Two ridiculous contracts does anything but demonstrate stability.

Parise walked at 27, Paul Martin walked at 28, Gomez walked at 27, Clarkson is going to walk at 29. Those are all players we could have built around at the time. ...Except Gomez, because we can all still have a laugh at how that turned out
- TheJerseyDevil1

Are you saying you would have paid Martin what he got, or Gomez what he got? The only one I'll give you is Parise, and that had more to do with him wanting to play in Minnesota

The owner has nothing to do with how much a guy is going to demand. If we had a more wealthy owner it would be less of an issue if we paid a guy a lot.
- bobert836

If we had a rich owner we could dish out the big bucks to guys who have earned it and that would create interest in signing here. Instead of signing guys to monster contracts that have never put up 70 points and likely wont and has scored 25 goals 1 time

If we had a rich owner we could dish out the big bucks to guys who have earned it and that would create interest in signing here. Instead of signing guys to monster contracts that have never put up 70 points and likely wont and has scored 25 goals 1 time
- blizzzard

Like who? Besides Parise, I wouldn't have paid the money that most of the guys that left got

It doesn't matter though because we don't. To be honest I really hope we get Elias and Henrique signed Zubs I would like be we might as well fold if we let Elias and Henrique leave Clarkson is good as gone that would leave us with nothing as unlikely as it is that Adam gets offer sheeted

Like who? Besides Parise, I wouldn't have paid the money that most of the guys that left got
- bobert836

Im not saying guys that leave got but any free agent outside of Kovy and to be honest at least he is worth the money he got besides the length

Im not saying guys that leave got but any free agent outside of Kovy and to be honest at least he is worth the money he got besides the length
- blizzzard

Free agency is a trap. Its just begging to give too much money over too many years to guys who don't deserve it. I think Lou likes to be a little more on the cautious side in free agency, even though the recent free agent signings really haven't worked out for him.

Free agency is a trap. Its just begging to give too much money over too many years to guys who don't deserve it. I think Lou likes to be a little more on the cautious side in free agency, even though the recent free agent signings really haven't worked out for him.
- rmdevil313

No you cant really win either way but still for excitement sake lol can you imagine if Henrique signs a offer sheet we cant match and elias clarky and zubs walk we would be f*cked there would be no other word for it. As unlikely as it would be for that to happen but its nerve racking to think about it. I mean seriously Kovy would dart to the KHL

No you cant really win either way but still for excitement sake lol can you imagine if Henrique signs a offer sheet we cant match and elias clarky and zubs walk we would be f*cked there would be no other word for it. As unlikely as it would be for that to happen but its nerve racking to think about it. I mean seriously Kovy would dart to the KHL
- blizzzard

If we lose all 3 of those guys, there is no way we don't match an offersheet for Henrique. We have to hit the cap floor somehow

I just don't understand why Lou has to wait so long. The only player I could see taking a while is Clarkson because he probably wants more than he's worth. But from what I've heard and the fact Elias has been a Devil for his whole career, Zubrus and Elias should have been easy to lockup.

If we lose all 3 of those guys, there is no way we don't match an offersheet for Henrique. We have to hit the cap floor somehow

I just don't understand why Lou has to wait so long. The only player I could see taking a while is Clarkson because he probably wants more than he's worth. But from what I've heard and the fact Elias has been a Devil for his whole career, these should have been easy to lockup.
- rmdevil313

You never know. Elias could just be posturing for more money like he did last time(NTC with Rangers)

You never know. Elias could just be posturing for more money like he did last time(NTC with Rangers)
- bobert836

True. But you'd think at this point Elias would just like to get a deal done to close his career out.

:/ I wish someone with a poop-zillion dollars would come and whisk the Devils off the Beek's hands. Have to think that if the Devils provided Lou any money to spend, we'd have Parise, Clarky, and Elias in the bag. Lou isn't stupid, I think he must be up against a wall with no money to build a team.

That is why the vast majority of our contracts are 1-2 years in length, because we don't know where our finances will be at from year to year. That is the only reason I can come up with as to why the Devils haven't worked towards building any kind of young core locked up long term.

Le sigh.
- TheJerseyDevil1

only problem with that theory is that the Steinbrenner family owned the devils in the early 2000s, and cheap ass lou still didn't spend any money, he believes you can build championship caliber teams thru the draft and smart trades. the game has past him by since the lost season.

If we lose all 3 of those guys, there is no way we don't match an offersheet for Henrique. We have to hit the cap floor somehow

I just don't understand why Lou has to wait so long. The only player I could see taking a while is Clarkson because he probably wants more than he's worth. But from what I've heard and the fact Elias has been a Devil for his whole career, Zubrus and Elias should have been easy to lockup.
- rmdevil313

Elias is like our Alfie he needs to stay. it would be a nightmare trying to replace is 60+ points next season clarksons 40-50 and parise that didn't get replaced last year I wish the year we made the finals and Trump was in the stands stating he would like to own a team that he would have bought them but after last season I doubt he makes that investment another thing a sabres fan said they think we go off the board and take fucale I would just like to say right now if we take him at nine I will no longer be a fan of the devils lmao

only problem with that theory is that the Steinbrenner family owned the devils in the early 2000s, and cheap ass lou still didn't spend any money, he believes you can build championship caliber teams thru the draft and smart trades. the game has past him by since the lost season.
- devfan30

Steinbrenner was a minority owner during the Devils most successful years. There was no way and no reason for him to pump cash into the team, other than covering part of the losses.

