Nice win, not easy.

Frustrating is the only word I could come up with.

As I watched the last few games I grew hungrier for a change. Now, please don’t get me wrong – Panic has not set, nor should it as it is too early and we have been decimated with injuries to key players. I don’t remember the last time the Devils had so many simultaneous injuries to significant players.

It is obvious that we cannot finish. We work harder than most teams but we manage to create chances, and let me tell ya – we get many great chances.

I do not see Uncle Lou making any major deals until we ice a fully healthy squad. Nor do I see him going after a Khabibulin type goalie unless Marty’s injury is worse or the healing is not coming as planned. So lets put the goalie acquisition talks to the side for the time being. The goalies have, for the most part, kept us in the game which is all we can ask for.

Our D is mediocre at this stage. But we will leave that for another blog.

Like Sam Woo said in his last blog “Goaltending is not the REAL issue” – The real issue is Scoring and having a killer instinct. I wouldn’t mind having a meaner edge as well.

ZPar cant carry the team on his shoulders – yet. Elias has developed into one of the best all-around players the last couple of years but that has come at the expense of his scoring.
Gionta, probably our best trading chip if we are to make a significant move, has used up all his scoring “juice” a few years ago. Zubrus, I must say has improved his game a tad. Langenbrunner is not going to be that goal scorer. Madden/Pando?Clarkson we cannot expect to carry the scoring load and do all the other things they do – but well take it as a bonus.

If the Devils are to become a significant threat… WE NEED A SNIPER!

I cant help but think of a Mogilny-like trade as I have mentioned before.

Take a look at the following three trades;

Kirk Muller and Rollie Melanson for Stephane Richer and Tom Chorske

Brendan Morrison and Dennis Pederson for Alex Mogilny

Bill Guerin and Val Zelepukin for Jason Arnott and Bryan Muir

Corey Millen for Neal Broten.

A few themes that these trades share:
They all traded Devils that were well liked by fans but hadn’t had the impact anticipated of them, all benefited from the trades.
The trades were initially criticized.
The players acquired by the Devils
The players acquired by the Devils were pivotal pieces of the success and Cups of the franchise.

Speculate all you want and interchange many different parts from the parameters I mentioned above. Who knows what Uncle Lou will do. But I am curious, already, as to what the team will look like the day after the trading deadline.

I still want a sniper.

Web Surfing...
I like to share NHL related gems I find.
Check out Doug Murray of the Sharks' business. Should be popular with the college crew.
www.uberdispensing.com/

Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate

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