He has a down year and he sucks... Ovechkin had his first good year in what 3 years?
- K-dizzle

Eh, when he first got traded, he did little and the Devils limped into the playoffs and bowed out in the first round. Next year the Devils and Kovy were terrible, (worst team ever) but I will admit in the second half he turned it on and was very good. The next year, yea, he had a ton of points, but he was really getting carried by Parise.
Exhibit A: Power Play
Shouldn't he have helped it. The PP percent was 18.9 the season before he came, then when they got him at the deadline it finished 18.7. His first full season it was 14.4, next it was 17.2, and last season it was 15.9. If he was so great, why wouldn't we see an increase in PP%?

Exhibit B: Everything he does when not scoring. No stats for this, but basically all he does is turn the puck over at the offensive blue line and then skate into his own teammates.

And I'm not saying this because I'm bitter. I think Parise is great, I thought Gomez was still good after he signed with the Rangers. But Kovy is just not very good. There is a reason that the Devils failed to make the playoffs 2 of his three full seasons with the team.

gotta say I agree with this list, except switch Washington and Philly. The Caps were great last year, once they learned the new system. No reason to think they won't be just as good. Lost Ribiero, but Grabovsky is still decent.


YES, Devils at #2.

Eklund actually did a good job of breaking down each team. The Rangers may be #2, but no one is going to run away with this division. The Devils will surprise a lot of people, again.

Schneider has allowed 1 goal on 80 shots- and that was at the end of the game when Philly had a 6-4 man advantage.

Marty has had his father's health on his mind.. and now he's got to deal with that.

Clowe is more than what I thought we were getting. If he stays healthy, he's a big guy who actually has hands and offensive ability. The 38 assists he had in San Jose were no fluke.

Clowe-Zajac-Brunner has chemistry and has looked great so far. Each member makes plays in his own way and they all compliment each other very well. Size, 2-way play, speed. Brunner is buying into the system and looks great with those linemates.

Elias-Henrique-Ryder is going to be solid too. Elias is still one of the smartest and best playmaking wingers in the league, will be the perfect LW for Ryder, and both will have enough speed and skill to elevate Henrique's game. Henrique, to his own credit, is used to playing with top guys- earned the Gretzky award in Jrs playing with Taylor Hall, and did a great job centering Parise/Kovalchuk

Zubrus-Loktionov-Jagr will be great too. Zubrus-Lokti have had chemistry since playing with Kovy on their RW, and Jagr could be to them what he was with the big bodied Hartnell and young and skilled Girioux. A lot of people see the name Loktionov and think 5th line center in LA. The kid came here to be a regular and looked good last year on our struggling team, and looks better this preseason. He's a solid player with offensive talent and speed. Zubrus is great on the boards, as is Jagr. Very solid.

4th line of Carter/Olesz-Josefson-Bernier is as good as they come. This is a 3rd line on some teams. Josefson has always had talent but looks even better this camp. Bernier brings size and hands, as does Olesz, and Carter has always been great for us.

The system DeBoer runs is fantastic. He knows his players and the players know the system. It all works well together.

On D, Larsson looks to finally be the man. He's getting top minutes in preseason and has looked dominant. Greene is also incredibly underrated. Salvador is ok, Zidlicky could improve in his zone but is good offensively. The trick will be moving one of the 3rd pairing D to make room for Urbom or Gelinas. But if we're stuck with Volchenkov-Fayne, i'm still happy. People forget it was this exact defense that allowed the least amount of shots in the league.

The Devils are no one to write off, just because they don't have Crosby, or Nash, or Lundqvist, or Ovechkin.

NJ has 4 lines that are very very good, a defense that is at least average, with an above average top pair, and goaltending that is among the best in the league.

laugh all you want. Remember how many years since the invention of the internet, that we've read on people predicting NJ to fail and how many times has it happened? Once when they tried a rookie head coach that was just awful... (and then went 22-3-2 after he was fired), and then last year in a compressed shortened season after losing their best player to FA. Count NJ out, we're all used to it.

