Yea i think to many are stuck in the past of what lou has done even last year its recent but it has still gone and past and we are worse and afyer this years deadline we arent looking any better for next when you take into account elias will be a year older marty a year older and i hope to god hedberg retires then sal zid poni zubs and tallinder all older i might as well throw volchenkov in there to and to say we have lots of room for free agents next year 1 are their any food ones left 2 aloy of teams now have a ton of cap and will be looking to spend like cgy and buff

I'm hoping the opening day roster next season to look something along the lines of:

Boucher - Lokti - Kovalchuk
Elias - Zajac - Henrique
Matteau - Zubrus - Clarkson
Carter - Gionta - Bernier

Larsson - Greene
Merrill - Salvador
Zidlicky - Fayne/Gelinas/Urbom

Brodeur
Kinkaid/Wedgewood

I know Boucher and Henrique are technically centers, but at a certain point we have too many centers and I don't think any of those guys should get shoved to the third line. If Clarkson leaves that spot could be replaced by perhaps D'Agostini who's an RFA this summer. Same could be said with Zubrus who's a UFA. I expect Elias to come back. Loktionov's an RFA this summer, when he was still stuck in LA's prospect system people were saying he'd go the the KHL once his contract expired, though with how things have gone this year in NJ I could see him staying.

As far as D I doubt those will actually be the combos. Of Zidlicky/Volchenkov/Tallinder Zid is the one I'd like to keep, but he's a UFA this year (as well as Harrold) so I wouldn't be surprised to see him go. Tallinder and Volchenkov are still under contract so unless we trade them I'm guessing they'll end up in the line-up still. I feel the same about Salvador...though he's technically the captain so I doubt he's going anywhere.

Moose is great, but it makes no sense to not let one of our prospects get some experience. You'd think playing with one of the greatest goalies of all time might have a positive influence...

-------------------------------------------------

Back to the present though...BIG effort tonight! Missing the playoffs will do us no good now (too deep in to have any chance at a top 10 pick at this point). Let's go Devils!

And I don't mean to sit here on my computer and play the role of GM and coach, but honestly. At this point, what is the logic behind playing someone like Peter (frank)ing Harrold, who is in no way part of our long term plans, over a guy like Larsson who we drafted #4 overall to be our next franchise defenseman. Two, three year down the road, what is important? Why they refuse to look ahead to the future blows my mind. I hope we don't do this crap with Merrill.
- Jeffrey7146

Harrold is playing RW.

Larsson is the victim of 8 healthy D. He's had rough stretches and has been benched because of them. I'd much rather we do that then throw him to the wolves and watch him lose his confidence. He's still very young and is still learning. His defensive game is far from what it can be, it's better to take the "Hedman approach" with him and slowly ease him into a better role.

Harrold is playing RW.

Larsson is the victim of 8 healthy D. He's had rough stretches and has been benched because of them. I'd much rather we do that then throw him to the wolves and watch him lose his confidence. He's still very young and is still learning. His defensive game is far from what it can be, it's better to take the "Hedman approach" with him and slowly ease him into a better role.
- _Zippy_

I feel like we have other defenseman who have consistently been worse than Larsson this year, Volchenkov come to mind...

I'm hoping the opening day roster next season to look something along the lines of:

Boucher - Lokti - Kovalchuk
Elias - Zajac - Henrique
Matteau - Zubrus - Clarkson
Carter - Gionta - Bernier

Larsson - Greene
Merrill - Salvador
Zidlicky - Fayne/Gelinas/Urbom

Brodeur
Kinkaid/Wedgewood


- MannySilvers

First, Boucher isn't a center. Second, there is probably no way Boucher makes the team. He is a dynamic scorer but that doesn't mean anything for his NHL potential. He needs to stay in Albany and round out his games which is by all means incomplete, although he has definitely improved. Merrill might have the opportunity to make the team out of camp, but it's highly unlikely they do that. Yet again, with defensemen, it's much much better to ease them into their roles. Most D don't really even hit their stride until their late twenties or even early thirties, look at Andy Greene as a perfect example.

I feel like we have other defenseman who have consistently been worse than Larsson this year, Volchenkov come to mind...
- MannySilvers

Devils are doing lefties on one side and righties on the opposite side. Seldom, do they play two players of the same handedness on the same side. Keep in mind that some of these defenders only play RD or LD, you can't just jumble and put a defender anywhere, it's just like some guys who are strictly LW and strictly RW.

That being said, Larsson being a righty means he will have to take a spot away from Zidlicky, Fayne, or Harrold. In addition to that, Volchenkov, Salvador, and Tallinder are all capable (or at least the Devils have played them here) of playing the RD spot.

Larsson also falls victim to being the same brand of defenders. Right now, he a more all-around defender. Devils have those players in Tallinder, Greene, and Fayne, so he's not really adding a new dynamic. Salvador and Volchenkov add the defensive game, and Zidlicky and Harrold bring the offense.

