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10 Burning Questions and Let's get ready to rumble!

October 6, 2010, 5:37 PM ET [ Comments]
Roger Mussa
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
In Lou We Trust.

The saying has been repeated time and time again. The Devils are under the cap prior to the beginning of the season.
Dmen Bryce Salvador and Anssi Salmela have both been place on long-term injured reserve getting them both under the cap. Interesting timing for Salvador's injury, as I blogged before.

So being compliant under the cap, by roughly $84K, and still having tryout Adam Mair unsigned (I do think Uncle Lou will eventually sign Adam) the question is:

1- Is this team built for the playoffs?

2- Is this team playing with fire? As an injury may force the team to make a hasty move/s.

Here is what the 2010/2011 Devils will look like opening night:


Forwards: Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, Ilya Kovalchuk, Patrik Elias, Jason Arnott, Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Rolston, Dainius Zubrus, David Clarkson, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Rod Pelley.

Defensemen: Henrik Tallinder, Andy Greene, Colin White, Matt Taormina, Anton Volchenkov, Alex Urbom, Mark Fraser.

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, Johan Hedberg.


Here are my 10 Burning Questions before the season starts:

1- Who will be a casualty once Salvador returns?

2- Will Hedberg play 15 games?

3- Will Josefson and/or Tedenby be with the big club when the season is over?

4- Will Kovalchuk/Zajac/Parise mesh over the long haul? Most importantly, will the Devils get secondary scoring from Elias/Arnott/Langenbrunner so that the top line stays intact?

5- Will MacLean be the Coach when the team makes the playoffs?

6- Will the Devils shake off the recent Flyers snake bite?

7- Can the Devils' defense be intimidating? Will Volchenkov do it as Pronger does for the Flyers?

8- Can Andy Greene continue his development and make Devils fans not miss Paul Martin that much?

9- Eric Lindros once said "The team with the best third lines usually wins." The thinking is that most teams, especially in the playoffs, should have two pretty good top lines and null each other.
What is the Devils' third line 10-15 games into the season? Is Zubrus there? Clarkson? Only time will tell.

10- Will the perennial playoff contender get past the first round of the playoffs??? This team is certainly built for it!


The season is here, can't wait. I will be making the trip to DC (conveniently scheduled a family relaxing get away and, oh wow the Devils are playing in town! I am still trying to convince my wife to wear a Devils jersey along with my son and I).

Lets go Devils!

Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate
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