I'd gladly take Kovy on our team. The guy abandoned a shoot first mentality to conform with the Devils defense first approach and became a dependable two way forward. Ovie couldn't do that and got his coach fired as a result.
Elias, best hockey IQ ever? RRRRREEEEAAAAACH.
I'll be very interested in hearing the feedback on Jagr when a team scores against you on an odd man rush, at which point Jagr should just be leaving the offensive zone. They'd be better served to tie a rope around another playes waist so they could two him back into the defensive zone.


XxKeaner17xX
- keaner17

Yes, that was hyperbole. But he is a very very shrewd player. I would say he and Scott Neidermayer are the smartest players to ever don a Devils jersey.

Eh, when he first got traded, he did little and the Devils limped into the playoffs and bowed out in the first round. Next year the Devils and Kovy were terrible, (worst team ever) but I will admit in the second half he turned it on and was very good. The next year, yea, he had a ton of points, but he was really getting carried by Parise.
Exhibit A: Power Play
Shouldn't he have helped it. The PP percent was 18.9 the season before he came, then when they got him at the deadline it finished 18.7. His first full season it was 14.4, next it was 17.2, and last season it was 15.9. If he was so great, why wouldn't we see an increase in PP%?

Exhibit B: Everything he does when not scoring. No stats for this, but basically all he does is turn the puck over at the offensive blue line and then skate into his own teammates.

And I'm not saying this because I'm bitter. I think Parise is great, I thought Gomez was still good after he signed with the Rangers. But Kovy is just not very good. There is a reason that the Devils failed to make the playoffs 2 of his three full seasons with the team.
- poopers

But Kovy is just not very good. There is a reason that the Devils failed to make the playoffs 2 of his three full seasons with the team.
- poopers

wow.

The Devils failed to make the playoffs in his 1st season because of MacLean. NJ went 22-3-2 after MacLean was fired and Lemaire reinstated as coach. It was night and day. It had zero to do with Kovalchuk.

Last year was a compressed and shortened season. When Marty and Kovy were on the ice the Devils won far more games than they lost, I can't remember the number tho. Kovalchuk was not the reason they missed the playoffs last year. Him being injured is part of the reason, and Marty's injury, and Hedberg not playing well in Marty's absence. Not to mention losing Parise and bringing in nothing to supplement his offense.
Yep, all Kovalchuk's fault. He's "just not very good".

Exhibit A: The Devils have NEVER had a good powerplay. That was a system issue, not a Kovalchuk ruining the PP thing. He did what he was told.
Exhibit B: Took some time, but Kovy embraced playing Devils hockey.. even when he didn't have the puck.

The guy is a dominant winger. He possesses a rare combination of incredible size, strength, speed, and skills. The Devils taught the offensive "1 dimensional player" how to backcheck. The guy has one of the best 1-timers in the league. He's got a blast and a laser. He's incredibly difficult to knock off the puck, he can hit and take a hit. He can fight. He can lead. He was never a drama queen (i.e. Langenbrunner), and always supported his coach and teammates. Good Lord he came 2 games and a "Bernier boarding major" away from a Stanley Cup! He's just not very good.

wow.

The Devils failed to make the playoffs in his 1st season because of MacLean. NJ went 22-3-2 after MacLean was fired and Lemaire reinstated as coach. It was night and day. It had zero to do with Kovalchuk.

Last year was a compressed and shortened season. When Marty and Kovy were on the ice the Devils won far more games than they lost, I can't remember the number tho. Kovalchuk was not the reason they missed the playoffs last year. Him being injured is part of the reason, and Marty's injury, and Hedberg not playing well in Marty's absence. Not to mention losing Parise and bringing in nothing to supplement his offense.

Yep, all Kovalchuk's fault. He's "just not very good".

