor team doing that.

 

[Brick City]

Well they could always put it up the night before or something, hide it so nobody sees it beforehand and just unveil it the night of the game. But yeah I wouldn't be a fan of making a big deal of it, and if they do it's not Lou that's deciding it.

I hope Lou's way remains the order of the day on this one.

Shame we'll never find out how many people they 'could' be practicing in front of, I'm getting envious hearing all these other reports about how thousands of people flocked to other teams' practices.

On the other hand, his closed practices at all times policy is asinine during the best of times. Coming off a lockout there are no words.

I follow a lockout reporters twitter feed that includes beat reporters from Philly, Pittsburgh, and Washington among others. All of those teams had open practices and they were packed. Philly's practice facility in Voorhees was standing room and they were turning away huge amounts of people. This generates excitement which in turn leads to sales. People like to attack our fanbase, but I think if given the chance, we could fill our practice rink's stands all the same.

 

[NJDevs26]

We had like 500 people come out in the rain with literally hours' notice doing a lot of internet detective work to greet the team coming back from Game 6 last year. Yeah I think we'd have gotten a lot at practice today. Not as much as Minnesota, which is more or less claiming it's SOLD OUT a scrimmage later this week, but still enough to start buzz. As of now the Devils have no date for selling tickets, no interaction with fans.

 

[kiwidevil]

In regards to Tedenby replacing Sykora. I think a perfect situation for him would be on a line with Elias and Zubrus. Give him time and stability and let him settle in a bit.

It's not as if Sykora was dynamite defensively and Teds speed can be a real asset to that line.

 

[SixStringAddict]

It's not as if Sykora was dynamite defensively and Teds speed can be a real asset to that line.

Plus from what I remember, Teddy's really good on the forecheck. Could fit Debo's system well.

 

[Jack Griffin]

Bob McKenzie‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

Seems like every team is looking for defencemen. I believe DET and EDM are two teams with great motivation to upgrade the blueline.

I don't think we spent enough time discussing this tweet. McKenzie mentions DET and EDM which we've discussed before and except for maybe CAR and OTT I'm not sure what other teams would be looking for defensemen.

 

[Marshal Rochambeau]

Elias - Henrique - Kovalchuk
Zubrus - Zajac - Butler
Darche - Josefson - Clarkson
Carter - Gionta - Bernier

Darche, Josefson, Butler replacing Parise, Poni, and Sykora. Thats scary

 

[apice3*]

$2.5 is really $1.5 in terms of salary since everything signed this year's going to be pro-rated. Come to think of it I 'could' see some floor team doing that.

Are you talking about new contracts or outstanding ones? I'm pretty sure if we were to sign Sykora for 1M right now, we owe him the full 1M.

 

[Bleedred]

Our biggest problem with 8 defensemen is not having enough flexibility with forward spots. That one less forward we can carry because of it.

I'd be okay getting rid of Tallinder for picks right now. Our problem will be having 13 forwards instead of 14. You know Barch will be one, Janssen could possibly be another, but maybe not. Lou could make use of that two way contract, and send him up to Albany.

 

[Jack Griffin]

Elias - Henrique - Kovalchuk
Zubrus - Zajac - Butler
Darche - Josefson - Clarkson
Carter - Gionta - Bernier

Darche, Josefson, Butler replacing Parise, Poni, and Sykora. Thats scary

Our opening night lineup looked like this last year:

Parise-Henrique-Kovalchuk
Zubrus-Elias-Sykora
Tedenby-Josefson-Clarkson
Boulton-Mills-Palmieri

I don't think those were the exact lines but still it's more like Zajac replaces Parise and Butler replaces Sykora. Also we added a 4th line that has had some success.

We were a playoff team without Poni and Zajac, I don't see why we can't be a playoff team without Poni and Parise. Obviously a repeat trip to the finals is unlikely if we don't make any moves.

 

[kiwidevil]

Start:

Butler - Zajac - Kovy
Elias - Zubrus - Tedenby
Darche - Josefson - Clarkson
Carter - Gionta - Bernier

When Henrique returns:

Butler/Henrique - Zajac - Kovy
Elias - Zubrus - Tedenby
Henrique/Butler - Josefson - Clarkson
Carter - Gionta - Bernier

 

[Bleedred]

I really can't see Tedenby playing with Elias for an extended amount of time. Maybe if they play together, and get hot with some offense I can see it. Whoever is on the line with Elias, and Zubrus will probably be the shutdown line. I don't think Pete wants Tedenby on a shutdown line. Though Josefson would look pretty good centering that line with Patty on the left, and Zubrus on the right.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

If Darche makes this team, I'm quoting South Park all season. Don't care how old it gets.

If you Jessiman when you're supposed to McIlrath you're gonna have a bad time.

This is the best post I've ever read and now Darche HAS to make the time, even if he rides pine for 45 games.

Are you talking about new contracts or outstanding ones? I'm pretty sure if we were to sign Sykora for 1M right now, we owe him the full 1M.

Nope. If you sign him to a 1M contract, it counts for 1M against the cap but he makes 1M*(48/82) dollars. I think Mckenzie tweeted something about Mottau's contract in TOR that the 850k would only be in a full season.

 

[Bleedred]

That's interesting, and I actually thought about that a lot the other day. If the new contracts would be for the cap hit in 82 game dollars, or adjusted for 48 game dollars.

 

[SixStringAddict]

That's interesting, and I actually thought about that a lot the other day. If the new contracts would be for the cap hit in 82 game dollars, or adjusted for 48 game dollars.

I think cap hit is regular 82 games but real dollars is prorated for 48 games.