The lines during today's practice..

Dainius Zubrus-Adam Henrique-Ilya Kovalchuk
Patrik Elias-Travis Zajac-David Clarkson
Alexei Ponikarovsky-Jacob Josefson-Steve Sullivan/Matt D’Agostini
Ryan Carter-Stephen Gionta-Steve Bernier
Krys Barch-Andrei Loktionov-Tom Kostopoulos.

love this. Henrique HAS flourished in this role. We know Josefson can play. Lokti has been lacking.. and D'Ags can take a seat too. Solid throughout. Aside from what some here rant about, this is a playoff team that's been snakebitten. This roster can compete. .. if everyone was on their game. We may still be that top 6 forward away. Sullivan isn't it, Clarkson is a 3rd liner, Elias isn't a scorer. Pominville would've been perfect next to Zajac and Elias on that 2nd line RW
- MartysBetter88

Loktionov hasn't been bad. I think this is just to get Josefson a game, since they don't want to break up CBGB Lokionov sits. Sad that we aren't going to make the playoffs. Hopefully the pattern continues and we make the finals next season!

Not according to TG. Says Urbom is just practicing as an extra defenseman. Also, Kovy practicing on the top line which hopefully means he's back tomorrow.
- MannySilvers

i wish they would sit kovy till he is 100%

dont want to make his injury any worse since we most likely wont make the playoffs

i wish they would sit kovy till he is 100%

dont want to make his injury any worse since we most likely wont make the playoffs
- dmarsden2988

im on the fence about it it depends on how he feels about it if he wants to take it slow and not be rushed then thats no good but if he is itchy to get in i wouldnt hold him out he will have all play offsad off season to get better but also if he plays we might win sone games and not get the best draft pick obviously lu isnt thinking that way just a thought from a fans perspective

i wish they would sit kovy till he is 100%

dont want to make his injury any worse since we most likely wont make the playoffs
- dmarsden2988

MY FANTASY HOCKEY TEAM NEEDS HIM

...and Malkin to stop being hurt.

Damn lazy Russians

Edit: He's not playing tomorrow in Philly.

DeBoer just said Kovy is not making the trip to Philly and will obviously not play.

DeBoer just said Kovy is not making the trip to Philly and will obviously not play.
- Kovaltron

and the beat goes on

DeBoer just said Kovy is not making the trip to Philly and will obviously not play.
- Kovaltron

Means my boy Loktionov is back in

Hopefully.

where close to a top 5 pick. don't (frank) it up by winning game now!!!

where close to a top 5 pick. don't (frank) it up by winning game now!!!
- devfan30

wouldnt hurt if the oilers startes winning they are heartless i would be totally disgusted if i was an oilers fan another top pick is not what they need and i thiught nashville would be better just because they have rinne

im on the fence about it it depends on how he feels about it if he wants to take it slow and not be rushed then thats no good but if he is itchy to get in i wouldnt hold him out he will have all play offsad off season to get better but also if he plays we might win sone games and not get the best draft pick obviously lu isnt thinking that way just a thought from a fans perspective
- blizzzard

i wasnt even thinking draft pick about kovy coming back, i dont want him to aggravate his injury and not be fully healthy for next season

Means my boy Loktionov is back in

Hopefully.
- _Zippy_

It means we won't have to choose between Sullivan and D'Agostini on the RW.. they'll both play.

i wasnt even thinking draft pick about kovy coming back, i dont want him to aggravate his injury and not be fully healthy for next season
- dmarsden2988

This is true. NJ are rationally out of the playoffs... why risk his health?

Was reading Rich Chere's article, "What happened to the Devils?" and it came to me that maybe noting signing anyone was the best thing Lou did because they all wanted huge contracts. This is good because teams will be willing to trade good or great players to clear cap, as long as he gets rid of some of the guys we have. I think Lou should buyout Tallinder and Volchenkov for the cap and let Zid go and get someone in a trade or free agency and let one or a couple of the guys in Albany play.