The guy is a dominant winger. He possesses a rare combination of incredible size, strength, speed, and skills. The Devils taught him how to backcheck. The guy has one of the best 1-timers in the league. He's got a blast and a laser. He's incredibly difficult to knock off the puck, he can hit and take a hit. He can fight. He can lead. Good Lord he came 2 games and a "Bernier boarding major" away from a Stanley Cup! He's just not very good.
- MartysBetter88

He is making the rest of you devils fans look bad with that garbage

He is making the rest of you devils fans look bad with that garbage
- Vukota

can you clarify?

can you clarify?
- MartysBetter88

Do I really need to?

Do I really need to?
- Vukota

idk who the "He" and the 'garbage' is you're referring to, and so idk what to make of why this 'he' is making Devils fans look bad.

idk who the "He" and the 'garbage' is you're referring to, and so idk what to make of why this 'he' is making Devils fans look bad.
- MartysBetter88

The guy you replied to who was calling Kovy garbage

The guy you replied to who was calling Kovy garbage
- Vukota

lol yes. yes he is. I see his numbers, and the common stereotype of Kovy agrees with him.. but he's off base with the opinion that Kovy was a reason NJ missed the playoffs and that he's not very good. PP numbers are one thing, but the bigger issue missing the playoffs and not being a good player is just silly.

wow.

The Devils failed to make the playoffs in his 1st season because of MacLean. NJ went 22-3-2 after MacLean was fired and Lemaire reinstated as coach. It was night and day. It had zero to do with Kovalchuk.

Last year was a compressed and shortened season. When Marty and Kovy were on the ice the Devils won far more games than they lost, I can't remember the number tho. Kovalchuk was not the reason they missed the playoffs last year. Him being injured is part of the reason, and Marty's injury, and Hedberg not playing well in Marty's absence. Not to mention losing Parise and bringing in nothing to supplement his offense.

Yep, all Kovalchuk's fault. He's "just not very good".

The guy is a dominant winger. He possesses a rare combination of incredible size, strength, speed, and skills. The Devils taught the offensive "1 dimensional player" how to backcheck. The guy has one of the best 1-timers in the league. He's got a blast and a laser. He's incredibly difficult to knock off the puck, he can hit and take a hit. He can fight. He can lead. He was never a drama queen (i.e. Langenbrunner), and always supported his coach and teammates. Good Lord he came 2 games and a "Bernier boarding major" away from a Stanley Cup! He's just not very good.
- MartysBetter88

I agree, he's not the reason bad things happened or this horrible negative. I'm just saying he wasn't really much of a positive when all aspects of his game are factored in. This is reflected in his extremely mediocre Corsi stats and his very negative +/-.

And yea, his shot is great, but who cares? He only score 2 PP goals last season as the featured shooter. Whether that is his fault or coaches fault, I don't really care.

i wouldnt put the flyers 4th....maybe more like 8/9 ...Lavys system sucks.

I think the Devils may live up to this expectation, to an extent. Think about it, Bob is good, really good, but he isn't good enough to carry a team to the playoffs in this division. As you've seen, the Devils are better than the Flyers. Despite it being pre-season, we played better even when Voracek, Giroux and company were playing. One could make a very strong argument we are better than the Isles. Canes aren't that good to begin with. Going out an a limb here and saying the Pens will not get first place. Their goaltending is too questionable. I see this:
Rangers
Penguins
Capitals
Devils
Islanders
Flyers
Blue Jackets
Hurricanes
The Devils will make it as a wild card team.

The thing people are forgetting with realignment is that new teams might not make for a tougher schedule for those that were already together. If I'm Pittsburgh, I'll gladly take five games against WAS, CLB, and CAR instead of the eight I was playing PHI, NYR, etc in the previous format. Three less games against some of their old division rivals MORE than makes up for the challenge of new rivals.

The only teams the new divisions will hurt are the ones that were in garbage divisions before.

I agree, he's not the reason bad things happened or this horrible negative. I'm just saying he wasn't really much of a positive when all aspects of his game are factored in. This is reflected in his extremely mediocre Corsi stats and his very negative +/-.