Elias is like our Alfie he needs to stay. it would be a nightmare trying to replace is 60+ points next season clarksons 40-50 and parise that didn't get replaced last year I wish the year we made the finals and Trump was in the stands stating he would like to own a team that he would have bought them but after last season I doubt he makes that investment another thing a sabres fan said they think we go off the board and take fucale I would just like to say right now if we take him at nine I will no longer be a fan of the devils lmao
- blizzzard

I don't think I could stomach seing Elias leave. He would be impossible to replace this year. He plays on the second line and produces like a top line talent, basically helping Clarkson earn a good paycheck this year and got Sykora 20 goals. All this on top of his leadership and defensive game. We cannot let him go. I don't think Clarkson will be terribly difficult to replace, as much as I like him.

I don't think I could stomach seing Elias leave. He would be impossible to replace this year. He plays on the second line and produces like a top line talent, basically helping Clarkson earn a good paycheck this year and got Sykora 20 goals. All this on top of his leadership and defensive game. We cannot let him go. I don't think Clarkson will be terribly difficult to replace, as much as I like him.
- rmdevil313

I think I would love Lucic on our team more then a shinkaruk he is up there for my top 3 fav players I wish we employed a more physical style of play

I don't think I could stomach seing Elias leave. He would be impossible to replace this year. He plays on the second line and produces like a top line talent, basically helping Clarkson earn a good paycheck this year and got Sykora 20 goals. All this on top of his leadership and defensive game. We cannot let him go. I don't think Clarkson will be terribly difficult to replace, as much as I like him.
- rmdevil313

Agreed. Seeing Elias on another team just wouldn't be right. I can only imagine how big of a star he would be if he were in a larger market for his career.

Agreed. Seeing Elias on another team just wouldn't be right. I can only imagine how big of a star he would be if he were in a larger market for his career.
- bobert836

I have thought that as well. How many points could he have put up in a franchise that isn't so focused on defense

I have thought that as well. How many points could he have put up in a franchise that isn't so focused on defense
- blizzzard

Not even that(common misconception though). I would say he is one of the most underrated guys in the league. He's about as consistent as you can get in this league along with making the careers of a couple of guys and putting up some tremendous offensive seasons.

I think I would love Lucic on our team more then a shinkaruk he is up there for my top 3 fav players I wish we employed a more physical style of play
- blizzzard

Lucic is a one of a kind player. We'd have to hope we can draft something similar, but its highly unlikely. And our style is fairly physical, just not with huge hits but we rely on finishing our checks and grinding it out on the boards. Getting more physical wouldn't hurt, but we need someone to play LW with Kovy.

Next year's lines when we re-sign literally no-one:

Tedenby - Loktionov - Kovy
Boucher - Zajac - Bernier
Carter - Gionta - Matteau
Barch - Whitney - Wohlberg



Knowing us we'll then somehow be better and win the Atlantic...

But at least we'll have enough cap space to trade for DiPietro!
- MannySilvers

If you manage to win the Atlantic next year, I'll put all my money on you guys.. especially since, you know, the Atlantic won't exist next season...

If you manage to win the Atlantic next year, I'll put all my money on you guys.. especially since, you know, the Atlantic won't exist next season...
- Panthers88

Our division next year is going to be a female dog. The current atlantic(arguably the best in the league) and then you add Washington and Carolina

Our division next year is going to be a female dog. The current atlantic(arguably the best in the league) and then you add Washington and Carolina
- bobert836

We have all three hart finalists, and the winner from last year. 2 of the vezina finalists, which includes the past 2 winners. I really don't know why any Eastern conference team voted for re-alignment. It pisses me off we have to make the playoffs from the toughest division in a conference of 16 while the west gets 8 out of 14. Complete joke.

If you manage to win the Atlantic next year, I'll put all my money on you guys.. especially since, you know, the Atlantic won't exist next season...
- Panthers88

Wouldn't be surprised if our new conference is called the Atlantic, but you get my point.

I couldn't agree more that Elias is our most important free agency signing, more than Clarkson.

This is the most important offseason for the Devils in a while. If they retain Elias, Henrique, maybe Clarkson, draft a solid forward with #9, and maybe make one more move (trade, UFA signing) to grab a top 9 forward, the Devils will be in good shape for the next few years.

If we lose most of those guys, swing and miss at the draft, and sign no-one even remotely significant, next year we might be bemoaning how we're giving up a top 5 pick...

We have all three hart finalists, and the winner from last year. 2 of the vezina finalists, which includes the past 2 winners. I really don't know why any Eastern conference team voted for re-alignment. It pisses me off we have to make the playoffs from the toughest division in a conference of 16 while the west gets 8 out of 14. Complete joke.
- rmdevil313

It seems like it's really unfair, but if you go through the past few seasons and look at who made the playoffs and apply next years rules to it, the same 16 teams almost always make the playoffs, with some exceptions due to the Wings, Jackets, and Jets switching conferences.

It seems like it's really unfair, but if you go through the past few seasons and look at who made the playoffs and apply next years rules to it, the same 16 teams almost always make the playoffs, with some exceptions due to the Wings, Jackets, and Jets switching conferences.
- MannySilvers

But that doesn't take into account the change in schedule. The Islanders are no longer a bad team. The blue jackets have a top calibre goalie. There isn't a weak team in our conference if Cam Ward is healthy. That changes the head to head match ups drastically. On top of that, the playoff structure is just terrible. The only thing that might balance things out is three point games, which is just another problem.