Was reading Rich Chere's article, "What happened to the Devils?" and it came to me that maybe noting signing anyone was the best thing Lou did because they all wanted huge contracts. This is good because teams will be willing to trade good or great players to clear cap, as long as he gets rid of some of the guys we have. I think Lou should buyout Tallinder and Volchenkov for the cap and let Zid go and get someone in a trade or free agency and let one or a couple of the guys in Albany play.
- Devils9503

we know, you've been saying the same stuff for weeks.

Means my boy Loktionov is back in

Hopefully.
- _Zippy_

How would that even affect Loktionov?

It means we won't have to choose between Sullivan and D'Agostini on the RW.. they'll both play.
- MartysBetter88

Is it me or is D'ags another Poni? Invisible! They both don't do much out there, and aren't really physical. Can't see Poni being brought back and don't really think D'ags bring much to the 3rd line. Could see D'ags maybe being brought back if there isn't anyone available, but please Lou PLEASE do not bring back Poni.

Looking at the standings now after today and we actually have a realistic spot at being in the top 3. Carolina is 28th place and are only 4 points back with same amount of games remaining. As far as I see it, there is a consensus top 3 in Jones, Drouin, and Mackinnon. I would love to get Drouin, him playing with Kovy would be sick.

Is it me or is D'ags another Poni? Invisible! They both don't do much out there, and aren't really physical. Can't see Poni being brought back and don't really think D'ags bring much to the 3rd line. Could see D'ags maybe being brought back if there isn't anyone available, but please Lou PLEASE do not bring back Poni.
- Rseen

I agree. Poni has size and plays the position well, but he doesn't contribute on the score sheet. D'Agostini makes his power moves every one in a while, but we need more than that.
I'd take a 38 year old Sullivan for the 3rd.. or 2nd line over either of them.

ideally, i'd like to see

acquisition-Henrique/Lokti-Kovalchuk
Elias-Zajac-Zubrus
Matteau/Boucher-Henrique/Lokti-Sullivan
CBGB

basically the same team as this year.. with the addition of hopefully a real top 6 player, and 1 kid, and no Clarkson, Kostopolous, D'Agostini, Ponikarovsky.

we'd be set. If the kids don't workout.. I'm SURE Lou could somehow squeeze out a 3rd line LW........

Looking at the standings now after today and we actually have a realistic spot at being in the top 3. Carolina is 28th place and are only 4 points back with same amount of games remaining. As far as I see it, there is a consensus top 3 in Jones, Drouin, and Mackinnon. I would love to get Drouin, him playing with Kovy would be sick.
- Rseen

I want to grab a total of 4 points in these final games. Make sure NYR doesn't make it. That's it. With only 2 wins in there, we can easily still have a great chance at a top 5 pick. One game is the difference from the 8th pick we have now, to the 4th pick. HUGE gain in ground for what's available at that stage. I'm concerned Florida is going to try to lose against us as well in their tank process, but who knows.

Man, imagine if we hadn't started 8-2-3 or whatever it was when we we're 1st..we'd definitely be the Seth Jones winner.

Man, imagine if we hadn't started 8-2-3 or whatever it was when we we're 1st..we'd definitely be the Seth Jones winner.
- FloridianDevil

.

imagine if we didn't lose 10 straight, or lose the shootouts.. we'd be in the playoffs.

.

imagine if we didn't lose 10 straight, or lose the shootouts.. we'd be in the playoffs.
- MartysBetter88

Yep. And if we did we'd be playing Pittsburgh or Boston and out shoot them 31-13 in every game and get swept.

People talk about acquisitions for the first line. You don't just pick these things up without mortgaging your future. I mean, we could have... if we had moved Parise last year or Clarkson this year, but the worst possible scenario for Parise played itself out and now we're going to mortgage the future to get someone else?

No. Josefson and Tedenby aren't going to fetch these guys anymore. Josefson can't score at an NHL level, yet, and Tedenby is getting worse instead of better. They aren't the first round picks we drafted anymore... they're sort of "bust" players, though Josefson can still have a future as a third line, two-way player.

Forget buying out Volchenkov. But buying out Tallinder is a good possibility. He's only going to cost the franchise a little over 2 mill for that.