And yea, his shot is great, but who cares? He only score 2 PP goals last season as the featured shooter. Whether that is his fault or coaches fault, I don't really care.
- poopers

I'll give you this. He was the featured player and that contributed to his success while taking away the rest of the teams', but it is not his fault nor DeBoer's. It's the fault of being an exceptional hockey player. With that said, we are better without him.

Historically NJ is a better team when they play blue collar hockey. I think NJ will be a better team than most fans will give them credit for and less dominant than most Devil's fans hope for. I'm a firm believer that roster turnover is the biggest killer in pro hockey, so that has me worried for NJ. However, NJ has stellar goaltending, great physical size, mobile defenders, tenacious team defense and adequate scoring if players match their averages.

I am interested to see how it all plays out.

Remember two things about the Devils:

1. Fewest shots allowed per game in the league last year.

2. Schneider's .927? save percentage.

The Devils defense this year is going to frustrate the hell out of opposition... now that they have some semblance of offense in Brunner and Jagr, teams with this kind of D do not finish 6th or 7th, sorry :D
- archromat

Yes.

I'll give you this. He was the featured player and that contributed to his success while taking away the rest of the teams', but it is not his fault nor DeBoer's. It's the fault of being an exceptional hockey player. With that said, we are better without him.
- willschulme

Yes, it may be surprising, but in the last 3 seasons. Old man Elias put up 20 goals and 43 assists on the PP, while Kovy put up 21 goals and 43 assists. The difference though: Kovy played almost double the amount of time on the PP and was the featured shooter.

Historically NJ is a better team when they play blue collar hockey. I think NJ will be a better team than most fans will give them credit for and less dominant than most Devil's fans hope for. I'm a firm believer that roster turnover is the biggest killer in pro hockey, so that has me worried for NJ. However, NJ has stellar goaltending, great physical size, mobile defenders, tenacious team defense and adequate scoring if players match their averages.

I am interested to see how it all plays out.
- WayneZ

The devils are gonna suck more then you in your windowless van parked at the playground

The devils are gonna suck more then you in your windowless van parked at the playground
- Vukota

Get with the times man. Those old panel vans are gas hogs. I can cruise twice as many jr high schools using my new mini-van with the blacked out windows.

Also remember that the Devils were a top team in the east last year before injuries set in. I still maintain that if there were a full season last year the Devils would have gotten back in the top 8 once they got healthy.

Now they're legitimately better than they were last year.

Lost: Kovy, Clarkson, Hedberg, Sullivan, Ponikarovsky, DaGostini

Gained: Schneider, Brunner, Jagr, Clowe, Ryder

Yes Kovy is the best player there, but after that I firmly believe every player we gained is better than every one we lost (yes including Clarkson, ridiculously overrated and I said that when he was on NJ). Plus I also think Larsson has a breakout year. This team will surprise a lot of people.

Get with the times man. Those old panel vans are gas hogs. I can cruise twice as many jr high schools using my new mini-van with the blacked out windows.
- WayneZ

Miss you (nohomo)

Also remember that the Devils were a top team in the east last year before injuries set in. I still maintain that if there were a full season last year the Devils would have gotten back in the top 8 once they got healthy.

Now they're legitimately better than they were last year.

Lost: Kovy, Clarkson, Hedberg, Sullivan, Ponikarovsky, DaGostini

Gained: Schneider, Brunner, Jagr, Clowe, Ryder

Yes Kovy is the best player there, but after that I firmly believe every player we gained is better than every one we lost (yes including Clarkson, ridiculously overrated and I said that when he was on NJ). Plus I also think Larsson has a breakout year. This team will surprise a lot of people.
- MannySilvers

Must of been tough being the only team to deal with injuries

Must of been tough being the only team to deal with injuries

- Vukota

Not saying we were but clearly we didn't handle them well and it played a large role in us missing the playoffs.

Also our system was based to much on Kovy playing 30 minutes a night so when he went down the team had a hard time adjusting. There is no player now that if he went down the devils would be screwed, maybe Cory.