I feel like we have other defenseman who have consistently been worse than Larsson this year, Volchenkov come to mind...
- MannySilvers

Volchenkov has sat his fair share of games for it. The only dman I think that has deserved a benching (and hasn't gotten one) is Zid.

Harrold is playing RW.

Larsson is the victim of 8 healthy D. He's had rough stretches and has been benched because of them. I'd much rather we do that then throw him to the wolves and watch him lose his confidence. He's still very young and is still learning. His defensive game is far from what it can be, it's better to take the "Hedman approach" with him and slowly ease him into a better role.
- _Zippy_

That's even worse.



Hedman wasn't "eased in". He was given top minutes from the start, and let him work out the kinks on his own with the guidance of the coaches. And that number has gone up since. You do that with top end talent with him, because the ability and skills are there, and you can't hone it by sitting on the bench or in the pressbox. It isn't just Hedman either. All teams do that with highly drafted dmen. Hamilton come to mind too. He'll get minutes on the top line with Chara tonight. Same approach needs to be applied with Larsson. It's his second season, he's getting LESS minutes per game on average. It just doesn't make sense. He needs to be out there every night he's healthy.

3 icings already. Seems like we came ready to play our game. All we need now is some offsides.

First, Boucher isn't a center. Second, there is probably no way Boucher makes the team. He is a dynamic scorer but that doesn't mean anything for his NHL potential. He needs to stay in Albany and round out his games which is by all means incomplete, although he has definitely improved. Merrill might have the opportunity to make the team out of camp, but it's highly unlikely they do that. Yet again, with defensemen, it's much much better to ease them into their roles. Most D don't really even hit their stride until their late twenties or even early thirties, look at Andy Greene as a perfect example.
- _Zippy_

I know Boucher and Henrique are technically centers, but at a certain point we have too many centers and I don't think any of those guys should get shoved to the third line.
- MannySilvers

Matteau got a shot at the starting line-up, so why not Boucher? Even if just for the first couple weeks to see what he's got. In a full length season what's the risk?

Benching him isn't "easing" him in Zippy. Come on

boston's doing a good job at tying us up in front but the rebounds are there. should be up at least a goal right now. gotta finish.

Matteau got a shot at the starting line-up, so why not Boucher? Even if just for the first couple weeks to see what he's got. In a full length season what's the risk?
- MannySilvers

Matteau and Boucher are like comparing Zubrus and Bergfors.

Matteau is a more complete, big-bodied player who can play in the NHL as a young kid because of his style. Boucher is a skilled player who isn't as big or as pro-ready as a guy like Matteau.

Boucher could make the team, but very few skilled players make an NHL team that young, as they are better off honing their skills to the pro game and then coming up when they are ready to make a big impact, (yes I am aware Bergfors made the team as an 19 year old.

I'm aware we are bad with the clutching and grabbing and inteference, but the Bruins are so much worse...

Matteau and Boucher are like comparing Zubrus and Bergfors.

Matteau is a more complete, big-bodied player who can play in the NHL as a young kid because of his style. Boucher is a skilled player who isn't as big or as pro-ready as a guy like Matteau.

Boucher could make the team, but very few skilled players make an NHL team that young, as they are better off honing their skills to the pro game and then coming up when they are ready to make a big impact, (yes I am aware Bergfors made the team as an 19 year old.
- _Zippy_

At a certain point I feel like they'll give a kid who scored 62 goals in 68 games in the OHL (plus so far has been pretty effective in the AHL) a chance on a team that's in clear need of some offensive fire-power.

17 SOG and nothing to show for it.

Sounds about right.

17 SOG and nothing to show for it.

Sounds about right.
- FLdevilsFAN

How does clarkson look says he has four shots already seems to be like his old self im not watching

How does clarkson look says he has four shots already seems to be like his old self im not watching
- blizzzard

He had one chance the rest were shots outside top of circles.

Thank you NHL network and letting me listen to Jack Edwards..

How does clarkson look says he has four shots already seems to be like his old self im not watching
- blizzzard

like he's ready to walk this summer

like he's ready to walk this summer
- TheJerseyDevil1

Should've traded him

of course.

LOL, this team is always good for a laugh

We couldn't get jagr? Really Lou? Planning on having all 4 of our centers forever? Just gonna keep josefson in minors forever? Tedenbys gonna be a top 6 urbom a top 4? Really we have no use for a strong scoring winger?????? Makes me crazy. Asinine and absurd.

Can't buy a goal.

Hard to develope when your getting the sh*t end of the stick all the time while others get a free pass no matter how bad they might be i mean this hole defense neesa to go outside of larsson hreen and fayne also how much can this season mean being a shortened one and us where we arein the standings we didnt decide to go all in at the deadline so why sit larsson when its not an all in year seems kinda stupid to me i would be sitting salvador tallinder and a train and bringing up urbom and gelinas to see what we have in them and what thwy can do at the big stage i mean itcn only make us faster and get a few new minds in our game
- blizzzard

Larsson has been out against bottom 6 players and has struggled lately. We're trying to make the playoffs, if ur struggling u sit.